N982 PVT Equation of State Applications to Hydrocarbon Fluids
N982 PVT Equation of State Applications to Hydrocarbon Fluids
This practical course will provide attendees with a working knowledge of Pressure Volume Temperature Equation of State (PVT EOS) theory and its applications, following a path from field sampling, to the lab and on to the examination of common practices and analyses used in classical and simulated reservoir engineering. It will also address black oil and compositional modeling for simulation.
This is a four-day classroom-based course that includes theory, worked examples, and a field trip to a reservoir fluid lab.
Participants will learn to:
Three and a half days of classroom work will be followed by a half-day field excursion.
1. Basic Thermodynamics
a. Gibb’s phase rule
b. Reservoir fluid types and the phase diagram
-Black oil
-Volatile oil
-Near-Critical oil
-Retrograde condensates: lean-rich; low-high dropouts
-Wet and dry gas
c. Single components and development of equation of state (EOS)
d. Two-component systems and binary interaction parameters (BIP)
e. Multi-component systems and ternary-quaternary diagrams
2. Equation of State Phase Behavior Modeling
a. Software applications
b. Data requirements for fluid characterization
c. Experimental data for tuning EOS to fluid characterization
d. Gamma distribution fitting
e. Plus fraction characterization and gamma splitting
f. Pseudoization and component lumping
3. PVT Experiments for Petroleum Fluids
a. Traditional black oil experiments including DLE, CCE, CVD
b. Building black oil tables from directly from PVT data
c. Compositional experiments including:
-Equilibrium phase compositions
-Swelling experiments
-Multi-contact vaporization experiments
-Slim tube displacements
4. EOS Characterization Tuning
a. General guidelines for tuning
b. Initializing the characterization
c. Inputting measured data
d. Guidelines for choosing regression variables
e. Trial and error including:
-Modifying the data weighting
-Modifying the choice of regression variables
-Learning to recognize data outliers and discrepancies
-Learning to recognize good matches from poor matches
5. Estimating Reservoir Fluid Compositions
a. “Equilibrium Contact Mixing” method
b. Mathematical decontamination
c. Gravity induced thermodynamic segregation
6. Using Black Oil Properties from a Tuned EOS
a. Run your own laboratory experiments
b. Simulate depletion experiments
c. Generate results for multi-stage surface conditions
d. Translate results in reservoir simulator format
7. Minimum Miscibility Pressures and Enrichments
a. Mechanisms
-Condensing gas drive
-Vaporizing gas drive
-Condensing/vaporizing gas drive
b. EOS predictions
-Slim tube simulations
-Multi-cell, multi-contact mixing simulations
-Predictions by the method of characteristics
8. Reservoir Fluid Lab Visit
a. How PVT experiments are conducted
b. Understanding limitations and uncertainties
This course is designed for engineers assigned with the responsibility of determining reservoir hydrocarbons originally in place and forecasting produced oil and gas volumes during depletion. Understanding phase behavior and PVT laboratory experiments are essential to the reservoir engineer engaged in primary, secondary and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations. Simulation engineers will gain confidence in characterizing reservoir fluids for history matching and predictions. Process and chemical engineers will also benefit from the course.
Participants should be familiar with basic reservoir engineering principles including fluid properties, as presented in Nautilus Basic Application level course N980 (Petroleum Reservoir Fluids) and Skilled application level course N900 (Applied Reservoir Engineering).
Click on a name to learn more about the instructor
Background
Ronald (Ron) Lang is a senior staff reservoir engineer and serves as a team lead with RPS Knowledge Reservoir in Houston, Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in all aspects of reservoir engineering including classical and simulation applications. He is actively involved as a consultant in domestic and international studies requiring application of PVT equation of state (EOS) principles. He participates in association with geosciences teams in field development strategies including primary, secondary, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects.
His career began with Amoco Production Company in Houston and transitioned to consulting firms engaged in exploration and development; acquisition and divestment transaction advisory; and petroleum engineering technical evaluations. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas.
As an experienced simulation engineer, Mr. Lang learned the importance of correctly applying PVT (EOS) to properly characterize reservoir fluids and accurately predict fluid behaviour and its ultimate impact on reservoir performance. He has studied EOS under the guidance of leading experts in the oil and gas industry. In the development of conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources, it is crucial for engineers to understand the differences among the various classes of reservoir fluids. In particular, reserves and their value can be lost rapidly if engineers do not properly define near-critical fluids, and their behaviour, such as in the volatile oils and retrograde gases.
Affiliations and Accreditation
BSc Texas Tech University - Petroleum Engineering
Courses Taught
N982: PVT Equation of State Applications to Hydrocarbon Fluids
Background
Dr. Aaron Zick has specialized in reservoir fluid phase behavior and phase behavior modelling for the past 30 years. Founder and operator of Zick Technologies since 1993, Aaron has provided the petroleum industry throughout the world with expertise in equation-of-state software programming, phase behavior modeling and fluid characterization.
Prior to forming his consulting firm, Dr Zick was the Director of Research at Reservoir Simulation Research Corporation (1991–1993), where he was responsible for the research and development of more efficient, accurate, and reliable techniques for modeling reservoir fluid phase behavior. Dr Zick was also the Senior Principal Research Engineer at ARCO Oil and Gas Company (1983–1991) in charge of research and development of technology and software for oil and gas recovery.
Dr. Zick has published several articles in respected academic journals and received the ARCO President’s Award for “Advancing and Applying Compositional Technology.”, the ARCO Vice President’s Award for “Limited-Compositional Reservoir Simulator Development.”, and the ARCO Special Achievement Award for “Development of the State-of-the-Art EOSPHASE Phase Behavior Program.”
Affiliations and Accreditation
PhD Stanford University - Chemical Engineering
MSc Stanford University - Chemical Engineering
BSc Stanford University - Chemical Engineering
Courses Taught
N982: PVT Equation of State Applications to Hydrocarbons Fluids
Our Safety Management Systems ensure that every course is risk managed appropriately to enable quality, safe and enjoyable learning to take place in the field environment.
To learn more about how RPS manages your health and safety, visit the HSE section of this site.