The Five Reservoir Fluids

Introduction:
Naturally occurring hydrocarbon systems found in petroleum reservoirs are mixtures of
organic compounds which exhibit multiphase behavior over wide ranges of pressures and
temperatures. These hydrocarbon accumulations may occur in the gaseous state, the liquid state,
the solid state, or in various combinations of gas, liquid, and solid.

The following definitions are needed to discuss fluid systems:

Phase: It is any homogeneous and physically distinct part of a system that is separated from
other parts of the system by definite bounding surfaces. The term phase in reservoir engineering
is indicates a fluid that will not mix readily with other fluids present due to interfacial tension,
(Examples: oil, gas, water).

Equilibrium: A condition at which a material appears to be at rest, that is, not changing in
volume or changing phase.

Component: A component is an entity, consistent, a given compound, or substance (e.g.

methane, ethane, nitrogen, etc).

Phase Behavior of Petroleum Fluids: Phase behavior is the study of relationships

between conditions (pressure, temperature, volume) and phases (liquid, gas, and solid). We need
those relations to compute volumetric and flow behavior of fluids we deal with in the petroleum
industry. The phase behavior relations in the fluids we deal with could be complex since we deal
with multiphase flow and sometimes with complex fluids. Injection of fluids could further
complicate the phase behavior.
The basic difference between gases and liquids is primarily related to the distance
between molecules. In gases, the molecules are relatively far apart, while in liquids the
molecules are fairly close together. Therefore, gases are compressible, while liquids are
incompressible since a repelling force between molecules causes the liquid to resist further
compression. Additionally, when gases are placed in containers, they fill the containers
completely and do not exhibit free surfaces. Liquids take the shape of the container but exhibit
free surfaces. The most common examples of phases are water vapor, liquid water, and ice.
Definite boundaries between water vapor-liquid water, water vapor-ice, and liquid water-ice
exist; thus it can be said that the gas, liquid, and solid phases make up a three-phase system.

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 There three factors are important to the physical behavior of fluid molecules; Pressure,
Temperature and intermolecular forces. Pressure and molecular attraction tend to confine the
molecules and pull them together. Temperature and molecular repulsion tend to separate the
molecules. Gases, in which the molecules are relatively far part, have an attractive force between
the molecules as the distance between molecules decreases. But in liquid, in which the molecules
are fairly close together, there is a repelling force between molecules which causes the liquid to
resist further compression. The behavior of a reservoir fluid during production is determined by
the shape of its phase diagram and the position of its critical point.
To construct the phase diagram for a reservoir fluid, one needs to carry on laboratory
experiments that involve depletion at different temperatures to populate the phase envelop.
Alternatively, one can use EOS to predict the phase behavior and phase diagram if the
composition is known.

Phase Diagram:

A phase diagram is a graph of pressure plotted against temperature showing the conditions under
which the various phases of a substance will be present. Figure1phase diagram (pressure-
temperature diagrams) for a multicomponent system.

These multicomponent pressure-temperature diagrams are essentially used to:

1. Classify reservoirs
2. Classify the naturally occurring hydrocarbon systems
3. Describe the phase behavior of the reservoir fluid

Figure1: Typical P-T diagram for a multicomponent system

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Define the key points on these diagrams:

 Cricondentherm (Tct): The Cricondentherm is defined as the maximum

temperature above which liquid cannot be formed regardless of pressure (point 1). The
corresponding pressure is termed the Cricondentherm pressure Pct.

 Cricondenbar (Pcb): The Cricondenbar is the maximum pressure above which no

gas can be formed regardless of temperature (point 2). The corresponding temperature is
called the Cricondenbar temperature Tcb.

 Critical point: The critical point for a multicomponent mixture is referred to as the
state of pressure and temperature at which all intensive properties of the gas and liquid
phases are equal (point C). At the critical point, the corresponding pressure and
temperature are called the critical pressure Pc and critical temperature Tc of the
mixture. Other define; the critical point represents the maximum pressure and
temperature at which a pure component can form coexisting phases

 Phase envelope (two-phase region): The region enclosed by the bubble-point

curve and the dew-point curve (line BCA), wherein gas and liquid coexist in equilibrium,
is identified as the phase envelope of the hydrocarbon system.

