60 Issue 2: 2015 collection

UDC 622.276.031:532.529.5 (470+571)

T.S. Yushchenko, A.I. Brusilovskiy

A new engineering method for creating and adapting

PVT model of natural gas condensate mixture

Keywords: At the present time, the design and monitoring of the development of virtually any
PVT model, hydrocarbon deposits are accompanied with hydrodynamical model building. One of the
constant volume important stages of hydrodynamical model building is the development of a PVT model of
depletion (CVD), the reservoir hydrocarbon mixture. In the engineering practice, the method most commonly
equation of state, used for building thermodynamic models of natural hydrocarbon systems is a method
gas condensate utilizing the Peng–Robinson three-parameter state equation and efficient algorithms of
mixture. modeling vapor-liquid equilibria of multicomponent systems.
The state equation has many adjustable parameters (critical pressure and temperature,
acentric factor of C6+ fractions, component shift parameter, pair interaction coefficients, etc.).
For this reason, building an adequate thermodynamic model of natural hydrocarbon
systems is not simple and requires the understanding and use of the fundamental premises
of physical chemistry.
Works [1–5] propose algorithms for building PVT models of natural hydrocarbon
systems (reservoir oils and gas condensate systems) and for their adjustment following
laboratory studies. For example, sources [3–5] pay the most attention to evaluating sample
representativeness, and adjustment following laboratory studies is performed by changing
the molecular mass of stabilized condensate (C5+ group). However, the potential contents of
the C5+ group in the reservoir gas are not maintained, and not all of the key parameters are
used for adjustment. Articles [1, 6, 7] emphasize the procedure for dividing the Cn+ group
into pseudocomponents using various methods and determining the properties of such
pseudocomponents (critical pressure and temperature, acentric factor) based on correlation,
but do not specify which state equation parameters are adjusted and in what way. It should be
noted that in many works the procedure of thermodynamic model adaptation to experimental
data is not detailed, and its use in practice requires experience and a creative approach.
An engineering phased approach to building an adequate thermodynamic model of
reservoir oil is described in work [8]. The authors developed an algorithm of successive
PVT model adaptation to the key reservoir oil properties: saturation pressure, volume factor
in the reservoir conditions, separated oil density, and dynamic viscosity of reservoir oil.
For gas condensate systems, the development of such a method is even more difficult
due to the retrograde condensation phenomenon and higher hydrocarbon sensitivity to
temperature and pressure changes. The most important parameters of reservoir gas that
should be considered during design are described in work [9].
This article deals with a new engineering method for building multicomponent PVT
models of natural gas condensate mixtures. The method is based on the reproduction of field
measurement results and basic laboratory thermodynamic studies of representative samples
during mathematical modeling using a state equation.

PVT model building

The process of building a PVT model of reservoir gas condensate mixture is based on
data about the component composition and the results of a number of laboratory studies of
thermodynamic, physical, and chemical properties of the reservoir system and stabilized
condensate, which are provided in technical reports [10].
In calculating stabilized condensate and dry gas reserves, data about the reservoir
gas Z factor and potential decrease in C5+ group contents in the reservoir gas are used.
Also important are the value of the gas/condensate ratio in field gas-condensate studies,

