PVT Experiments

P-V-T (Pressure-Volume-Temperature) analyses are performed in a specialised high

pressure laboratory and require well trained laboratory technicians.

They generally consist of:

• Constant mass expansion

• Differential Liberation

• Series of separation tests

• Viscosity tests

Each of these tests is described below in detail both for oil and retrograde gas.

Constant Mass Expansion (CME)

Oil

The pressure-volume relationship (constant mass expansion study) is studied at reservoir

temperature, or at any other specified temperature, starting from a pressure above the
initial static reservoir pressure (by several hundred psia) down to a relative volume (Vr) at
least equal to two).

Total volume of oil at given P & Tr

Vr =
Volume at bubble point pressure & Tr

Ruska windowed cell

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 1/19

 PVT Experiments

Constant Mass Expansion at 188.0 °F (359.8 K)

Pressure Relative volume Compressibility
psia MPa psia-1 MPa-1
5015 34.58 0.9608 0.00000787 0.001141
3948 27.22 0.9695 0.00000921 0.001335
3015 20.79 0.9786 0.00001088 0.001578
2515 17.34 0.9844 0.00001207 0.001751
2015 13.89 0.9906 0.00001356 0.001966
1515 10.45 0.9976 0.00001544 0.002239
pB=1380 9.52 1.0000 0.00001602 0.002324
1361 9.38 1.0012 0.00027309 0.039608
1351 9.31 1.0050 0.00027997 0.040606
1328 9.16 1.0124 0.00029667 0.043029
1291 8.90 1.0279 0.00032401 0.046994
1216 8.38 1.0579 0.00038637 0.056039
1095 7.55 1.1189 0.00050515 0.073266
924 6.37 1.2406 0.00072523 0.105186
721 4.97 1.4844 0.00110892 0.160835
514 3.54 1.9749 0.00176842 0.256487
337 2.32 2.9558 0.00286636 0.415731

Thermal expansion coefficient 0.000374 F-1 0.000673 K-1

measured at 5015 psia 34.58 MPa
from 108.0 °F 315.4 K
to 188.0 °F 359.8 K

Relative Volume

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 2/19

 PVT Experiments

+4.0317e+005 X2 -89521 X+8.0105e+005

337 psia ≤ p ≤ 1380 psia : Vr =
+1.1145e+006 X + 1
p
X=
1380

-0.001219 X2 +0.30284 X+1.0281

1380 psia ≤ p ≤ 5015 psia : Vr =
+0.32984 X + 1
p
X=
1380

About 100 cm3 of the reservoir fluid are transferred to the PVT cell at constant pressure at
mono-phasic conditions.

The cell is heated from ambient temperature (Ta) to reservoir temperature (Tr). The
volume increase (δV) of the sample due to heating is taken into account.

Thermal expansion factor (α):

1  ∂V 
α=  
V  ∂T  p

Then the pressure of the cell is decreased stepwise and the new volume of the sample at
each pressure step is recorded. From these volumetric data the compressibility of the
reservoir fluid is calculated:

Isothermal Compressibility (c):

1  ∂V 
c=  
V  ∂p T

The Bubble point pressure (pB) is defined, on a pressure-volume diagram, at the

intersection between single-phase and two-phase curves.

The pressure is drawn down to until Vr reaches approximately 2.

Retrograde Gas

The dew point pressure (pD) is determined by visual observation in a window cell. This
observation is subsequently checked by extrapolating the liquid deposit curve.

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 3/19

 PVT Experiments

Constant Composition Expansion at 174.0 °F (352.0 K)

Pressure Relative Compressibility Gas deviation Retrograde
volume factor Z liquid deposit
psia MPa psia-1 MPa-1 vol. %
5015 34.58 0.7512 0.00009444 0.013698 1.001
4825 33.27 0.7670 0.00010385 0.015062 0.983
4597 31.70 0.7851 0.00011661 0.016913 0.959
4352 30.01 0.8105 0.00013138 0.019056 0.937
4120 28.41 0.8367 0.00014717 0.021345 0.916
3677 25.35 0.8986 0.00018266 0.026492 0.878
3289 22.68 0.9722 0.00022055 0.031989 0.850
pD=3162 21.80 1.0000 0.00023273 0.033755 0.840
3117 21.49 1.0130 0.00023504 0.034090 0.087
3051 21.04 1.0300 0.00026321 0.038175 0.202
2906 20.04 1.0726 0.00027549 0.039956 0.601
2710 18.68 1.1439 0.00030348 0.044017 1.162
2400 16.55 1.2868 0.00034342 0.049808 1.955
2022 13.94 1.5334 0.00041515 0.060212 2.739
1712 11.80 1.8352 0.00052185 0.075688 3.228
1394 9.61 2.2942 0.00063131 0.091564 3.588
1165 8.03 2.7846 0.00078183 0.113394 3.620
1029 7.09 3.1887 0.00093168 0.135129 3.553

