physics property of reservoir oil

at high pressure

Zhang Yi
Petroleum engineering college
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

the physical property of reservoir oil is quite

different from crude oil at ground because it
dissolves a lot of nature gas, such as viscosity,
density and compressibility.

with reservoir development, the pressure and

temperature constantly fall. So dissolved gas in
oil constantly release from oil, and the property
of the oil formation is also changing.
Crude oil is a mixture which contain alkanes,
cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons and
various compounds of oxygen , sulfur and
nitrogen
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

The classification of Ground crude oil

1. by gum-asphalt content

small gum-asphalt oil： gum-asphalt content ＜8%

gum-asphalt oil： gum-asphalt content is 8~25%；

more gum-asphalt oil： gum-asphalt content>25%。

油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

2. By paraffin/wax content

small wax oil: wax content<1%

wax oil：wax content is 1~2%
more wax oil: wax content＞2%
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

3﹑by sulphur content

small sulphur oil：S<0.5%

sulphur oil：S:0.5%~2%

more sulphur: S＞2%。

油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

4﹑by key composition

Condensate ：oil density is ＜0.82g/cm3(20℃).
Paraffin base crude oil density is 0.82~0.89
g/cm3(20℃),
Crude Oil : oil density is 0.89~0.93 g/cm3(20℃).
cycloalkane base oil： oil density is ＞0.93
g/cm3(20℃).
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

5﹑by relative density of gas free oil：

light oil：γ＜0.855，API gravity＞34；
medium density oil： γ is 0.855～0.934，
API gravity is 34～20；
high oil： γ ＞ 0.934，API gravity＜ 20；
 油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

classification on formation oil

low viscosity oil: oil viscosity＜5mPa.s；

medium viscosity oil: oil viscosity is 5~20mPa.s；

high viscosity oil: oil viscosity is 20~50mPa.s；

heavy oil：oil viscosity ＞50mPa.s。

油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

The relationship between oil density and API

gravity(America Petroleum Institute)
mo
ρo = Oil density
Vo

ρo
γ= Oil relative density
ρw
141.5
API = －131.5
γo
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

oil-gas Ratio
1. R=Vg/VoS
definition: gas volume over oil volume in reservoir.

Where Vg：gas volume separated from oil,m3；

Vos：gas free oil volume at ground,Sm3；

Rsi：oil-gas ratio, m3/Sm3。

油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

2. R~P

If P>Pb，R is constant

If P<Pb，P↓ R↓

3. R~T and composition）

T↑， R↓；
γg ↑ ， R ↑；
γo ↓ ，R ↑
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

Oil volume factor

Definition: the oil volume in formation over the
oil volume in ground.

Vf
Bo =
VS
（if well depth is more than 3000m, Bo>1，
and h is 5000~7000m, Bo>5）
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

2 Factor affecting oil volume factor

If P<Pb，P ↑ Bo ↑and T ↑
Bo ↓
If P=Pb，Bo=Boi, Bo has nothing to do with T.

if P>Pb， P ↑ Bo ↓, but Bo has nothing to do with

T.
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

3 two-phase volume factor

definition: when formation pressure is less than
saturation pressure, oil volume and free gas
volume over gas free oil volume.
V f + Vg
u=
VS
 when pressure is P, gas volume separated from oil
So
(R-Ro) VS Bg

V f + ( Ro − R)VS ⋅ Bg Vf
u= = + ( Ro − R) Bg = Bo + ( Ro − R) Bg
VS VS

u = Bo + ( Ro − R) Bg
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

discuss
1. if P≥Pb，u=Bo

2. if P<Pb，u=Bo+ (Ro-R) Bg

3. if P=0.101MPa，u=Bo+ Ro (R=0,Bg=1)
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

compressibility factor of reservoir oil

Definition: compressibility factor is the volume

change rate when pressure change 1 unit in
isothermal condition

1 ∂Vof
Co = − ( )T
Vof ∂P
 1 Vo 2 − Vo1 P2 = Pb , p1 = p 1 Vb − V 1 Bb − B
C0 = − •( )T ⎯⎯ ⎯ ⎯→ − =− •
Vof P2 − P1 Vof Pb − P Bo Pb − P

1 Bb − B
Co = − •
Bo Pb − P
油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性

Generally, R ↑， Co ↑

Gas free oil： Co ~(4~7)×10-4/MPa

Dissolved gas oil ： (10~140)×10-4/MPa

Co is not constant, and the function of pressure.

油藏物理学——地层原油的高压物性
Oil viscosity
oil viscosity is a function
of pressure, temperature
and composition.
１.T ↑ μ ↓；
2 .T=C, the more
asphaltum, the more μ .
３. P<Pb， P ↑， μ ↓ ↓
P>Pb ，P ↑， μ ↑ （a little）
４.R ↑， μ ↓；