Reservoir Engineering

Fundamentals

Course Code: RE03

2.2 Properties of oil reservoirs:
Physical properties of primary interest in petroleum engineering studies
include:

• Fluid gravity
• Specific gravity of the solution gas
• Gas solubility
• Bubble-point pressure
• Oil formation volume factor
• Isothermal compressibility coefficient of undersaturated crude oils
• Oil density
• Total formation volume factor
• Crude oil viscosity
• Surface tension
Data on most of these fluid properties are usually determined by
laboratory experiments performed on samples of actual reservoir fluids.
In the absence of experimentally measured Properties of crude oils, it is
necessary for the petroleum engineer to determine the properties from
empirically derived correlations.

2.2.1 Crude oil gravity:

The crude oil density is defined as the mass of a unit volume of the
crude at a specified pressure and temperature. It is usually expressed in
pounds per cubic foot. The specific gravity of a crude oil is defined as
the ratio of the density of the oil to that of water. Both densities are
measured at 60°F and atmospheric pressure:

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 𝜌𝑜
𝛾𝑜 = …………………………………………..………….2.1
𝜌𝑤

Although the density and specific gravity are used extensively in the
petroleum industry, the API gravity is the preferred gravity scale. This
gravity scale is precisely related to the specific gravity by the following
expression:
141.5
𝐴𝑃𝐼 = − 131.5………………………………….….....2.2
𝛾𝑜

The API gravities of crude oils usually range from 47° API for the
lighter crude oils to 10° API for the heavier asphaltic crude oils.
Where:
𝛾𝑜 : Specific gravity of the oil
𝜌𝑜 : Density of the crude oil, 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3

𝜌𝑤 : Density of the water, 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3

Specific Gravity of the Solution Gas:
The specific gravity of the solution gas 𝛾𝑔 is described by the weighted
average of the specific gravities of the separated gas from each
separator.
This weighted-average approach is based on the separator gas-oil ratio,
or:
∑𝑛
𝑖=1(𝑅𝑠𝑒𝑝 ) (𝛾𝑠𝑒𝑝 ) +𝑅𝑠𝑡 𝛾𝑠𝑡
𝛾𝑔 = 𝑛
𝑖 𝑖
∑𝑖=1(𝑅𝑠𝑒𝑝 ) +𝑅𝑠𝑡
………………………………...2.3
𝑖

Where:
𝑛: number of separators

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𝑅𝑠𝑒𝑝 : Separator gas-oil ratio, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/𝑆𝑇𝐵

𝛾𝑠𝑒𝑝 : Separator gas gravity

𝑅𝑠𝑡 : Gas-oil ratio from the stock tank, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/ 𝑆𝑇𝐵

𝛾𝑠𝑡 : Gas gravity from the stock tank

2.2.2 Gas solubility:

The gas solubility 𝑅𝑠 is defined as the number of standard cubic feet of
gas which will dissolve in one stock-tank barrel of crude oil at certain
pressure and temperature. The solubility of a natural gas in a crude oil is
a strong function of the pressure, temperature, API gravity, and gas
gravity. For a particular gas and crude oil to exist at a constant
temperature, the solubility increases with pressure until the saturation
pressure is reached.

Figure 2.4

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The following empirical correlation is for estimating the gas solubility:
• The Vasquez-Beggs correlation
𝐴𝑃𝐼
𝑅𝑠 = 𝐶1 𝛾𝑔𝑠 𝑃𝑐2 𝑒𝑥𝑝 [𝐶3 ( )]……………………………..2.4
𝑇

Values for the coefficients are as follows:

Coefficient API ≤30 API >30
𝐶1 0.0362 0.0178
𝐶2 1.0937 1.1870
𝐶3 25.7240 23.931
The authors proposed the following relationship for adjustment of the
gas gravity 𝛾𝑔 to the reference separator pressure:
𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑝
𝛾𝑔𝑠 = 𝛾𝑔 [1 + 5.912(10−5 )(𝐴𝑃𝐼)(𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑝 − 460)𝑙𝑜𝑔 (
114.7
)]…….....2.5

Where:
𝛾𝑔𝑠: Gas gravity at the reference separator pressure

𝛾𝑔 : Gas gravity at the actual separator conditions of 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑝 and 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑝

𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑝 : Actual separator pressure, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎

𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑝 : Actual separator temperature, 𝑅 𝑜

2.2.3 Bubble point pressure:

The bubble-point pressure 𝑃𝑏 of a hydrocarbon system is defined as the
highest pressure at which a bubble of gas is first liberated from the oil.
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This important property can be measured experimentally for a crude oil
system by conducting a constant-composition expansion test.
Correlation for estimation bubble point pressure:

• Standing

0.83
𝑃𝑏 = 18.2 [(𝑅𝑠 ⁄𝛾𝑔 ) (10)a − 1.4]……………………….2.6

With
a = 0.00091(T − 460) − 0.0125(API)……………………2.7

Where:
𝑃𝑏 : Bubble-point pressure, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎
T : System temperature, 𝑅 𝑜
Standing’s correlation should be used with caution if nonhydrocarbon
components are known to be present in the system.