 Quality lines: The dashed lines within the phase diagram are called quality lines. They
describe the pressure and temperature conditions for equal volumes of liquids. Note that
the quality lines converge at the critical point (point C).

 Bubble-point curve: The bubble-point curve (line BC) is defined as the line
separating the liquid-phase region from the two-phase region. The point at which the first
few molecules leave the liquid and form a small bubble of gas is called the bubble point.

 Dew-point curve: The dew-point curve (line AC) is defined as the line separating the
vapor-phase region from the two-phase region. The point at which only a small drop of
liquid remains is known as the dew point.

Petroleum engineers have the task to study the behavior and characteristics of a petroleum
reservoir and to determine the course of future development and production that would maximize
the profit.
Petroleum reservoirs classified as oil or gas reservoirs depending on:
 The composition of the reservoir hydrocarbon mixture
 Initial reservoir pressure and temperature

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  Pressure and temperature of the surface production

In general, reservoirs are conveniently classified on the basis of the location of the point
representing the initial reservoir pressure Pi and temperature T with respect to the pressure-
temperature diagram of the reservoir fluid.

Accordingly, reservoirs can be classified into basically two types. These are:

o Oil reservoirs: If the reservoir temperature T is less than the critical temperature Tc
of the reservoir fluid, the reservoir is classified as an oil reservoir.

o Gas reservoirs: If the reservoir temperature is greater than the critical temperature of
the hydrocarbon fluid, the reservoir is considered a gas reservoir.

Oil Reservoirs depending upon initial reservoir pressure Pi, oil reservoirs can be subclassified
into the following categories:

1. Undersaturated oil reservoir: If the initial reservoir pressure Pi (as represented by

point 1 on Figure 2, is greater than the bubble-point pressure Pb of the reservoir fluid, the
reservoir is labeled an undersaturated oil reservoir.

2. Saturated oil reservoir: When the initial reservoir pressure is equal to the bubble-
point pressure of the reservoir fluid, as shown on Figure 2 by point 2, the reservoir is
called a saturated oil reservoir.

3. Gas-cap reservoir: If the initial reservoir pressure is below the bubble point pressure
of the reservoir fluid, as indicated by point 3 on Figure 2, the reservoir is termed a gas-
cap or two-phase reservoir, in which the gas or vapor phase is underlain by an oil phase.
The appropriate quality line gives the ratio of the gas-cap volume to reservoir oil volume.

Gas Reservoir in general, if the reservoir temperature is above the critical temperature of the
hydrocarbon system, the reservoir is classified as a natural gas reservoir. On the basis of their
phase diagrams and the prevailing reservoir conditions.

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 1

Figure 2: Oil reservoirs classification with the initial reservoir pressure and
the bubble-Point pressure

Types of Reservoir Fluids

There are five main types of reservoir fluids as follows:
 Black oil.
 Volatile oil.
 Retrograde gas condensate.
 Wet gas.
 Dry gas

Identification of Fluid Type

Reservoir fluid type can be confirmed only by observation in the laboratory. Readily
available production information usually will indicate the type of fluid in the reservoir. Three

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properties are readily available: the initial producing gas –oil ratio, the gravity of the stock-tank
liquid, and the color of the stock-tank liquid. The initial producing gas –oil ratio GOR is by far
the most important indicator of fluid type. The color of the stock-tank liquid alone is not a good
indicator of fluid type. Stock-tank liquid gravity and color are useful in confirming the fluid type
indicated by the producing gas-oil ratio.

• Black oil
The name black oil is a misnomer since the color of this type of oil is not always black.it
is consist of a wide variety of chemical species including large, heavy, nonvolatile molecules.
The phase diagram predictably covers a wide temperature range, the critical point is well up the
slope of the phase envelope.
A typical pressure-temperature phase diagram for black oil is shown in Figure 3 It should
be noted that quality lines which are approximately equally spaced characterize this black oil
phase diagram. The lines within the phase envelope represent constant liquid volume, measured
as percent of total volume. These lines are called iso-vols or quality lines. For a typical black-oil
phase diagram, the iso-vols are spaced evenly within the envelope. A reduction in pressure below
the bubble point at indicated reservoir temperature would release gas to form a free gas phase in
the reservoir. As reservoir pressure declines more, additional gas is evolved in the reservoir.
Additional gas evolves from the oil as it moves from the reservoir to the surface. This causes
some shrinkage of the oil. However, separator conditions lie well within the phase envelope,
indicating that a relatively large amount of liquid arrives at the surface. Water is always present
in a petroleum reservoir but is not included in this discussion.