English-language digest
Proceedings of Gas Industry Research and Development
stabilized condensate density, and dynamics of
saturated condensate formation during laboratory
studies of the constant volume depletion process.
It should be noted that the most important part of
the saturated condensate loss curve is the interval
between the initial condensation pressure and the
abandonment pressure, which is usually at least
30–40 bar for gas-condensate fields. The above
parameters are the key parameters for building an
adequate PVT model of a natural gas condensate
system.
Thermodynamic model adaptation
For thermodynamic model adaptation to laboratory
study results, an engineering method is proposed,
consisting in successive adjustment of PVT model
parameters in order to reproduce the key properties
of gas condensate mixture.
We next describe the procedure for identifying
PVT model parameters.
1. We reproduce the potential level of the C5+
group in the reservoir gas ( L pot .ɋ5+ , g/m3 dry gas), by
ascertaining the molecular mass of the remaining
Cn+ ( M Cn). Since
n
¦Z
i =0
C5+i M C5+i
L pot .C5+ = , (1)
0.02404(1 − Z C5+ )
the molecular mass will be unambiguously
determined as:
n −1
0.02404(1 − Z C5+ ) Lpot .C5+ − ¦ Z C5+i M C5+i
i =0
M C n+ = . (2)
Z Cn +
Here, Z C5 and M C5i are the molar fraction and
molecular mass of the ith fraction of the C5+ group
in the reservoir gas, respectively; N is the number
of components in the C5+ group.
If the molecular mass of the last fraction (Cn+)
is less than the molecular mass of the second to
the last fraction (Cn–1), the fractions Cn–1 and Cn+
should be grouped and the molecular mass of the
combined pseudofraction should be calculated
using formula (2) for adjustment to the potential
C5+ group contents in the reservoir gas.
2. If the molar fraction of the remaining
fractions (Cn+ group) is more than 2 %, we divide
the remaining fractions (using laboratory report
results or mathematically) so that the molar
fraction of the last component in the division does
not exceed 1 %.
3. We calculate the critical temperature,
critical pressure, and acentric factor of the C6+
Vesti Gazovoy Nauki scientific and technical collected book
61
group fractions using the method described in
work [11]. The critical temperature is calculated
using the Lee–Kesler correlation, and the critical
pressure and acentric factor using a system of
equations consisting of Peng–Robinson state
equations for the standard conditions and the
Edmister correlation for the acentric factor.
4. We perform adjustment for the saturated
condensate loss curve plotted following laboratory
studies of the constant volume depletion process.
We select the shift parameter and critical
temperature of the Cn+ group (if this group was
divided into a number of pseudocomponents,
the adjustment can be done by changing the
critical temperature and shift parameter of all the
pseudocomponents), as well as the pair interaction
coefficients for interaction between methane and
Cn+ (or all the pseudocomponents into which the
Cn+ group is divided) as the parameters that will
be used for adjustment. The critical pressure and
acentric factor are recalculated [11].
The most important interval of the curve for
which adjustment should be made is the interval
between the condensation beginning and the
abandonment pressure.
The adjustment is done as follows:
a) we adjust stabilized condensate density
using the shift parameter of the Cn+ group (last
fraction). If the calculated stabilized condensate
density is less than the experimental value, we
increase the shift parameter value;
b) we adjust (a graphical representation should
preferably be used) the quantity of the condensate
formed within the pressure range in which
retrograde condensation takes place by changing
the critical temperature of the Cn+ fraction. If the
calculated curve is higher than the experimental
one, the critical temperature of the Cn+ group should
be reduced. We then recalculate the critical pressure
