7 PVT Analysis

7.1 Theory
Many correlations are available to approximate the PVT characteristics of a reservoir
fluid quickly and reasonably accurately. Where a great deal of accuracy is not
required, these equations can save a petroleum company the cost and effort of a
detailed PVT study. The following correlations were gathered together and presented
in a paper by McCain. They are believed to be the most generally applicable
equations for black oil available, having been tested using many oils from around the
world. Two methods are presented for calculating oil and gas PVT properties, the
choice of methods depending on the data available (compositional or based on bulk
fluid density).

(a) Molecular Weight

Given the compositional analysis of a reservoir fluid, the molecular weight is the sum
of the mole fraction weighted molecular weights of the constituent compounds.

If only basic field data are available,

MWg= sgg*28.97
MWo = 6084(APIo - 5.9)

(b) Specific Gravity

From compositional analysis :
sgg = MWg /28.97
sgo = 1.03 MWg/ 44.3 + MWo

From field data :

sgg = Field Gas Gravity

(c) API (oil only)

From compositional analysis :
APIo = 141.5 / sgg - 131.5
From field data :
APIo = Field Liquid API gravity (given)

(d) Density at standard conditions

rhog (sto) = MWg * 14.7 / (10.732 * 520)
rhoo (sc) = sgo / 62.4

(e) Pressure gradient = rhog (res) / 144

(f) Oil formation volume factor
At or below the bubble point :

= 0.9759 * 0.00012 * (GORinit.sol. *(sgg/sgo)0.5 + 1.25 Tres)1.2

Above the bubble point :

= Bobpt * exp (co (Pbpt - Pres))

(g) Oil density at reservoir conditions

At or below the bubble point :
= rhoo(sto) + 0.01357 *GORres * sgg/Bores

Above the bubble point :

= rhoo(bpt) * exp (co *Pres - Pbpt)

(h) Bubble point of the reservoir fluid:

Pbpt = 18 (GOR init.sol. / sgg )0.83 *10 0.00091 * Tres )/ 100.0125 * APIo)

(i) Solution gas-oil ratio

At and above bubble point :

= 10 (0.3818-5.506 Log(sgo)+2.902 Log(sgg)+1.327 Log (Psep)-0.7355 Log( Tsep)) + GORsep

Below bubble point:
= ((Pres/18.2 +1.4) / (100.00091 Tres - 0.0125 APIo))1.205 * sgg
(j) Oil compressibility
Above the bubble point :
= (1433 + 5 GORsep +17.2 Tres - 1180 sgg + 12.61 APIo) /(100000 Pres)

Below the bubble point:

= exp(-7.633 - 1.497 LN(Pres) + 1.115 LN (Tres+460) + 0.533 LN(APIo) + 0.184 LN(GORsep))

(k) Oil viscosity

At or below bubble point :

= 10.715 (GOR +100) - 0.515) µdo(5.44(GOR + 150) )^ - 0.338)

Dead oil viscosity,
µdo = (1010) (1.8653 - 0.025086 APIo - 0.5644 LOG Tres)) - 1
Live oil viscosity,
Above bubble point:
= µbpt (Pres / Pbpt) (2.6 ( Pres ^ 1.187) exp(-0.000898 Pres - 11.513))
(l) Pseudo-critical temperature and pressure for gases
From compositional data :
Tpcg = Σ yjTcj
Ppcg = Σ yjPcj
From field data :

Tpcg = 187 + 330 sgg - 71.5 sgg2

Ppcg = 706 - 51.7 * sgg - 11.1 / sgg2

If H2S and CO2 are present :

Tpcg(H2S/CO2) = Tpcg - 120 ((mol% H2S + Mol% CO2) 0.9 + ( Mol% H2S + Mol%
CO2) )1.6 + (Mol% H2S )0.5 - (Mol% H2S)4

