Year 4

semester 7

Gas Reservoir
Engineering
International University Of
Chapter 4 Technology Twintech
Gas Condensate Reservoirs

Prepared by Lecturer:
Eng. Mohammed al-sanhani
Gas-condensate Reservoir
If the reservoir temperature T lies between the critical temperature Tc
and cricondentherm Tct of the reservoir fluid, the reservoir is classified as
a retrograde gas-condensate reservoir.

Figure 1: Phase diagram of a typical retrograde gas with line of isothermal reduction
of reservoir pressure.
 Consider that the initial condition of a retrograde gas
reservoir is represented by( point 1) on the pressure-temperature
phase diagram of Figure 1. Because the reservoir pressure is
above the upper dew-point pressure, the hydrocarbon system
exists as a single phase (i.e., vapor phase) in the reservoir.

 As the reservoir pressure declines isothermally during

production from the initial pressure(point1) to the upper dew-
point pressure (point 2), the attraction between the molecules
of the light and heavy components cause the molecules to move
further apart. As this occurs, attraction between the heavy
component molecules becomes more effective; thus, liquid
begins to condense.
This retrograde condensation process continues with
decreasing pressure until the liquid dropout reaches its
maximum at (point 3).

Further reduction in pressure permits the heavy molecules to

start the normal vaporization process. This is the process
whereby fewer gas molecules strike the liquid surface and causes
more molecules to leave than enter the liquid phase.

The vaporization process continues until the reservoir pressure

reaches the lower dew-point pressure. This means that all the
liquid that formed must vaporize because the system is
essentially all vapors at the lower dew point.
The term retrograde is used because generally vaporization occurs during
isothermal expansion, rather than condensation

In most gas-condensate reservoirs, the condensed liquid volume rarely

exceeds more than 15%–19% of the pore volume. This liquid saturation is
not large enough to allow any liquid flow. It should be recognized, however,
that around the wellbore where the pressure drop is high, Enough liquid
dropout might accumulate to give two-phase flow of gas and retrograde
liquid.

Retrograde condensation:
in reservoir mechanics, the formation of liquid droplets in a gas as the well is
produced and the pressure drops. Some hydrocarbons exist naturally above
their critical temperature in the reservoir; as a result,
when pressure is decreased,
instead of expanding to form a gas, they condense to form a liquid.
A gas condensate reservoir typically contains:
1- Methane (as the major component),
2- Intermediate components: propane, butane, pentane and hexane.
3- Small fraction of heavy components: heptanes and heavier.

The associated physical characteristics of Retrograde Gas condensate are:

 Gas-oil ratios between 8,000 to 70,000 SCF/STB. Generally, the gas-oil ratio for a
condensate system increases with time due to the liquid dropout and the loss of
heavy components in the liquid.
 Condensate gravity above 50° API
 Stock-tank liquid is usually water-white or slightly colored.
Calculation of Initial In-Place Gas and Oil for Gas-Condensate
Reservoirs.

The initial amounts of both the gas and the condensate in a reservoir can be
calculated on a unit volume basis by two methods. The more accurate
method requires a compositional analysis of the reservoir fluid, but an
estimate can be made if limited data are available. A procedure and example
calculation for each case are presented.

Method1: Compositional Analysis Not Available

The initial in-place gas and oil (condensate) for gas-condensate reservoirs
may be calculated from generally available field data by recombining the
produced gas and oil in the correct ratio to find the average specific
gravity of the total well fluid, which is presumably being produced initially
from a one-phase reservoir.
 n

i 1
( R sep ) i ( sep ) i  R st  st
 g  n

i 1
( R sep ) i  R st

Where:
R: standard cubic feet of gas from separator or stock tanks,(SCF)
γsep: Separator gas gravity
γst: Tank gas gravity
γg = average specific gravity of the gas produced from the surface separators
(air = 1)

The tank oil specific gravity is obtained from the API gravity of the tank oil
using the following equation:
141.5
o 
API 131.5
 Where the molecular weight of the tank oil is not known it may be estimated
using the following formula:
44.29 o 6084
Mo  
1.03   o A PI  5.9
Where :
γo = specific gravity of the tank oil (water = 1)
Mo = molecular weight of the tank oil (condensate)
SC = 14.7 psia and 60 oF. and Molar volume = 379.4 cu ft/mole

