Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

Water Properties

Prof Peter Behrenbruch

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

8 Water Properties…p 1
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Variation in Water Patterns (Composition) in Aquifer
Arbuckle Formation, Kansas*

Ellsworth

Barton Stoltenberg field

Rice
Stafford

Bloomer field
0
Na Cl
100 100
Ca HCO3
10 10
Mg SO4
10 10
*Ref: Stiff,
Fe CO3 Trans. AIME
St John field Drachfield 10 10
SCALE
meq per litre
Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology
8 Water Properties…p 2
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Water Properties and Typical Values

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

8 Water Properties…p 3
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Formation Volume Factor
Calculation based on charts for temperature and pressure
corrections

Bw = ( 1 + DVwp ) (1 + DVwT )

DVwp (>0)

DVwT (<0)

(e.g.) Calculate water formation volume factor at 200 oF and

3,000 psia.
(below bubble point pressure)

DVwp = -0.0048
DVwT = 0.039

Bw = ( 1 -0.0048 ) (1 + 0.039 ) = 1.034

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology
8 Water Properties…p 4
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Density
Primarily affected by the amount of chemicals dissolved in the water
P, T corrections required.

dissolved (gw)
Conc. of chemicals
Pressure grad., psi/ft

(rw) , lb/cuft, lb/gal

Density or weight

Specific gravity (gw)

(Example) Calculation of water density at reservoir P and T

1. Calculate water density @ st. cond. according to the chemicals dissolved.

2. Read Bw [rb/stb] at reservoir P and T
3. Correct the density to reservoir P and T.
Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology
8 Water Properties…p 5
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Solubility of Natural Gas

log (solubility in brine/ solubility in pure water)

log(1)
log (solubility in pure water)

methane

Increase in T
ethane

propane

butane

log (pressure)
Solid conc.

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

8 Water Properties…p 6
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Isothermal Compressibility

Two regimes ( below or above bubble point pressure (Pb):

1  Bw 
cw     Below Pb
Bw  P T

1  Bw   Rsw  
cw      Bg    Above Pb
Bw  P T  P T 

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

8 Water Properties…p 7
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Viscosity

Two-step procedure
1. Viscosity at given temperature plus salinity
2. Correction to elevated pressure

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

8 Water Properties…p 8
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Brine Viscosity at 14.7psia and Reservoir Temperature (m*T) cp
P, psia

Water Viscosity
as a Function
of Pressure, Temperature,
and NaCl Equivalent

Example: Find the viscosity T, oF

of a 80,000ppm brine at fP,T, pressure correction factor
220oF and 6,000psia
Answer: At 220oF, on the
mP,T  m *T f P,T
8% line, read m* = 0.35cp.
Brine salinity
From the small chart, for 220oF
(% NaCl)
And 6,000psia, read f = 1.02.
Then mw = 0.35*1.02 = 0.36cp

Note: %NaCl = ppm/10,000

Ref: Chestnut, unpublished,

Shell Development Co.
Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology
8 Water Properties…p 9
P. Behrenbruch
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
Reservoir Temperature, oF
 Gas Hydrates (1)
Hydrocarbon gas and liquid water
together form a solid phase at
temperatures above the water-
freezing point.

Water molecules form a framework

and hydrocarbon molecules
occupy (or are “sitting in”) the
space between water molecules.
(hydrocarbon molecules can freely
rotate in the space.)

In recent years, an increasing number

of oil and gas reservoirs are found
to be in the hydrated state.

Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology

8 Water Properties…p 10
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch
 Gas Hydrates (2)
Phase diagram for water + hydrocarbon mixture:
Low T + high P is favourable condition for hydrate formation
Hydrate can be formed at chokes, subsea pipelines etc.

hydrocarbon
Pressure

liquid + water
hydrate + ice hydrate +
water

hydrocarbon
gas + water

hydrocarbon
gas + ice
Temperature
Introduction to the Petroleum Industry and Technology
8 Water Properties…p 11
HCMUT 22-27 September 2014
P. Behrenbruch