Retrograde Liquid Deposit

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 PVT Experiments

Specific volumes or densities at dew point pressure are calculated from the molecular
composition of the fluid and the gas equation. The total volume of the fluids in the cell is
recorded at each step and is reported as Vr to give the pressure-volume relationship.

Total Volume of fluid at given p and Tr

Vr =
Volume at dew point pressure and Tr

Condensate volumes in the cell are reported as a percentage of hydrocarbon’s pore

space (total volume of fluid in the cell at pD) and a graph of the retrograde liquid deposit
versus declining reservoir pressure is produced (RLD curve).

For this type of studies special type of equipment has to be used that enables to visually
observe the appearance of the first gas bubble or of the first liquid drop.

The cell consists of two high-pressure cylinders having a large diameter, connected
through a narrow section (about 17-mm long and 3.5-mm diameter). This section is
fitted with two sapphire windows for visual observations of retrograde liquid deposition
and its volumetric measurements. The upper cell is fitted with a piston and the bottom
cell is in contact with mercury.

Hydrocarbon
liquid interface

Convex
Mercury
Interface

Concave Hydrocarbon interface and Convex mercury interface

It is possible to observe the hydrocarbon liquid meniscus even when the liquid deposit is
as low as 0.006 cm3. As soon as hydrocarbon liquid starts to fill, a concave meniscus of
the hydrocarbon liquid phase can be observed just touching the convex mercury
interface the space between the wall of the narrow tube and the convex mercury
interface. This will be a clear indication of the dew formation. Thus visually observed
dew point is recorded. Furthermore, since small volumes as low as 0.01 cm3 (exactly
0.007 cm3) can be measured, the dew point pressure can confirmed by extrapolating
the liquid deposit curve (vs. pressure) down to zero liquid volume.

The position of the piston as well as the liquid level can be adjusted with the dual pump.
This enables to position either the hydrocarbon liquid interface or the mercury meniscus
in the middle of the window, without changing the system pressure. A magnified image
of the window is seen through a video camera and a TV screen.

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 5/19

 PVT Experiments

The use of large volumes in the cell (e.g. over 2000 cm3) can minimise the error
associated with the measurement; The experimental system allows the accurate
measurement of retrograde liquid deposit’s volume down to 0.01 cm3. The accuracy of
the dew point pressure measurement is + or - 5 psia;

The gas deviation factor (z) is calculated by:

pV
z=
nRT

where:

p = pressure

V = total volume at indicated pressure & temperature

n = number of moles

R = gas constant

T = absolute cell temperature

Differential Liberation (Vaporisation)- DL

Differential liberation is a test considered better describing the separation process, taking
place in the reservoir and is also considered to simulate the flowing behaviour of
hydrocarbon systems above the critical gas saturation. During this test, the reservoir fluid
is depleted by 6 or 8 pressure steps from saturation pressure to abandonment pressure
and the solution gas liberated at each step is continuously removed from contact from its
equilibrium oil.

When the pressure of the cell is reduced to a value below pB, the gas cap that is formed
is pushed out from the cell to a gasometer. The remaining fluid is subsequently depleted
down to the next pressure step.

The liberated gas is analysed by gas chromatography for molecular composition, and
gas viscosity; gas gravities are calculated from the molecular composition.

