See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/328916800

Identification type of reservoir fluid using initial production data and laboratory
data

Article · November 2018

CITATIONS READS

0 2,012

1 author:

Ali Yahya Jirjees

Ministry of Oil - North Oil Company
33 PUBLICATIONS   2 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

EOR oil recovery View project

Integration of core and well log data to predict permeability using neural network intelligent View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Ali Yahya Jirjees on 05 April 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 The Five Reservoir Fluids
Instructional Objectives:
- List the five types of reservoir fluids.
- Explain the difference between reservoir oils and reservoir gases.
- Explain the differences between black oils and volatile oils.
- Explain how to distinguish between black oils and volatile oils using initial production
data, laboratory data, or production history.
- Explain how to distinguish between volatile oils and retrograde gas condensates using
initial production data, laboratory data, or production history.
- Discuss wet gases, their occurrence in nature, the usefulness of the concept of wet gas
in engineering calculations, and the identification of a wet gas using field data.
- Discuss the unique feature of dry gases.

Introduction:

Phase Diagrams of Mixtures of Ethane and n-Heptane:

Composition
No. Wt % ethane
1 100.00
2 90.22
1400 3 70.22
4 50.25
4 5 29.91
6 9.78
1200 7 6.14
5 8 3.27
Pressure, psia

3 9 1.25
10 n-Heptane
1000
2
800
1
6
600
7
8
400
9

200 10

0
100 200 300 400 500

Temperature, °F

The figure shows that the phase envelope changes with the composition of the fluid. The phase
envelope shifts to the right when the fluid mixture becomes heavier.

Types of Reservoir Fluids:

There are five main types of reservoir fluids as follows:

- Black oil.
- Volatile oil.
- Retrograde gas condensate.
- Wet gas.
- Dry gas.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 1

Black Oil:

Pressure path
in reservoir
Critical
point Dewpoint line

Pressure, psia
Black Oil

ne 90 0 % Liquid
Li 8
i nt 70
o 60
-p
ble

50
b
Bu

40
30
20

10
Separator

Temperature, °F
The lines within the phase envelope represent constant liquid volume, measured as percent of
total volume. These lines are called iso-vols or quality lines. For a typical black-oil phase diagram,
the iso-vols are spaced evenly within the envelope.
A reduction in pressure below the bubble point at indicated reservoir temperature would release
gas to form a free gas phase in the reservoir. As reservoir pressure declines more, additional gas
is evolved in the reservoir.
Additional gas evolves from the oil as it moves from the reservoir to the surface. This causes
some shrinkage of the oil. However, separator conditions lie well within the phase envelope,
indicating that a relatively large amount of liquid arrives at the surface.

Volatile Oil:

Dewpoint line
Pressure path Critical
1 point
in reservoir

2
Volatile oil
0
80 9
70
60
Pressure

50

% Liquid
e
in

40
tl
in
po

30
le
bb

20
Bu

10
3
5

Separator ne
po int li
Dew

Temperature, °F
The phase diagram for a typical volatile oil is somewhat different from the black-oil phase
diagram. The critical temperature is much lower than for a black oil and, in fact, is close to
reservoir temperature. Also, the iso-vols are not evenly spaced but are shifted upwards toward
the bubble-point line.
A small reduction in pressure below the original bubble-point, point 2, causes the release of a
large amount of gas in the reservoir. Volatile oils may become as much as 50 percent gas in the
reservoir at only a few hundred psi below the bubble-point pressure.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 2

Also, an iso-vol with a much lower percent liquid crosses the separator conditions. Hence the
name volatile oil.

Retrograde Gas Condensate:

Pressure path
in reservoir
1
Retrograde gas
2

e
lin
int
po
w
De
Pressure

Critical point

e
in
% Liquid
l
nt
oi

40
30
ep

20
l
bb

15
Bu

3
10

5
Separator
0

Temperature
The phase diagram of a retrograde gas is somewhat smaller than that for oil, and the critical point
is further down the left side of the envelope.
The phase diagram of a retrograde gas has a critical temperature less than reservoir
temperature. The retrograde gas is totally gas in the reservoir, point 1. As reservoir pressure
decreases, the retrograde gas exhibits a dew point, point 2. As pressure is reduced, liquid
condenses from the gas to form a free liquid in the reservoir. This liquid will normally not flow and
cannot be produced.

