Laboratory PVT

Measurements
C.D. Adenutsi, Ph.D.
Department of Petroleum Engineering, KNUST
Office: Petroleum Building, PB 318
January, 2023
 Introduction
• After a representative sample of the reservoir fluid has been collected,
the next step is measurement of the fluid properties in series of
Pressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) experiments.

• For measurement of some critical data, it might be advisable to engage

two separate PVT laboratories to conduct fluid properties studies on the
same samples for verification and quality checking of data reported on
the samples.

• The majority of the laboratory tests are depletion experiments, during

which the pressure of the reservoir fluid is lowered in successive steps
by either expanding the sample or increasing the fluid volume and
removing part of the fluid in some cases. 2
Typical PVT Experimental Studies
Reservoir fluid studies typically involve combinations of the
following six procedures:
1. Fluid composition.
2. Constant Composition Expansion (CCE).
3. Differential Liberation (DL).
4. Constant Volume Depletion (CVD).
5. Separator tests.
6. Viscosity measurements.

3
PVT Equipment
• The most essential component of any PVT equipment is a PVT cell
(usually cylindrical and made of special grade stainless steel or
titanium) that is equipped with a mechanism to increase or
decrease the cell volume thereby altering the pressure.

• The alteration of the cell volume is usually achieved via a

mechanically driven piston or mercury (somewhat uncommon these
days).

• The PVT cell is housed in a thermostatic enclosure or an air bath,

where air can be cooled or heated to maintain a constant test
temperature.
PVT Equipment
• A schematic of a multipurpose PVT
cell is shown in Figure 1.

• The two PVT cells (generally equal in

volume) are arranged in the form of
an hourglass shape.

• The stem of the hourglass connects

with the two PVT cells and basically
serves as a window through which
visual observations can be made
Fig. 1 – Schematics of a multipurpose PVT cell
PVT Equipment
• Mechanically driven pistons control
the volume available for
hydrocarbon fluids within the two
cells.

• The entire assembly and the

associated tubing are housed in a
forced convection air bath for
maintaining constant test
temperature.
Fig. 1 – Schematics of a multipurpose PVT cell
 PVT Equipment
• The measurement of properties of the single-
phase fluid or the equilibrium phases is normally
achieved by passing the fluids through an analysis
loop that consists of a densitometer, a gas
chromatograph, and a capillary tube viscometer.

• A pendant drop device can also be incorporated

into the hourglass stem, to allow the formation of
a droplet, surrounded by the equilibrium vapor
phase.

• The droplets can be observed through the

window, magnified and recorded on video that
can be dimensioned for the determination of
surface tension. Fig. 1 – Schematics of a multipurpose PVT cell
Constant Composition Expansion (CCE)
• The constant composition expansion (CCE) or constant mass
expansion (CME) test is also called flash vaporization, flash
liberation, flash expansion, or simply PV relation.

• The overall composition of the reservoir fluid or its original mass

always remains constant because none of the test fluid is ever
removed from the PVT cell.

• The primary objective of CCE tests is to study the PV relationship of

a given reservoir fluid and determine its saturation pressure.
Constant Composition Expansion (CCE)
• The reservoir fluid sample is placed in a windowed PVT cell
maintained at reservoir temperature and pressure.

• The pressure of the PVT cell is reduced to a predetermined level

by increasing the volume of the PVT cell

• The total and phase volumes of the hydrocarbon system are

recorded at each pressure step and saturation pressures can
also be determined by visual observation of cell contents.
Constant Composition Expansion (CCE)

Fig.2 – Schematics of a CCE setup

Constant Composition Expansion (CCE)
• After completion of the test, the
PV data are plotted.

• A typical plot of pressure versus

volume that results from this
procedure is shown in Fig. 3 for
black oils.

• In this case, the bubble point is

at the intersection of the
compressed liquid line and the Fig.3 – Pressure versus volume plot of CCE data for a
typical Black Oil
two-phase line
Constant Composition Expansion (CCE)
• In case of volatile oils, the change of slope at the bubble point is less
pronounced, mainly because volatile oils are relatively compressible
due to higher proportion of solution gas compared to black oils.

• Therefore, an element of uncertainty remains in the determination

of the bubble point of volatile oils from PV relationships.

• It is recommended that more accurate and reliable methods, such

as the optical detection techniques should be used.
Constant Composition Expansion (CCE)

• In the case of gas condensate fluids, the plot of total fluid

volume as a function of pressure does not have a sharp
change of slope at the saturation pressure unless
substantial retrograde condensation takes place below the
dew point.

• Again, similar recommendations to those for volatile oil

apply to gas condensate fluids for determining the dew-
point pressures.
Differential Liberation (DL)

• The DL experiment is a classical depletion experiment

carried out on reservoir oils.