• Vasquez and Beggs

𝐶2
𝑃𝑏 = [(𝐶1 𝑅𝑠 ⁄𝛾𝑔𝑠 )(10)a ] ………………………………….2.8

a = −C3 API⁄T……………………………………………..2.9

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The gas specific gravity 𝛾𝑔𝑠 at the reference separator pressure is defined
by previous equation. The coefficients 𝐶1 , 𝐶2 , and 𝐶3 have the following
values:

Coefficient API ≤30 API > 30

𝐶1 0.0362 0.0178
𝐶2 1.0937 1.187
𝐶3 25.7240 23.9310

2.2.4 Oil formation volume factor:

The oil formation volume factor, 𝛽𝑜 , is defined as the ratio of the
volume of oil (plus the gas in solution) at the prevailing reservoir
temperature and pressure to the volume of oil at standard conditions. Bo
is always greater than or equal to unity. The oil formation volume factor
can be expressed mathematically as:
(𝑉𝑜 )𝑃,𝑇
𝛽𝑜 = (𝑉𝑜 )𝑠𝑐
…………………………………………………..2.10

Where:
𝛽𝑜 : Oil formation volume factor, 𝑏𝑏𝑙/𝑆𝑇𝐵
(𝑉𝑜 )𝑃,𝑇 : Volume of oil under reservoir pressure and temperature, 𝑏𝑏𝑙

(𝑉𝑜 )𝑠𝑐 : Volume of oil is measured under standard conditions, 𝑆𝑇𝐵

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 Figure 2.5
Correlations for computing oil formation volume factor include:
• Standing’s correlation
1.2
𝛾𝑔 0.5
𝛽𝑜 = 0.9759 + 0.000120 [𝑅𝑠 ( ) + 1.25(𝑇 − 460)] ......…..2.11
𝛾 𝑜

Where
𝑇 : Temperature, 𝑅 𝑜
𝛾𝑜 : Specific gravity of the stock-tank oil
𝛾𝑔 : Specific gravity of the solution gas

• Material Balance Equation

62.4𝛾𝑜 +0.0136𝑅𝑠 𝛾𝑔
𝛽𝑜 = ………………………………….……2.12
𝜌𝑜

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Where:
𝜌𝑜 : Density of the oil at the specified pressure and temperature, 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3 .
The error in calculating 𝛽𝑜 by using Equation above will depend only on
the accuracy of the input variables (𝑅𝑠 , 𝛾𝑔 , and 𝛾𝑜 ) and the method of
calculating 𝜌𝑜 .

2.2.5 Isothermal compressibility coefficient of crude oil:

Isothermal compressibility coefficients are required in solving many
reservoir engineering problems, including transient fluid flow problems,
and they are also required in the determination of the physical properties
of the undersaturated crude oil. By definition, the isothermal
compressibility of a substance is defined mathematically by the
following expression:

1 𝜕𝑉
𝐶 = − ( ) ………………………………………………2.13
𝑉 𝜕𝑃 𝑇

At pressures below the bubble-point pressure, the oil compressibility is

defined as:
−1 𝜕𝛽𝑜 𝛽𝑔 𝜕𝑅𝑠
𝐶𝑜 = + ……………………………………….2.14
𝛽𝑜 𝜕𝑃 𝛽𝑜 𝜕𝑃

Where:
𝛽𝑔 : Gas formation volume factor, 𝑏𝑏𝑙/𝑠𝑐𝑓

𝛽𝑜 : Oil formation volume factor, 𝑏𝑏𝑙/𝑆𝑇𝐵

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There are three correlations that are developed to estimate the oil
compressibility at pressures above the bubble-point pressure, i.e.,
undersaturated crude oil system. Two of these correlations are presented
below:

• The Vasquez-Beggs correlation

−1.433+5𝑅𝑠𝑏 +17.2(𝑇−460)−1.180𝛾𝑔𝑠 + 12.61 𝐴𝑃𝐼
𝐶𝑜 = ………….....2.15
105 𝑃

Where:
𝑇 : Temperature, 𝑅 𝑜
𝑃 : Pressure above the bubble-point pressure, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎
𝑅𝑠𝑏 : Gas solubility at the bubble-point pressure
𝛾𝑔𝑠 : Corrected gas gravity as defined previously

• The Petrosky-Farshad correlation

𝐶𝑜 = 1.705 × 10−7 𝑅𝑠𝑏 0.69357 𝛾𝑔 0.1885 𝐴𝑃𝐼 0.3272 (𝑇 − 460)0.6729 𝑃−0.5906…..2.16