Wet Gas:

Pressure path
in reservoir
1
e
lin
Pressure

Wet gas
int
o
wp
De

Critical % Liquid
point
2
t
e in
lin epo
l
bb

30

25

5
Bu

Separator

Temperature

The typical wet gas phase diagram will entirely lie below reservoir temperature.
A wet gas exists solely as a gas in the reservoir throughout the reduction in reservoir pressure.
The pressure path, line 12, does not enter the phase envelope. Thus, no liquid is formed in the
reservoir. However, separator conditions lie within the phase envelope, causing some liquid to be
formed at the surface.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 3

Dry Gas:

Pressure path
in reservoir
1

Pressure

ine
nt l
Dry gas

poi
Dew

% Liquid
2
50
25

Separator
1

Temperature

Dry gas is primarily methane with some intermediates. A typical dry gas phase diagram indicates
that the hydrocarbon mixture is solely gas in the reservoir and that normal surface separator
conditions fall outside the phase envelope. Thus, no liquid is formed either in the reservoir or at
the surface.

Components of Naturally Occurring Petroleum Fluids:

Component Composition,
mole percent
Hydrogen sulfide 4.91
Carbon dioxide 11.01
Nitrogen 0.51
Methane 57.70
Ethane 7.22
Propane 4.45
i-Butane 0.96
n-Butane 1.95
i-Pentane 0.78
n-Pentane 0.71
Hexanes 1.45
Heptanes plus 8.35
100.00
Properties of heptanes plus
Specific Gravity 0.807
Molecular Weight 142 lb/lb mole

The petroleum fluids are composed of hydrocarbon components with some impurities such as
hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. With the increase in the carbon number of the heavy
components, many forms (isomers) are possible. The compositional analysis in the laboratory of
a fluid sample can identify the components up to a certain level. The heavier components are
usually lumped in a plus fraction.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 4

Differences Between Fluid Types:
1000000

gas/liquid ratio, scf/STB

100000

Initial producing
10000

1000

100
Dewpoint gas
Bubblepoint oil
10
0.1 1 10 100

Heptanes plus in reservoir fluid, mole %

The figure above shows the initial producing gas-oil ratio correlates with the type of the fluid and
the heptanes plus mole fraction.

5000
gas/liquid ratio, scf/STB
Initial producing

4000

3000

2000
10 11 12 13 14 15

Heptanes plus in reservoir fluid, mole %

If we zoom into the previous figure, we find that a distinction between the gases and oils is
possible at heptanes plus mole fraction of approximately 12.75 %.

5000
gas/liquid ratio, scf/STB
Initial producing

3200

2000
10 11 12 13 14 15

Heptanes plus in reservoir fluid, mole %

Initial producing gas-oil ratio can be used to distinguish between the oils and the gases. A GOR
value of approximately 3200 scf/STB can be used to distinguish between oils and gases.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 5

Differences Between Black-Oils and Volatile Oils:

scf
res bbl gas
Bg = scf
Mscf scf Rsb =
STB

Separator
scf

Stock
tank

STB
res bbl oil
Bo =
STB
Gas res bbl
res bbl Oil p > pb

The gas that comes out of solution from black oils is usually a dry gas because the large and
heavy molecules in the oil attract the intermediate sized molecules to stay in the oil phase.
However, the gas that comes out of solution from a volatile oil is typically a retrograde gas.
Volatile oils do not contain the large molecules that enable black oils to hold most of the
intermediate components in the oil phase.
The solution gases from black oils remain solely in the gas phase as they move through the
reservoir, the tubulars and the separator while the rich solution gases from volatile oils lose
condensate on their trip to the sales line.

6000
Volatile oil
Pressure, psia

material balance (1)

4000

2000 Conventional 160000

Separator gas/oil ratio

material
balance Conventional
material balance
0 120000
0 800 1600 2400
scf/STB

Stock-tank oil production, MSTB

80000
100 Volatile oil
material balance (1)
Gas saturation

40000
% pore space

Conventional
50 method
0
0 1000 2000
Volatile oil
method Stock-tank oil production, MSTB
0
0 3000 6000
Pressure, psia

The classical oil material balance equations are valid for black oils but give incorrect results for
volatile oils. One of the assumptions inherent in the derivation of these equations is that the free
gas in the reservoir remains gas through the separator.
For volatile oils, material balance calculations have to be performed on a multi-component basis
or the PVT relations have to be modified to account for the extra volume of oil that condenses out
from the produced gas.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 6

The above figures show comparison between reservoir performance predictions based on
conventional material balance calculations and based on multi-component volatile oil analysis.