and acentric factor for the fraction according to the
new critical temperature value;
c) we adjust the quantity of the condensate
formed near the initial condensation pressure using
the pair interaction coefficient for the interaction
between methane and the Cn+ fraction (an increase
in the coefficient always results in increased initial
condensation pressure).
All the adjustment steps (a–c) should be
performed in sequence, in cycles, until we reach
the desired accuracy of adjustment for the saturated
condensate loss curve.
The impact of the parameters on the saturated
condensate reservoir loss curve is shown in fig. 1.
62
Saturated condensate loss volume, cm3/stand. m3 0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02 Critical temperature
of heaviest fraction
experiment
0.01
calculated value
after adjustment
0
2.5 7.5 12.5
Pressure, MPa
Fig. 1. Impact of state equation parameters on saturated condensate reservoir loss curve
5. We adjust stabilized condensate density
using the shift parameter of the Cn+ group (last
fraction) again. Increasing the shift parameter
value also increases stabilized condensate density.
6. We adjust the calculated gas/condensate ratio
using the shift parameter for the gas components
C2–C4 (ethane, propane, butanes). Decreasing
their values increases the gas/condensate ratio.
The stabilized condensate density will be slightly
changed as a result, and it should be adjusted using
the shift parameter of the Cn+ fraction.
7. We adjust the reservoir gas Z factor in
the reservoir conditions by changing the shift
parameter for methane. Increasing the shift
parameter decreases the Z factor, and vice versa.
Thus, the method allows adjustment for
the following key parameters of gas condensate
studies:
• initial condensate content in reservoir gas;
• reservoir gas Z factor;
• gas/condensate ratio adopted for gas
condensate studies;
• stabilized condensate density;
• initial retrograde condensation pressure;
• results of constant volume depletion
studies.
Example of building PVT model
of gas condensate mixture
Reservoir gas condensate mixtures are divided into
the following groups by the stabilized condensate
(C5+) content [12]:
• low condensate – max. 25 g/m3;
• medium condensate – 25 to 100 g/m3;
Issue 2: 2015 collection
Shift parameters
of heaviest fraction
Pair interaction coefficient
for interaction between methane
and heaviest fraction
17.5 22.5 27.5 32.5
• high condensate – 100 to 500 g/m3;
• unique condensate – over 500 g/m3.
For low condensate deposits, gas condensate
studies are not conducted, and the condensate
recovery ratio is evaluated using correlations or
graphical relationships [10].
As the potential C5+ content in the reservoir
gas condensate mixture increases, the percentage
of heavy fractions, the properties of which are
difficult to determine, also increases. For this
reason, building an adequate PVT model becomes
more and more difficult as the condensate content
in the reservoir system increases.
Let’s consider the utilization of the PVT model
adjustment method developed using the example
of high condensate mixture with a potential
C5+ content in the reservoir gas of 231 g/m3 dry
gas. The main properties of the gas condensate
mixture are: reservoir temperature 86 °C; reservoir
pressure 27.36 MPa; initial condensation pressure
26.6 MPa; Z factor in reservoir conditions 0.89;
gas/condensate ratio 465 cm3/m3; stabilized
condensate density 755.8 kg/m3; molar mass of
stabilized condensate 130 g/mol.
The technical report provides the following
reservoir gas composition,% mol.: N2 – 0.734;
CO2 – 0.413; C1 – 79.745; C2 – 7.135; C3 – 4.885;
iC4 – 1.187; nC4 – 1.165; C5 – 0.988; C6 – 0.499;
C7 – 1.152; C8 – 0.577; C9 – 0.391; C10 – 0.276;
C11+ – 0.853. The molar fraction of C11+ is close
to 1 %, and a zone can be identified near the
initial condensation pressure on the saturated
condensate reservoir loss curve (fig. 2), in which
condensate is formed very gradually. We could
English-language digest
Proceedings of Gas Industry Research and Development 63