The following parameters are measured or calculated from other sets of data:

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 6/19

 PVT Experiments

Differential Vaporisation of at 188.0 °F (359.8 K)

Properties of oil phase

Pressure Oil volume factor Solution gas oil ratio Reservoir oil density

psia MPa ft3/bbl m3/m3 g/cm3 kg/m3

5015 34.58 1.356 1.356 0.716 716

3948 27.22 1.368 1.369 0.710 710

3015 20.79 1.381 1.381 0.703 703

2515 17.34 1.389 1.390 0.699 699

2015 13.89 1.398 1.398 0.695 695

1515 10.45 1.408 1.408 0.690 690

pB=1380 9.52 1.411 1.412 555 100.0 0.688 688

1315 9.07 1.402 1.403 544 98.1 0.692 692

1015 7.00 1.362 1.362 459 82.7 0.702 702

715 4.93 1.323 1.324 375 67.6 0.711 711

515 3.55 1.293 1.293 317 57.2 0.720 720

215 1.48 1.234 1.235 212 38.2 0.736 736

15 0.10 1.064 1.064 0 0.0 0.778 778

Residual oil at standard conditions

Density 0.828 g/cm3 828 kg/m3

Relative density 0.829

API gravity 39.4

Oil Formation Volume Factor:

Volume of oil at given P and Tr

Bo =
Volume of residual oil at std. conditions

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 PVT Experiments
15 psia ≤ p ≤ 1380 psia :

Bo = + 2.7763X +0.024418 + 0.39133X +3.5626 − 0.33653X +3.81 − 1.422

p
X=
1380

1380 psia ≤ p ≤ 5015 psia:

− 0.00081054X 2 + 0.33598X + 1.4472

Bo =
+ 0.26496X + 1
p
X=
1380

Gas Formation Volume Factor:

Volume of gas at given P and Tr

Bg =
Volume of gas at std. conditions

+14394 X2 -27086 X+1.1471e+005

15 psia ≤ p ≤ 1380 psia : Bg =
+8.701e+006 X + 1
p
X=
1380

Solution gas oil ratio:

Volume of liberated gas at std. conditions

Rs =
Volume of residual oil at std. conditions

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 8/19

 PVT Experiments

15 psia ≤ p ≤ 1380 psia:

Rs = +731.78 X+0.061708 +202.25 X+1.4564 +730.89 X+0.062161 -1105.5

p
X=
1380

Oil density is computed at a given pressure step, using the mass of gas liberated at that
pressure and the mass of oil at previous stage and the volume ratios measured during the
DL experiment.

15 psia ≤ p ≤ 1380 psia:

ρo = -0.29579 X+0.2847 +0.40591 X+0.6629

-0.26491 X+0.88036 +0.84448
p
X=
1380

1380 psia ≤ p ≤ 5015 psia:

+0.0011726 X2 +0.24726 X+0.66999 p

ρo = X=
+0.33241 X + 1 1380

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 9/19

 PVT Experiments

Composite Vaporisation
The composite vaporisation study for an oil is the most suitable laboratory test for
determining Formation Volume Factors (Bo, Bg) and Solution GOR (Rs) to be used for
reservoir engineering calculations. A differential liberation study is performed at
reservoir temperature at each step of which a small volume of the remaining equilibrium
liquid is produced, in the laboratory, through selected separation conditions to yield
stock tank oil. It is called composite vaporisation as it combines differential liberation
with flash separator test. In fact, in this way, the continuous process through which the
oil is produced at the surface during reservoir depletion is simulated stepwise.

The following parameters are measured at each step:

On liquid phase:

• Oil volume at indicated reservoir pressure and temperature, volume of produced

stock tank, after flash to separator and tank, to define Bo.

• Separator GOR, Stock tank GOR, separator and stock tank gas analysis.

• Shrinkage factor and the density of oil.

On gas phase:

• Gas volume at indicated pressure and at standard conditions to calculate Rs, z and
Bg.

• Molecular composition and gravity of the liberated gas.

• Viscosity of the liberated gases (calculated from molecular composition).

Constant Volume Depletion (CVD)

The depletion study is a process by which the reservoir fluid is depleted in the laboratory
by usually in 8-10 pressure steps from saturation pressure down to a selected
abandonment pressure. During each step, the volume in the cell available for the
reservoir fluid sample is increased to reduce the pressure at the required value. After
equilibrium is established enough gas is produced from the top of the cell so that the
total fluid volume occupies the same volume that it was occupied at the initial step at
saturation pressure.

It is considered that this process simulates closely the actual depletion that takes place in
a gas condensate reservoir where only gas is produced, the condensate deposit stays in
the pores of the formation and the total hydrocarbon pore volume remains constant
regardless of pressure.

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 10/19

 PVT Experiments

2300 cm3 ROP windowed piston cell

The technical descriptions of the state of art apparatus used for this study are as follows:

Cell Type H2S proof stainless steel with sapphire window

Working Pressure Up to 10,000 psia (Accuracy ± 1 psia)

Working Temperature Up to 150 oC (Accuracy ± 0.1 oC)

Injection Pump Rate Rated for 10,000 psia with min. counts of 0.01 cm3.