• The process is also called differential vaporization,

differential depletion, or differential expansion.

• The experiment is carried out at reservoir temperature to

evaluate the volumetric and compositional changes that
take place in the oils during the primary production process
(pressure depletion).
Differential Liberation (DL)

• In this experiment, the reservoir fluid sample is equilibrated

in a windowed PVT cell at its bubble point pressure and
reservoir temperature.

• The pressure inside the cell is reduced by increasing its

volume. Since the cell pressure is now less than bubble
point pressure, a gas phase will form.
Differential Liberation (DL)

Fig.4 – Schematics of a typical DL setup

Differential Liberation (DL)
• Once equilibrium has been established between the fluid phases,
the gas is completely displaced from the cell at constant pressure by
slowly reducing the volume of the cell. This represents Stage 1, as
illustrated in Figure 4. The procedure used in Stage 1 is repeated for
the next pressure level at Stage 2.

• The procedure is repeated in 10–15 pressure stages down to the

atmospheric pressure (Last stage).

• At each pressure stage, the remaining oil volume, the expelled gas
volume at the cell conditions and standard conditions, and the gas
specific gravity are measured.
Differential Liberation (DL)
• In the final step, cell temperature is reduced to 60°F, and the volume
of remaining liquid is measured. This volume of oil is called the
residual oil volume by DL.

• Alternatively, a thermal contraction coefficient of 0.00046(v/v)/°F is

applied at atmospheric pressure and the cell temperature to
determine the residual oil volume.

• On the basis of collected experimental data, the properties

determined from DL experiments are gas deviation factor 𝒁,
formation volume factor 𝑩𝒐𝑫, total formation volume factor 𝑩𝒕𝑫,
and the solution GOR, 𝑹𝒔𝑫 as a function of pressure.
Differential Liberation (DL)
• The compressibility factor 𝒁 of the produced gas at any pressure
stage is determined as:

𝑃𝑅 𝑉𝑅 𝑇𝑠𝑐
𝑍= (1)
𝑃𝑠𝑐 𝑉𝑠𝑐 𝑇𝑅
• Where 𝑷𝑹 , 𝑽𝑹 and 𝑻𝑹 are pressure of the cell, volume of the gas at
cell conditions and temperature at cell conditions and 𝑷𝒔𝒄 , 𝑽𝒔𝒄 and
𝑻𝒔𝒄 are the corresponding values at standard conditions.

• The formation volume factor 𝑩𝒐𝑫 at each stage is calculated from

the ratio of oil volume at cell conditions and the residual oil volume
at standard conditions. This is also referred to as relative oil volume
 Differential Liberation (DL)
• The total volume of gas removed during the entire process is the amount
of gas in solution at the bubble point and all pressures above the bubble
point.
• The solution gas-oil ratio is derived if this total volume of gas is divided
by the residual oil volume, and the resulting value is converted to
standard cubic feet per barrel of residual oil or scf/STB:

σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑉𝑠𝑐𝑖
𝑅𝑠𝐷𝑏 = (2)
𝑉𝑜 𝑠𝑐𝐷
• Where 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝒃 is the solution gas–oil ratio at bubble point and all pressures
above, scf/STB; 𝑽𝒔𝒄𝒊 is the volume of gas removed at pressure stage 𝒊, scf
(𝒏 represents the last pressure stage); 𝑽𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝑫 is the residual oil volume
at standard conditions, barrels or STB.
 Differential Liberation (DL)
• The gas remaining in solution at any pressure, 𝑷𝑹𝟏 , lower than the
bubble point is calculated as:

σ𝑛𝑖=1 𝑉𝑠𝑐𝑖 − 𝑉𝑠𝑐1

𝑅𝑠𝐷1 = (3)
𝑉𝑜 𝑠𝑐𝐷

• Where 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝟏 is the solution gas–oil ratio at pressure 𝑷𝑹𝟏 , scf/STB; 𝑽𝒔𝒄𝟏 is
the volume of gas removed at pressure 𝑷𝑹𝟏, scf.

• Similarly, for calculating the volume of gas remaining in solution at the

next pressure stage is given by σ𝒏𝒊=𝟏 𝑽𝒔𝒄𝒊 − 𝑽𝒔𝒄𝟏 − 𝑽𝒔𝒄𝟐 Τ 𝑽𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝑫 .
 Differential Liberation (DL)
• The total formation volume factor or the relative total volume 𝑩𝒕𝑫 at
pressure stage 𝑷𝑹𝟏

𝐵𝑡𝐷1 = 𝐵𝑜𝐷1 + 𝐵𝑔1 𝑅𝑠𝐷𝑏 − 𝑅𝑠𝐷1 (4)

• Where 𝑩𝒕𝑫𝟏 is the total formation volume factor at pressure 𝑷𝑹𝟏 , res.
bbl/STB; 𝑩𝒐𝑫𝟏 isofthe oil formation volume factor at pressure 𝑷𝑹𝟏 , res.
bbl/STB;𝑩𝒈𝟏 is the evolved gas formation volume factor at pressure 𝑷𝑹𝟏 ,
res. bbl/scf; 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝒃 is the solution gas–oil ratio at bubble point and
pressures above, scf/STB; 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝟏 is the solution gas–oil ratio at pressure
𝑷𝑹𝟏 , scf/STB.