Figure 3: phase diagram of a typical black oil with line

of Isothermal reduction of reservoir pressure

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Identification of black oil
Field Identification

Black oils are characterized as having initial producing gas-oil ratios of 2000 scf/STB or
less. Producing gas-oil ratio will increase during production when reservoir pressure falls below
the bubble-point pressure of the oil. The stock-tank oil usually will have a gravity below 45°API.
Stock-tank oil gravity will slightly decrease with time until late in the life of the reservoir when it
will increase. The stock-tank oil is very dark, indicating the presence of heavy hydrocarbons,
often black, sometimes with a greenish cast, or brown.

Laboratory Analysis

Laboratory analysis will indicate an initial oil formation volume factor of 2.0 res bbl/STB
or less. Oil formation volume factor is the quantity of reservoir liquid in barrels required to
produce one stock-tank barrel. Thus, the volume of oil at bubble point shrinks by one-half or less
on its trip to the stock tank. Laboratory determined composition of heptanes plus will be higher
than 30 mole percent, an indication of the large quantity of heavy hydrocarbons in black oil.

• Volatile oil

Volatile oil contain relatively fewer heavy molecules and more intermediates (defined as
ethane through hexanes) than black oil. The phase diagram for a typical volatile oil is somewhat
different from the black-oil phase diagram Figure 4. The critical temperature is much lower than
for a black oil and, in fact, is close to reservoir temperature. Also, the iso-vols are not evenly
spaced but are shifted upwards toward the bubble-point line. A small reduction in pressure below
the original bubble-point, point 2, causes the release of a large amount of gas in the reservoir.
Volatile oils may become as much as 50 percent gas in the reservoir at only a few hundred psi
below the bubble-point pressure. Also, an iso-vol with a much lower percent liquid crosses the
separator conditions. Hence the name volatile oil.

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 Figure 4: phase diagram of a typical Volatile oil with line of isothermal reduction of reservoir pressure

Identification of Volatile oil

Field Identification

Volatile oil are identified as having initial producing gas-oil ratios between 2000 and
3300 scf/STB.2 The producing gas-oil ratio increases as production proceeds and reservoir
pressure falls below the bubble- point pressure of the oil. The stock-tank oil gravity is usually
40°API or higher and increases during production as reservoir pressure falls below the bubble
point. The stock-tank oil is colored (usually brown, orange, or sometimes green).

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Laboratory Analysis

Laboratory observation of volatile oil will reveal an initial oil formation volume factor
greater than 2.0 res bbl/STB. The oil produced at bubble point will shrink by more than one-half,
often three- quarters, on the trip to the stock tank. Volatile oils should be produced through three
or more stages of surface separation to minimize this shrinkage.
Laboratory determined compositions of volatile oil will have 12.5 to 30 mole percent
heptanes plus. The dividing line between volatile oils and retrograde gases of 12.5 mole percent
heptanes plus is fairly definite. When the heptanes plus concentration is greater than 12.5 mole
percent, the reservoir fluid is almost always liquid and exhibits a bubble point. When the
heptanes plus concentration is less than 12.5 mole percent, the reservoir fluid is almost always
gas and exhibits a dew point.

• Retrograde Gas Condensate

Stock-tank liquid produced from retrograde gas reservoirs often is called condensate. The
liquid produced in the reservoir is called condensate also. A better name is retrograde l i q u i d
The phase diagram of a retrograde gas is somewhat smaller than that for oils, and the critical
point is further down the left side of the envelope. These changes are a result of retrograde
gases containing fewer of the heavy hydrocarbons than do the oil. The phase diagram of a
retrograde gas has a critical temperature less than reservoir temperature and a Cricondentherm
greater than reservoir temperature. See Figure 5 Initially, the retrograde gas is totally gas in the
reservoir, point 1. As reservoir pressure decreases, the retrograde gas exhibits a dew point, point
2. As pressure is reduced, liquid condenses from the gas to form a free liquid in the reservoir.
This liquid will normally not flow and cannot be produced.