Cathetometer Endoscope for liquid volume measurement 0.01cm3

At each equilibrium step, the following parameters are measured on the produced well
stream:

Gas molecular composition, liquid content (GPM) and cumulative liquid recovery.

Fluid volume at cell conditions and at standard conditions (this allows to compute true z-
factor) and cumulative produced fluid (percentage of initial fluid). Retrograde liquid
deposit (RLD) curve (reported as a percentage of total fluid volume at pD).

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 11/19

 PVT Experiments

Constant Volume Depletion at 174.0 °F (352.0 K)

Produced fluid

Retrograde Cumulative Gas deviation

Pressure Viscosity Relative density
liquid deposit produced fluid factor Z

psia MPa vol. % mol % cp mPa.s

pd=3162 21.80 0.000 0.00 0.840 0.02205 0.02205 0.792

3018 20.81 0.237 3.18 0.836 0.02127 0.02127 0.778

2788 19.22 0.849 7.76 0.832 0.02020 0.02020 0.763

2544 17.54 1.427 15.09 0.832 0.01915 0.01915 0.752

2350 16.20 1.836 24.87 0.833 0.01838 0.01838 0.747

1927 13.29 2.236 38.55 0.840 0.01680 0.01680 0.743

1523 10.50 2.326 53.58 0.851 0.01535 0.01535 0.744

872 6.01 2.169 73.38 0.902 0.01311 0.01311 0.751

380 2.62 1.954 88.08 0.950 0.01144 0.01144 0.764

380 psia ≤ p ≤ 3162 psia:

rld = +3.1842 X+1.2238*9 -4.2725 X+1.2238*6 -2.3992 X+1.2238*3 +1.647 X+1.2238 +1.8381
p
X=
3162

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 12/19

 PVT Experiments

Viscosity of Reservoir Fluid

Viscosity, a measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow, is another important property of
hydrocarbon liquids.

The viscosity of the reservoir fluid is measured at downhole temperature, or at any other
specified temperature, from initial reservoir pressure down to atmospheric pressure.
During this study, below pB, viscosity is measured on the liquid phases, which are
obtained following a differential vaporisation approach.

A rolling ball type of viscometer or a capillary tube one is used for the viscosity study.
The reservoir fluid sample is transferred to the viscometer at an elevated pressure, to
ensure mono-phasic transfer.

Viscosity Study at 188.0 °F (359.8 K)

Pressure Viscosity of liquid phase Viscosity of gas phase

psia MPa cp mPa.s cp mPa.s

5015 34.58 0.75 0.75

3948 27.22 0.72 0.72

3015 20.79 0.66 0.66

2515 17.34 0.66 0.66

1515 10.45 0.64 0.64

pB=1380 9.52 0.62 0.62

1315 9.07 0.63 0.63 0.01476 0.01476

1015 7.00 0.64 0.64 0.01386 0.01386

715 4.93 0.65 0.65 0.01282 0.01282

515 3.55 0.67 0.67 0.01195 0.01195

215 1.48 0.71 0.71 0.00995 0.00995

15 0.10 1.56 1.56 0.00649 0.00649

Viscosity of gas phase is calculated from liberated gas given by differential vaporisation

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 13/19

 PVT Experiments
15 psia ≤ p ≤ 1381 psia:

µ = -39.642 X+0.073169 +27.767 X+0.26535 -10.715 X+0.42634 +23.21

p
X=
1381

+0.022359 X2 +0.19341 X+0.61061

1381 psia ≤ p ≤ 5015 psia: µ=
+0.3148 X + 1
p
X=
1381

Separator Tests (Flash Tests)

The aim of separation tests is to determine the separator conditions that maximise stock
tank oil recovery. Separation tests may be single or multistage and the determination of
the optimal condition requires these tests to be repeated at different sets of conditions.

Usually, 4 single stage separation tests are performed at four different pressures and the
same separator temperature.

 Volume of separator Gas @ std.cond.

GORsep =  
 Volume of Stock tank Oil @ std. cond. 

 Volume of tank Gas @ std. cond. 

GORtank =  
 Volume of Stock tank Oil @ std. cond. 

 Volume of Sepgas + Tank Gas @ std.cond.

Total GOR =  
 Volume of Stock tank Oil @ std. cond. 