• The difference between 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝒃 and 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝟏 (Equations 2 and 3) gives the
volume of evolved gas, 𝑽𝒔𝒄𝟏 Τ 𝑽𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝑫
Constant Volume Depletion (CVD)
• Constant volume depletion, generally called depletion study, is an
experimental procedure used to study gas condensate samples.

• The experiment starts with a single-phase reservoir fluid sample at

reservoir temperature and pressure in the PVT cell.

• The cell volume is increased, thereby reducing its pressure to some

predetermined level.
Constant Volume Depletion (CVD)

Fig.5 – Schematics of typical CVD setup

Constant Volume Depletion (CVD)
• Then a portion of the fluid in the cell is withdrawn slowly while
maintaining its pressure constant at the current level until the
original cell volume is reached.

• The composition and specific gravity of the fluid removed from the
cell is measured. This procedure is represented as Stage 1 in Figure
5.

• Subsequent stages at lower pressure levels are repeated as

described for Stage 1.
Constant Volume Depletion (CVD)

• The data from a depletion study can be used to fit

parameters of any preferred equation of state.

• The equation of state can then be used in a reservoir

simulator to model depletion of a condensate reservoir.
Separator Tests
• Separator tests are similar to depletion tests. However, in this case,
the temperature is reduced at each stage, and there are only a few
pressure steps (normally just one between the reservoir pressure
and atmospheric pressure).

• Separator tests are primarily carried out on black oils and are
usually the final tests that are conducted in the laboratory.

• A fluid sample at reservoir temperature and bubble point pressure

in a PVT cell is displaced at bubble point pressure through two or
more stages of separation.
Separator Tests

Fig.6 – Schematics of typical Separator test Setup

Separator Tests
• The pressure in the PVT cell is held constant by slowly reducing its
volume. The pressures and temperatures of the separators in the
laboratory are selected to approximate as closely as possible the
expected separator conditions in the field.

• The stock tank (final stage) is at atmospheric pressure. A three-stage

separator test representing this procedure is shown in Figure 6.

• In this procedure, the temperature of fluid sample initially at bubble

point pressure and reservoir temperature is reduced to the
temperature of the first stage separator.
Separator Tests
• After equilibration, the pressure of the sample is reduced to the
pressure set for the first stage separator. The liberated gas and the
remaining liquid phase are allowed to equilibrate.

• Then the liberated gas is displaced at constant pressure from the

PVT cell into an evacuated chamber for density measurements and
compositional analysis.

• This process is repeated for other separator stages down to stock

tank conditions.
Separator Tests
• In laboratory separator tests, three main parameters are usually
determined for a pressure reduction path of 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔 (𝑷𝒃 ) → 𝑷𝒔𝒆𝒑 →
𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒎 :

• 1. The formation volume factor of oil 𝑩𝒐𝑺𝒃

• 2. The solution gas–oil ratio 𝑹𝒔𝑺𝒃
• 3. The specific gravity of the stock tank oil
Separator Tests
• The formation volume factor of oil is defined as:
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙 bbl
• 𝐵𝑜𝑆𝑏 = res. (5)
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 STB

• The volume of liquid expelled from the cell is measured at bubble-

point conditions, while the volume of stock tank liquid is measured
at standard conditions.

• The solution gas–oil ratio is defined as:

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑔𝑎𝑠+𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑔𝑎𝑠 scf
• 𝑅𝑠𝑆𝑏 = (6)
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 STB
Separator Tests
• The measured density of the stock tank oil is converted into specific
gravity, which is subsequently expressed in terms of °API.

• The other data measured include specific gravities of the separator

gas and the stock tank gas.

• A separator volume factor, defined by the ratio of the volume of

separator liquid at separator conditions and the volume of stock
tank oil at standard conditions, SP bbl/STB, is also determined.
Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• The various laboratory tests carried out on black oils to determine
properties such as formation volume factors, solution gas–oil ratios,
total formation volume factors include CCE, DL and separator tests.

• However, the actual reservoir process is neither CCE nor DL.

• Therefore, results obtained from all three tests are usually

combined or adjusted with a bubble-point constraint (i.e., for
reservoir pressure above and below 𝑷𝒃 ) in such a manner that the
combined data represent the properties of black oils from the
reservoir to the surface.
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data

• Away from the wellbore, zone A, the

pressure is above the bubble point (the oil
expands as a single phase liquid).