Where:
𝑇 = temperature, 𝑅 𝑜
𝑅𝑠𝑏 = gas solubility at the bubble-point pressure, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/𝑆𝑇𝐵

2.2.6 Crude oil density:

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The crude oil density is defined as the mass of a unit volume of the
crude at a specified pressure and temperature. It is usually expressed in
pounds per cubic foot. Several empirical correlations for calculating the
density of liquids of unknown compositional analysis have been
proposed. The correlations employ limited PVT data such as gas gravity,
oil gravity, and gas solubility as correlating parameters to estimate liquid
density at the prevailing reservoir pressure and temperature.
Manipulating material balance correlation for the oil density gives:

62.4𝛾𝑜 + 0.0136 𝑅𝑠 𝛾𝑔
𝜌𝑜 = ………………………………………2.17
𝛽𝑜

Where:
𝛾𝑜 : Specific gravity of the stock-tank oil
𝑅𝑠 : Gas solubility, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/𝑆𝑇𝐵
𝜌𝑜 Oil density, 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3

2.2.7 Total formation volume factor:

Is the volume of oil and gas at reservoir conditions to the volume or of
oil and gas at standard conditions. It is preferred to use it in calculations
than oil formation volume factor.

𝛽𝑡 = 𝛽𝑜 + (𝑅𝑠𝑖 − 𝑅𝑠 )𝛽𝑔 → 𝛽𝑜 = 𝛽𝑡 − (𝑅𝑠𝑖 − 𝑅𝑠 )𝛽𝑔 ……...2.18

Where:

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𝛽𝑜 : Oil formation volume factor, 𝑏𝑏𝑙/𝑆𝑇𝐵
𝑅𝑠𝑖 : Initial gas solubility, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/𝑆𝑇𝐵
𝑅𝑠 : Gas solubility at certain pressure, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/𝑆𝑇𝐵

2.2.8 Crude oil viscosity:

The viscosity, in general, is defined as the internal resistance of the fluid
to flow. The oil viscosity is a strong function of the temperature,
pressure, oil gravity, gas gravity, and gas solubility. Whenever possible,
oil viscosity should be determined by laboratory measurements at
reservoir temperature and pressure. The viscosity is usually reported in
standard PVT analyses. If such laboratory data are not available,
engineers may refer to published correlations, which usually vary in
complexity and accuracy depending upon the available data on the crude
oil. According to the pressure, the viscosity of crude oils can be
classified into three categories:

Dead oil viscosity:

The dead-oil viscosity is defined as the viscosity of crude oil at
atmospheric pressure (no gas in solution) and system temperature.

Saturated oil viscosity:

The saturated (bubble-point)-oil viscosity is defined as the viscosity of
the crude oil at the bubble-point pressure and reservoir temperature.

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Undersaturated oil viscosity:
The undersaturated-oil viscosity is defined as the viscosity of the crude
oil at a pressure above the bubble-point and reservoir temperature.

Calculating the dead oil viscosity:

Several correlations are proposed to estimate reservoir oil viscosity, both
above and below bubble point pressure. The correlations usually are in
two parts.

Beal’s, Beggs & Robinson and Glaso’s correlations to estimate viscosity

of dead oil≤ 𝑃𝑏 :
From a total of 753 values for dead-oil viscosity at and above 100°F,
Beal (1946) developed a graphical correlation for determining the
viscosity of the dead oil as a function of temperature and the API gravity
of the crude. Standing (1981) expressed the proposed graphical
correlation in a mathematical relationship as follows:
1.8 × 107 360 𝑎
𝜇𝑜 = (0.32 +
𝐴𝑃𝐼 4.53
) (𝑇−460) …………………………...2.19

With

𝑎 = 10(0.43+8.33⁄𝐴𝑃𝐼) ………………………………...……..2.20
Where:
𝜇𝑜𝑑 = viscosity of the dead oil as measured at 14.7 psia and reservoir
temperature, 𝑐𝑝
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𝑇 = temperature, 𝑅 𝑜

Calculating the saturated-oil viscosity:

Several correlations are proposed to estimate the viscosity of the
saturated oil, one of them is Beggs and Robison correlation:

• The Beggs-Robinson correlation

𝑃 𝑚
𝜇𝑜 = 𝜇𝑜𝑏 ( ) ………………………………………2.21
𝑃𝑏

Where:
𝑚 = 2.6 × 𝑃1.187 × 10𝑎 ……………………………………2.22
With

𝑎 = −3.9 × 10−5 × 𝑃 − 5…………………………………2.23

The data used in developing the above correlation have the following
ranges:
Pressure, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎: 141–9,151
Gas solubility, 𝑠𝑐𝑓/𝑆𝑇𝐵: 9.3–2,199
Viscosity, 𝑐𝑝: 0.117–148
Gas gravity: 0.511–1.351
API gravity: 15.3–59.5

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