6000
Volatile oil 160000
Pressure, psia material balance (1)
Conventional

Separator gas/oil ratio

4000 material balance

Actual 120000
performance

scf/STB
2000 Conventional
material
balance
80000

0 Volatile oil
0 800 1600 2400 material balance (1)

Stock-tank oil production 40000

Actual
0 performance

0 1 2

Stock-tank oil production

The previous predictions were compared years later after the reservoir was depleted with the
actual performance of the reservoir. The figures show that conventional material balance
calculations failed in predicting the actual reservoir behavior.

Differences Between the Three Gases:

- Dry gas - gas at surface is same as gas in reservoir.
- Wet gas - recombined surface gas and condensate represents gas in reservoir.
- Retrograde gas - recombined surface gas and condensate represents the gas in the
reservoir, but not the total reservoir fluid (retrograde condensate stays in reservoir).

1.0
Compressibility factor, z

0.9 Gas-phase

0.8

0.7
Two-phase

0.6

0.5
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Pressure, psia

The z-factor is the ratio of the volume actually occupied by a gas at given pressure and
temperature to the volume the gas would occupy at the same pressure and temperature if it
behaved like an ideal gas.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 7

Two-phase z-factor is determined from the constant volume depletion experiment for gas
condensate fluids.

2.0

Actual two-phase Z factor

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Pseudoreduced pressure

It was found that the typical shape of 2-phase z-factor (bending downward curve at low pressure)
is obtained for hydrocarbon gases with C7+ mole percent higher than 4%. This implies that the
gas has to be treated as retrograde gas condensate.

2.0
Actual two-phase Z factor

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Pseudoreduced pressure

However, for hydrocarbon gases with C7+ mole percent less than 4%, 2-phase z-factor behaves
similarly to single-phase z-factor. This implies that the gas can be treated as wet gas.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 8

Identification of Fluid Type:

50000 Black
Dry Wet Retrograde Volatile oil
gas gas gas oil

gas/oil ratio, scf/STB

Initial producing

Dewpoint gas
Bubblepoint oil

0
0 30
Heptanes plus in reservoir fluid, mole %

Identification of Fluid Type from Field Data:

Black Volatile Retrograde Wet Dry

Oil Oil Gas Gas Gas
Initial <1750 1750 to > 3200 > 15,000* 100,000*
Producing 3200
Gas/Liquid
Ratio, scf/STB
Initial Stock- < 45 > 40 > 40 Up to 70 No
Tank Liquid Liquid
Gravity, °API
Color of Stock- Dark Colored Lightly Water No
Tank Liquid Colored White Liquid

*For Engineering Purposes

- The 1,750 scf/STB break between black oils and volatile oils is not sharp - could be ±250
scf/STB.
- Initial stock-tank oil gravity and color are not important to the identification of fluid type --
except in the black oil - volatile oil overlap

Identification of Fluid Type from Laboratory Analysis:

Black Volatile Retrograde Wet Dry

Oil Oil Gas Gas Gas
Phase Bubblepoint Bubblepoint Dewpoint No No
Change in Phase Phase
Reservoir Change Change
Heptanes > 20% 20 to 12.5 < 12.5 < 4* < 0.8*
Plus, Mole
Percent
Oil < 2.0 > 2.0 - - -
Formation
Volume
Factor at
Bubblepoint

*For Engineering Purposes

The Five Reservoir Fluids 9

The 20 mole percent heptanes plus break between black oils and volatile oils is not sharp - could
be ±2.5%

Identification of Fluid Type from Primary Production Trends:

Black Volatile Retrograde Wet Dry

Oil Oil Gas Gas Gas
GOR

GOR

GOR

GOR

GOR
No
liquid

Time Time Time Time Time

° API

° API

° API

° API

° API
No
liquid

Time Time Time Time Time

The above graphs show the primary production trends for the different reservoir fluids undergoing
depletion.

Exercise 1: Determining Reservoir Fluid Type from Field Data.

One of the wells in the Merit field, completed in December 1967 in the North Rodessa formation,
originally produced 54oAPI stock-tank liquid at a gas/oil ratio of about 23,000 scf/STB. During July
1969, the well produced 1987 STB of 58oAPI liquid and 78,946 Mscf of gas. By May 1972, the
well was producing liquid at a rate of about 30 STB/d of 59oAPI liquid and gas at about 2,000
Mscf/d. What type of reservoir fluid is this well producing?