Figure 5: phase diagram of a typical a retrograde gas condensate

with line of isothermal reduction of reservoir pressure

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Identification of Retrograde Gas Condensate

Field Identification

The lower limit of the initial producing gas-oil ratio for a retrograde gas is approximately
3300 scf/STB.2 The upper limit is not well defined; values of over 150,000 scf/STB have been
observed. Gases with high gas-oil ratios have cricondentherms close to reservoir temperature
and. drop very little retrograde liquid in the reservoir.
As a practical matter, when producing gas-oil ratio is above 50,000 scf/STB, the quantity
of retrograde liquid in the reservoir is very small and the reservoir fluid can be treated as if it
were a wet gas (defined later).Producing gas-oil ratios for a retrograde gas will increase
after production begins when reservoir pressure falls below the dew-point pressure of the
gas. Stock-tank liquid gravities are between 40° and 60°API and increase as reservoir pressure
falls below the dew-point pressure. The liquid can be lightly colored, brown, orange, greenish, or
water-white.

Laboratory Analysis

Retrograde gases exhibit a dew point when pressure is reduced at reservoir temperature.
The heptanes plus fraction is less than 12.5 mole percent. Retrograde behavior will occur at
reservoir conditions for gases with less than one percent heptanes plus, but for these gases the
quantity of retrograde liquid is negligible. An initial producing gas-oil ratio of 3300 to 5000
scf/STB indicates a very rich retrograde gas, one which will condense sufficient liquid to fill 35
percent or more of the reservoir volume. Even this quantity of liquid seldom will flow and
normally cannot be produced. The surface gas is very rich in intermediates and often is processed
to remove liquid propane, butanes, pentanes, and heavier hydrocarbons. These liquids often are
called plant liquids.

• Wet Gas

The word "wet" in wet gas does not mean that the gas is wet with water but refers to
the hydrocarbon liquid which condenses at surface conditions. In fact, reservoir gas is
normally saturated with water.
The typical wet gas phase diagram will entirely lie below reservoir temperature. A wet
gas exists solely as a gas in the reservoir throughout the reduction in reservoir pressure. The
pressure path, line 1, 2, does not enter the phase envelope. Thus, no liquid is formed in the
reservoir. However, separator conditions lie within the phase envelope, causing some liquid to
be formed at the surface.

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 Figure 6: phase diagram of a typical a wet gas with line of isothermal
reduction of reservoir pressure

Identification of Wet Gas

Field Identification

Wet gases produce stock-tank liquids with the same range of gravities as the liquids from
retrograde gases. However, the gravity of the stock- tank liquid does not change during the life
of the reservoir. The stock- tank liquid i s usually w a t e r -white. True wet gases have v er y
h i g h producing gas-oil ratios. Producing gas-oil ratios will remain constant during the life of a
wet gas reservoir. For engineering purposes, a gas which produces more than 50,000 scf/STB can
be treated as if it were a wet gas.

• Dry Gas

The word "dry" in dry gas indicates that the gas does not contain enough of the heavier
molecules to form hydrocarbon liquid at the surface. Usually some liquid water is condensed at
the surface. A dry gas reservoir often is called simply a gas reservoir. Dry gas is primarily methane
with some intermediates. A typical dry gas phase diagram indicates that the hydrocarbon mixture is
solely gas in the reservoir and that normal surface separator conditions fall outside the phase envelope.
Thus, no liquid is formed either in the reservoir or at the surface

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.
Figure 7: phase diagram of a typical a dry gas with line of isothermal
reduction of reservoir pressure

Components of Naturally Occurring Petroleum Fluids:

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Differences between the Five Reservoir Fluids:

1. Identification of Fluid Type from Field Data

*For Engineering Purposes

 The 1,750 scf/STB break between black oils and volatile oils is not sharp - could be ±250
scf/STB.
 Initial stock-tank oil gravity and color are not important to the identification of fluid type
except in the black oil - volatile oil overlap

2. Identification of Fluid Type from Laboratory Analysis

*For Engineering Purposes

 The 20 mole percent heptanes plus break between black oils and volatile oils is not sharp
– could be ±2.5%

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 3. Identification of Fluid Type from Primary Production Trends

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