Saturated condensate loss volume, cm3/stand. m3 0.05

0.04

0.03

0.02

experiment
0.01 calculated value before adjustment
calculated value after adjustment
0
2.5 7.5 12.5 17.5 22.5 27.5
Pressure, MPa

Fig. 2. Saturated condensate loss curve following modeling of constant volume depletion process

not accurately adjust to the initial condensation properties of the reservoir hydrocarbon system
pressure when adjusting the PVT model for the both for hydrodynamical modeling of deposit
saturated condensate loss curve with the above exploitation utilizing a multicomponent filtration
component composition. The calculated value of model and when using pseudobinary models such
the initial condensation pressure was lower than as black oil with regard to condensate solubility
the experimental value. in the gas phase (with a live oil + wet gas option).
In such cases, it is necessary that the molar Consider specifics of data preparation for their
fraction of the last fraction in the PVT model further use in hydrodynamical modeling.
does not exceed 0.1 % to enable simultaneous
adjustment to the initial condensation pressure 1. Multicomponent filtration model
and the saturated condensate loss curve. For When a PVT model is used in the compositional
this reason, the C11+ fraction was divided into modeling of a field exploitation process, the
five pseudofractions mathematically using the number of components in the reservoir mixture
Whitson gamma distribution method [13, 14] so model will be very important, since the speed of
that the molar fraction of the last fraction is less field exploitation process calculations depends on
than 0.1 %. After the division, the pseudofractions it. For this reason, before using a PVT model built
had the following molar fractions, % mol: by the proposed method, it should be modified by
1C11+ – 0.514; 2C11+ – 0.170; 3C11+ – 0.104; reducing the number of components in the mixture
4C11+ – 0.046; 5C11+ – 0.020. Pseudofraction through grouping. The component grouping
properties were calculated using the method methods are described in works [2, 11].
described in work [11]. Some recommendations concerning compo-
Thus, using the algorithm proposed, it was nent grouping rules are:
possible to adapt the PVT model to the main • gas (CO2, N2, H2S, C1–C4) and oil (C5 and
properties of gas condensate mixtures with high heavier) components cannot be grouped with each
accuracy (the maximum error was less than 1 %), other, since it may affect the redistribution of the
including saturated condensate loss curves during vapor-liquid equilibria in the system;
studying the constant volume depletion process • it is recommended to group gas compo-
(see fig. 2). nents as follows: N2–C1, CO2–H2S–C2, C3–C4;
• if gas injection is planned (for example,
Building relationships between PVT properties CO2), this component should not be grouped with
of gas condensate mixture and pressure the others;
for field exploitation modeling • it is recommended to group heavy
PVT models built using the method proposed in components so that the law of molar fraction
the article provide reliable information about the distribution vs. the molecular mass of components