Ppcg(H2S/CO2) = Ppcg + (Mol% H2S (1- Mol% H2S) * 120 ((mol% H2S + Mol%
CO2) 0.9 + ( Mol% H2S + Mol% CO2) )1.6 + (Mol% H2S )0.5 -
(Mol% H2S)4

(m) Pseudo-reduced temperature and pressure (gases only)

Ppr = Pres/Ppc

Tpr = Tres/Tpc
(n) Supercompressibilty (Z) factor (gases only)

Z =1+(A1+A2 / Tpr - A3 / (Tpr3) + A4 / (Tpr4) - A5 / (Tpr5)) * •pr+ ( A6 + A7 / Tpr +

A8 / (Tpr2))*•pr2 - A9 *(A7 / Tpr + A8 / (Tpr2)) * •pr5 + A10 * (1 + A11 *
•pr2) * (•pr2 / ( Tpr3)) * EXP ( -A11 * •pr2 )

where,
•pr = ( 0.27 * (Ppr / (Z * Tpr)))

A1 = .3265 A7 = -.7361
A2 = -1.0700 A8 = .1844
A3 = -.5339 A9 = .1056
A4 = .01569 A10= .6134
A5 = -.05165 A11= .7210
A6 = .5475
Note that Z and •pr are interdependent. This requires an iterative solution method.

(o) Gas formation volume factor

= 0.0282 * Z * Tres+460 / Pres *1000 / 5.6146

(p) Gas density at reservoir conditions:

= MWg * Pres / (10.372 * Z * Tres + 460)

(q) Gas viscosity at reservoir conditions:

= ((9.379 + 0.01607 * MWg) * (Tres + 460)1.5) / (209.2 + 19.26 * MWg +

(Tres +460)) * EXP ((3.448 + ( 986.4 / (Tres+460)) + 0.01009 * MWg) *
(rhog * 10.732 / 669.8 ) (2.447 - 0.2224 * (3.448 + (986.4 /(Tres+460)) + 0.01009 *
MWg))) * 0.0001

Definitions :
Symbols : MW = molecular weight
Xi = mole fraction of i in liquid
Yi = mole fraction of i in gas
P = pressure (psi)
B = formation volume factor (rb/stb or rb/scf)
Rs = solution gas/oil ratio (scf/stb)
T = temperature (o fahrenheit)
c = compressibility
sg = specific gravity (cf. air or water)
rho = density (lb/ft3)
µ = viscosity (cP)
Subscripts :
o = oil
g = gas
i = component i
bpt = bubble point
sto = stock tank conditions
sep = separator conditions
pc = pseudo-critical
pr = pseudo-reduced
c = critical
3.7.2 Algorithm Used:
As seen in the previous equations, most of the correlations are straightforward and
may be programmed in a direct manner. The only exception is the Standing-Katz
method for the determination of the gas compressibility factor, Z. Since the terms Z
and •pr depend on each other, an iterative approach has been adopted. An initial
starting value for •pr of 1 is used. The program uses a function macro to perform 50
iterations, calculating Z and •pr alternately . Fifty iterations should be sufficient for
convergence on Z. However, should the results be suspect, the calculation sequence
can be initiated again.

3.7.3 Instructions for Use:

The input data screen is presented to the user, after loading the spreadsheet The user
has several options for entering data. If the reservoir pressure and temperature are
known, they should be entered in the appropriate cell. If these values are not
available, entering the reservoir depth (to centroid) will enable the calculation of
pressure and temperature, based on typical geopressure and geothermal gradients, as
follows :
P = Depth * 0.45
T = Depth * 0.0175 + 60oF
The user has a choice of entering field data or a compositional analysis into the
spreadsheet by selecting 0 or 1 respectively in the proper cell. If field data method is
available, oil and gas gravities, as well as the separator GOR must be input. If
compositional input is possible, the separator GOR and the compositions of the gas
and liquid must be entered.

All the calculations and output data is displayed in the output spreadsheet. The
function macro calculates Z and •pr automatically.