Solution:
100000 60
90000 59
gas/oil ratio, scf/STB

80000 58
liquid gravity, API

70000 57
Stock-tank
Producing

60000 56
50000 55
40000 54
30000 53
20000 52
10000 51
0 50
0 12 24 36 48 60 72
Months since start of 1967

The Five Reservoir Fluids 10

 - Initial GLR over 3,200 scf/STB and producing gas-liquid ratio and stock tank oil gravity
increasing with production, thus fluid is retrograde gas condensate.
- Initial GLR over 15,000 scf/STB, thus fluid can be treated as wet gas.
- GLR apparently started increasing immediately, indicating that pi = pd and the possibility
of an oil zone.

Exercise 2: Determining Reservoir Fluid Type from Field Data.

A field in north Louisiana discovered in 1953 and developed by 1956 had an initial producing
gas/oil ratio of 2,000 scf/STB. The stock-tank liquid was “medium orange” and had a gravity of
51.2oAPI. Classify this reservoir fluid.
During the producing history of this field the stock-tank liquid gravity steadily increased to 63oAPI,
and the producing gas/oil ratio increased to a maximum of 29,000 scf/STB. Does this information
confirm your classification? Why or why not?
Laboratory analysis of a sample from this reservoir gave the following composition:

Component Composition,
mole fraction
CO2 0.0218
N2 0.0167
C1 0.6051
C2 0.0752
C3 0.0474
C4’s 0.0412
C5’ 0.0297
C6’s 0.0138
C7+ 0.1491
1.0000
Properties of heptanes plus
Specific Gravity 0.799
Molecular Weight 181 lb/lb mole

The formation volume factor at the bubblepoint was about 2.6 res bbl/STB. Does this information
confirm your classification? Why or why not?

Solution:
- Initial producing GLR greater than 1,750±250 scf/STB and less than 3,200 scf/STB, thus
volatile oil.
- Both producing GLR and stock-tank oil gravity are increasing, indicating volatile oil.
- Heptanes plus mole fraction of 0.1491 indicates volatile oil (greater than 0.125) as does
Bob > 2.0 res bbl/STB

Exercise 3:

From the figure below, determine the reservoir fluid type and explain what is happening.
200

175

150
Yeild, STB/MMsc f

125

100

75

50

25

0
0 24 48 72 96 120
Months since start of 1966

The Five Reservoir Fluids 11

 Solution:
Initial yield was about 130 STB/MMscf - 7,700 scf/STB, indicating retrograte gas condensate
reservoir fluid.
Yield dropped immediately indicating that the gas was at its dewpoint at initial conditions, thus the
presence of an oil zone is possible.

References:
1. McCain, W.D. Jr.: The Properties of Petroleum Fluids, 2nd Ed. PennWell (1990).
2. McCain, W.D. Jr.: “Heavy Components Control Reservoir Fluid Behavior,” JPT (Sept. 1994)
746-750, Technology Today Series.; Trans., AIME, 297.
3. McCain, W.D. Jr.: “Revised Gas-Oil Ratio Criteria Key Indicators of Reservoir Fluid Type,”
Petroleum Engineer International (April 1994) 57-60.
4. McCain, W.D. Jr. and Piper, L.D.: “Reservoir Gases Exhibit Subtle Differences,” Petroleum
Engineer International (Mar. 1994) 45-46.
5. McCain, W.D. Jr. and Bridges, B.: “Volatile Oils and Retrograde Gases - What’s the
Difference?,” Petroleum Engineer International (Jan. 1994) 35-36.
6. McCain, W.D. Jr.: "Black Oils and Volatile Oils -- What's the Difference?" Petroleum
Engineer International (Nov. 1993) 24-27.
7. McCain, W.D. Jr.: "Chemical Composition Determines Behavior of Reservoir Fluids,"
Petroleum Engineer International (Oct. 1993) 18-25.
8. Jacoby, R.H. and Berry, V.J.: “A Method for Predicting Depletion Performance of a Reservoir
Producing Volatile Crude Oil,” Trans., AIME, Vol. 210, 27-33.
9. Cordell, J.C. and Ebert, C.K.: “A Case History – Comparison of Predicted and Actual
Performance of a Reservoir Producing Volatile Crude Oil,” JPT (Nov. 1965) 1291-1293.

The Five Reservoir Fluids 12

View publication stats