• The pressure in zone B is just below the

bubble point and the volume of the
evolved gas is too small to allow its
mobilisation.
Fig. 6 Phase transition in an under
saturated oil reservoir.
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data

• In zone C, the evolved gas flows towards

the producer, but segregates from the oil
due to gravity and surface forces.

• In the wellbore, the two phases are

considered to flow together.

Fig. 6 Phase transition in an under

saturated oil reservoir.
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• The reservoir process in zones A and B is
simulated or represented by the CCE test
because the overall composition of the oil
essentially remains the same.

• Since the gas segregates due to gravity and

begins to flow, the reservoir process
occurring in zone C is simulated by the DL
test.

Fig. 6 Phase transition in an under

• The separation that occurs at the surface is saturated oil reservoir.
represented or simulated by the separator
test.
Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• The underlying assumption is that:
(1) at reservoir pressures above the bubble-point pressure, fluid
properties are calculated by a combination of CCE or flash
vaporization and separator tests.
(2) at reservoir pressures below the bubble-point pressure, fluid
properties are obtained by a combination of DL and separator tests.

• Nomenclature
• The subscripts “D,” “F,” and “S” represent the DL, flash vaporization
or CCE, and separator tests, respectively, while subscript “b”
indicates bubble-point conditions.
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• The nomenclature that is used for the combination equations is:
• 𝑩𝒐𝑫 is the relative oil volume by DL; 𝑩𝑶𝑫𝒃 the relative oil volume at
bubble point by DL; 𝑩𝒐𝑺𝒃 the formation volume factor at bubble point
from separator tests (optimum or selected);
• 𝑽𝒕 Τ𝑽𝒃 𝑭 = relative total volume (gas and oil) by CCE or flash vaporization,
where 𝑽𝒕 is the total volume and 𝑽𝒃 is the volume at saturation conditions
or bubble point;
• 𝑩𝒕𝑫 is the relative total volume (gas and oil) by DL; 𝑹𝒔𝑫 the gas remaining
in solution by DL;
• 𝑹𝒔𝑫𝒃 the gas in solution at bubble point (and all pressures above) by DL;
and 𝑹𝒔𝑺𝒃 the sum of separator gas and stock tank gas from separator tests
(optimum or selected).
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• Formation Volume Factor of Oil
• At pressures above the bubble-point pressure, oil formation volume
factors are calculated from a combination of CCE and separator tests

𝑉𝑡
𝐵𝑜 = 𝐵𝑜𝑆𝑏 (7)
𝑉𝑏 𝐹

• At pressures below bubble point, a combination of DL and separator test

data gives:

𝐵𝑜𝑆𝑏
𝐵𝑜 = 𝐵𝑜𝐷 (8)
𝐵𝑜𝐷𝑏
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• Solution Gas-Oil Ratio
• Since solution gas–oil ratio at bubble-point pressure and all pressures
above bubble point pressure is constant

𝑅𝑠 = 𝑅𝑠𝑆𝑏 (9)

• At pressures below the bubble-point pressure, 𝑹𝒔 is calculated from a

combination of DL and separator test data as:
𝑅𝑠𝑆𝑏
𝑅𝑠 = 𝑅𝑠𝑆𝑏 − 𝑅𝑠𝐷𝑏 − 𝑅𝑠𝐷 (10)
𝑅𝑠𝐷𝑏
• Equation 10 can be rearranged in a simpler form as:
𝑅𝑠𝑆𝑏
𝑅𝑠 = 𝑅𝑠𝐷 (11)
𝑅𝑠𝐷𝑏
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• Formation Volume Factor of Gas
• Gas formation volume factor is calculated from the DL data by using

𝑍𝑇
𝐵𝑔 = 0.005035 (12)
𝑃
• 𝑩𝒈 is in bbl/scf.

• Total Formation Volume Factor

• Total formation volume factor, 𝑩𝒕 , at pressures above the bubble-point
pressure equals 𝑩𝒐 calculated from Equation 7, since no gas is evolved.
 Adjustment of Black Oil Laboratory Data
• At pressures below the bubble point, 𝑩𝒕 is calculated from:

𝐵𝑡 = 𝐵𝑜 + 𝐵𝑔 𝑅𝑠𝑏 − 𝑅𝑠 (13)
• Where 𝑩𝒐 is calculated from Equation 8; 𝑹𝒔𝒃 is known from Equation 9
(separator test data); 𝑹𝒔 is calculated from Equation 10.

• Alternatively, if 𝑩𝒕𝑫 values are known from the DL data, the total
formation volume factors can also be computed as:

𝐵𝑜𝑆𝑏
𝐵𝑡 = 𝐵𝑡𝐷 (14)
𝐵𝑜𝐷𝑏