Vesti Gazovoy Nauki scientific and technical collected book

64
is maintained. For more accurate modeling of
retrograde processes near the initial condensation
pressure, several last fractions should not be
grouped together.
After grouping components into pseudo-
components, it is recommended to check how
accurate the modified PVT model reproduces the
main properties of the gas condensate mixture.
If necessary, the model should be adjusted using
the method described above.
We now provide possible grouping of mixture
components for the above example. The grouping
resulted in the following component composition
of the mixture, % mol.: (N2+C1) – 80.479;
(CO2+C2) – 7.548; (C3+C4) – 7.237; (C5+C6) – 1.487;
(C7+C8+C9+C10) – 2.396; (C11+C12+C13+C14) –
– 0.6122; (C15+C16+C17) – 0.1206; C18+ – 0.1202
(a total of 8 components). After component
grouping, mixture properties changed insig-
nificantly and were adapted using the method
proposed in this article. Fig. 3 shows the saturated
condensate loss curve before and after component
grouping.
2. Black oil type model (pseudobinary model
considering condensate solubility in gas phase)
An adequate multicomponent PVT model of a
gas condensate system can be efficiently used for
building relationships between PVT properties of
a natural hydrocarbon system and pressure during
the design of the field exploitation process using a
black oil model with the live oil + wet gas option.
0.06
Saturated condensate loss volume, cm3/stand. m3
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
experiment
0.01 calculated values before grouping
calculated values after grouping
0
2.5 7.5 12.5
Pressure, MPa
Fig. 3. Saturated condensate loss curve calculated using model
before and after component grouping
Issue 2: 2015 collection
For building the required relationships,
data from the constant volume depletion (CVD)
process at the reservoir temperature and the infield
separation configuration, in which virtually all
the C5+ group fraction will be transformed from
the gas phase to the liquid phase (condensate),
are used. For that purpose, the temperature at one
of the separation stages should be –25°C or less.
Such an approach allows to correctly reproduce
stabilized condensate production.
Obtaining the required relationships vs. pres-
sure is implemented in existing computer simu-
lators (for example, Eclipse, VIP, MORE,
PVTsim). The gas and liquid phase property values
are determined by modeling stage separation at
each step of the CVD process for the reservoir gas
condensate mixture.
Implementing this method requires the use
of an adequate multicomponent thermodynamic
model of the reservoir gas condensate system of
the exploitation target under study. The building
algorithm for such models is described above.
***
In conclusion, we can make the following
observations.
An engineering method is proposed for
building a multicomponent model of reservoir
gas condensate mixture that does not require
the use of the regression analysis procedure
to adequately describe PVT properties when
using state equations. The method is based on
17.5 22.5 27.5
English-language digest
Proceedings of Gas Industry Research and Development
successive identification of composite model
parameters in order to accurately reproduce
the main results of experimental studies of
representative samples.
The method developed allows to correlate
reservoir gas condensate system properties used
References
1. Tokarev D.K. Adapting scheme for creation of
adequate models for gas-condensate systems
(by an example of Achimov deposits at the
Urengoy oil-and-gas-condensate field) /
D.K. Tokarev, D.G. Fateev, A.G. Kozubovskiy
et al. – Territoriya Neftegaz. – 2012. – № 12. –
P. 46–53.
2. Brusilovskiy A.I. Procedure for application
cubic equations of state in modelling natural
gas-condensate mixtures / A.I. Brusilovskiy. –
Gazovaya promyshlennost’. – 2004. – № 4. –
P. 16–19.
3. Shchebetov A.V. Quality evaluation and modelling
of gas-condensate studies in terms of initial data
uncertainty / A.V. Shchebetov, M.V. Galkin. –
Gazovaya promyshlennost’. – 2009. – № 9. –
P. 40–44.
4. Zurita A.R. An efficient tuning strategy to calibrate
cubic EOS for compositional simulation / Rafael
Aguilar Zurita, W.D. McCain // SPE 77382. –
2002.
5. Schebetov A. Quality check of gas-condensate
PVT studies and EOS modeling under input data
uncertainty / A. Schebetov, A. Rimoldi, M. Piana //
SPE 133258. – 2010.
6. Hosein R. Extended analysis for gas condensate
systems / Raffie Hosein, W.D. McCain // SPE
Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering. – 2009. –
P. 163–166.
7. Joergensen M. Optimization of pseudo-
component selection for compositional studies
of reservoir fluids / M. Joergensen, E.H. Stenby //
SPE 30789. – 1995.
Vesti Gazovoy Nauki scientific and technical collected book
65
for reserves calculations and field exploitation
design purposes.
The method can be efficiently used for
designing field exploitation using both composite
models and black oil type models with the live
oil + wet gas option.
8. Brusilovskiy A.I. Rational approach to forming
models of stratum oils for hydrodynamic
calculations at designing and monitoring of
development / A.I. Brusilovskiy, A.N. Nugayeva,
I.Ye. Khvatova // Vestnik TsKR Rosnedra. –
2009. – № 4. – P. 48–56.
9. Whitson C.H. Characterizing hydrocarbon plus
fraction / C.H. Whitson // SPE Journal. – 1983. –
P. 683–694.
10. R Gazprom 2-3.3-303-2009. Guidance for
studding natural gas-condensate systems aimed
at calculation of balance and recoverable
reserves of natural gas components, designing,
analysis and control of OAO “Gazprom” fields’
development. – Moscow: Gazprom OJSC:
Gazprom VNIIGAZ LLC, 2009. – 39 p.
11. Brusilovskiy A.I. Phase transformations
at development of oil and gas fields /
A.I. Brusilovskiy. – Moscow: Graal. – 2002. –
575 p.
12. Poroskun V.I. Principles of oil and fuel
gases reserves classifying and calculating /
V.I. Poroskun, G.A. Gabrielyants, Yu.A. Podturkin
et al. // Informational and analytical bulletin:
supplement to “Nedropolzovaniye XXI vek”
magazine. – Moscow: National Association for
Subsoil Use Auditing. – 2007. – 40 p.
13. Whitson C.H. Gas condensate PVT – What’s really
important and Why? / С.H. Whitson, O. Fevang,
T. Yang // Proc. of Optimization of gas condensate
fields conference. – London: IBC, 1999.
14. Whitson C.H. Phase behavior / C.H. Whitson,
M.R. Brule // SPE monograph volume. – Texas,
2000. – (Henry L. Doherty series).