CCE and CVD results

• The usual PVT measurements on

gas condensates are
– Constant Composition Expansion
(CCE) – sometimes called Constant
Mass Expansion
– Constant Volume Depletion (CVD)
• A CCE test is used to measure the
dew point pressure, and to
provide volumetric data above and
below the dew point pressure.
• A CVD test measures data below
dew point pressure.
• Below dew point pressure, a CVD
test is much more valuable than
CCE as it provides data on the
equilibrium gas composition.

January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 1 of 8

 Constant Composition
(Mass) Expansion Test

Data
1. Dew point pressure
2. Z-factor
3. Total volume (rel. to volume at dew point)
4. Liquid phase volumes
January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 2 of 8
 CCE results

January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 3 of 8

 Constant Volume
Depletion Test

P1 = Pdew P3 < P2
P2 < Pdew

Data
1. Amount of gas removed (in moles)
2. Equilibrium gas Z-factor
3. Equilibrium gas composition and C7+
properties
4. Liquid saturation
January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 4 of 8
 CVD results

January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 5 of 8

 Calculated recoveries from
CVD results

January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 6 of 8

 Using CVD results
• The CVD test simulates closely the actual
behavior of a gas condensate reservoir
undergoing pressure depletion, and results
from the lab measurements can be used
directly to quantify recoveries of surface
gas and condensate as a function of
pressure below the dewpoint.

• Combined with single-phase Z-factors from

the CCE test, a complete prediction of
depletion behavior (recoveries and liquid-
yield variation) can be accurately predicted
from initial pressure to abandonment.

• Accurate measurement of the removed gas

composition is very important to the
prediction of condensate recovery and
liquid-yield variation – much more important
than accurate measurement of retrograde
oil volumes.

• Special laboratory procedures should be

followed to ensure accurate CVD
compositional measurements (e.g.
appropriate heating of tubing used to
remove equilibrium gas from the cell).

January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 7 of 8

 Material Balance Checks of
CVD results
• Measurement of the final low-
pressure condensate composition
allows an important material balance
check of CVD results.
• The best technique is a “backward”
material-balance.
• This starts with the final condensate
composition and amount (using the
reported final oil relative volume and
properties), adding incrementally the
removed gas from each CVD step, and
ending up with a check of the original
fluid composition.
• Material balance can also be used to
calculate the liquid phase composition
and density at each CVD step.
Densities and K-values can then be
compared with results of correlations.

January 1, 2019 e-notes (c) Curtis H. Whitson, Robert E. Mott 8 of 8