Parameters obtained from these tests are:

• Separator GOR, tank GOR and total GOR

• Oil volume factor and shrinkage factor

• Separator and stock tank oil gravity

• Molecular composition of liberated gases, separator and stock tank liquids.

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 14/19

 PVT Experiments

Series of Separation Tests at 83.9 °F (302.0 K)

Tank conditions : 59.0 °F (288.1 K) and 15 psia (0.10 MPa)

Series of single stage separation tests

Pressure Temperature Gas liquid ratio

Separator Tank Total

psia MPa °F K ft3/bbl m3/m3 ft3/bbl m3/m3 ft3/bbl m3/m3

441 3.04 83.9 302.0 178 32.1 262 47.2 440 79.3

299 2.06 83.9 302.0 224 40.3 203 36.6 427 76.9
157 1.08 83.9 302.0 301 54.3 102 18.4 403 72.7
15 0.10 83.9 302.0 406 73.1 406 73.1

Pressure Temperature Separator liquid density Tank liquid density Tank liquid density at
std. conditions

psia MPa °F K g/cm3 kg/m3 g/cm3 kg/m3 g/cm3 kg/m3

441 3.04 83.9 302.0 0.762 762 0.818 818 0.818 818

299 2.06 83.9 302.0 0.769 769 0.816 816 0.816 816
157 1.08 83.9 302.0 0.782 782 0.817 817 0.817 817
15 0.10 83.9 302.0 0.800 800 0.818 818 0.818 818

Pressure Temperature Oil volume factor Shrinkage factor

psia MPa °F K
441 3.04 83.9 302.0 1.291 1.292 0.859 0.859

299 2.06 83.9 302.0 1.281 1.282 0.881 0.881

157 1.08 83.9 302.0 1.280 1.280 0.923 0.922
15 0.10 83.9 302.0 1.323 1.323 0.978 0.977

Shrinkage Factor:

 Volume of Oil @ std.cond. 

Shr =  
 Volume of Oil @ sep.cond.

Oil Volume Factor (from separation test):

 Volume of Reservoir Fluid @ pB 

Bo =  
 Volume of Stock Tank Oil @ std. cond. 

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 15/19

 PVT Experiments

+169.05 X2 -439.12 X+417.58

Separator, 15 psia ≤ p ≤ 441 psia : R=
-0.17119 X + 1

-265.38 X2 +320.63 X-10.26

Tank, 15 psia ≤ p ≤ 441 psia : R=
-0.83784 X + 1

+65.019 X2 -37.855 X+406.59

Total, 15 psia ≤ p ≤ 441 psia : R=
-0.014172 X + 1
p
X=
441

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 16/19

 PVT Experiments

Recommended Flowcharts for Routine PVT Analysis

Low-Shrinkage Oil (Black Oil)

3 bottom 3 separator 3 bottom

liquid gas hole
samples samples samples
Check PbS
and P.V.
curves 3 separator Check Pb
gas and P.V.
Flash to compositions curve
atmospheric
conditions

Separator
liquid Flash to
composition atmospheric
conditions
Check pB or
pD and p-V
curve Reservoir
fluid
composition
Reservoir
fluid
composition

Differential Constant
Viscosity Separation
vaporisation mass
determination tests Expansion

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 17/19

 PVT Experiments

Recommended Flowcharts for Routine PVT Analysis

Retrograde Gas (Gas-Condensate)

3 separator 3 separator
liquid gas
samples samples
Check pB’s
and p-V.
curves 3 separator
gas
Flash to compositions
atmospheric
conditions

Separator Dew
liquid point
composition check

Reservoir
fluid
composition

Constant Constant
volume mass
depletion Expansion

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 18/19

 PVT Experiments

Recommended Flowcharts for Routine PVT Analysis

High-shrinkage Oils (Volatile Oils)

3 bottom 3 separator 3 separator

hole liquid gas
samples samples samples
Check pB’s
Check pB and p-V
and p-V curves
curve 3 separator
gas
Flash to compositions
Flash to atmospheric
atmospheric conditions
conditions
Separator
liquid
Reservoir composition
fluid
composition Check pB or
pD and p-V
curve

Constant Reservoir
volume fluid
depletion composition

Differential Constant
Viscosity Separation mass
vaporisation determination tests Expansion

Written by: Sylvain Jayawardane (Ph. D., M. Eng.)

Oilphase, Aberdeen.

Reservoir Fluid Analysis 19/19