Where R = initial surface gas-oil ratio of the production, (SCF/STB)

And the specific gravity of the well fluid is

R  g  4584 o
w 
o
R  132,800
Mo
Then the total initial gas in place per acre-foot of bulk reservoir rock is
G 379.4 pV 379.4 p  43560 (1  Swi ) 
pV  znRT  zRT  G  
379.4 zRT zRT
379.4 p
G  43560  (1  S wi )  (SCF/ac-ft)
zRT
Exercise:
Calculate the initial oil and gas in place per acre-foot for a
gas condensate reservoir.
Given:
Initial pressure = 2740 psia Reservoir temperature = 215 oF
Average porosity = 25% Average connate water = 30%
Daily tank oil = 242 bbl Oil gravity, 60 oF = 48.0 oAPI
Daily separator gas = 3100 MSCF
Separator gas gravity = 0.650
Daily tank gas = 120 MSCF
Tank gas gravity = 1.20

Solve it and then compare your answers with the following

slides….
Continue
Calculation of Initial In-Place Gas and Oil for Gas-Condensate
Reservoirs.
Method 2: Compositional Analysis Available
If a compositional analysis of the separator gas and liquid is
available, a compositional analysis of the total well fluid, from
which a more accurate Z-factor can be calculated, can be
obtained by recombining the gas and liquid phases in the
correct proportions.

The following example, adapted from Craft and Hawkins1,

illustrates the procedure.
Example:
Table 8-2
Solution:
1. Calculate the mole proportions in which to recombine the separator gas and liquid.

multiply the mole fraction of each component in the liquid, Column 3, by its molecular
weight, Column 4, and enter the products in Column 5. The sum of Column 5 is the
molecular weight of the separator liquid, 127.48.
Since the specific gravity of the separator liquid is 0.7675 at 880 psig and 60'F, then the
moles per barrel is
2. Recombine the 59.11 moles of gas and 2.107 moles of liquid.
Steps:
Multiply the mole fraction of each component in the gas. Column 2. by 59.11 moles.
and enter in Column 8.
Multiply the mole fraction of each component in the liquid. Column 3. by 2.107 moles.
and enter in Column 9.
 Enter the sum of the moles of each component in the gas and liquid. (Column 8
+ Column 9). in Column 10.
 Divide each component in Column 10 by the sum of Column 10. and
enter the quotients in Column 11. which is the mole composition of the total well fluid

 Calculate the pseudocriticals (Tpc = 379.23 R & Ppc = 668.23 psia)from

composition.

find the Tpr = T /Tpc = (217+460)/ 379.23 = 1.785

Ppr = P /Ppc = (4350)/ 668.23 = 6.51

From Chart, the deviation factor Z is 0.963.

Resume calculation for the Table 8-2
3. Find the gas and oil in place per acre-foot of net reservoir rock.

From the gas law. the initial moles per acre-foot is

ni =

Initial gas in place = gas mole fraction x initial moles x (molar volume at Standard
Cond.
= 0.966 x 4713 x 371.2 = 1690 Mcuft/acre.ft

Initial oil in place = (1- gas mole fraction) x initial moles

Separator liquid volume factor x moles per bbl of sep. liquid

(1 – 0.966) x 4713
= = 61.6 STB/acre.ft
1.235 x 2.107
The pseudocritical properties of the C7+ fractions used in Table 8-2 were obtained as
a function of molecular weight and specific gravity from Figure 8-5.

Fig. 8-5. Correlation charts for estimation of the pseudocritical temperature and pressure of
heptanes plus fractions from molecular weight and specific gravity.
WELL TESTING AND SAMPLING
:Proper testing of gas-condensate wells is essential for

A) Check the state of the hydrocarbon system at reservoir conditions.

B) Planning the best production and recovery program for the reservoir.

Without proper well tests and samples, It would be impossible to

A) determine accurately the phase conditions of the reservoir contents at P res &T res
B) Estimate accurately the amount of hydrocarbon materials in place.

Tests are made on gas condensate wells for a number of specific purposes:

1) To obtain representative samples for laboratory analysis,

for identifying the composition and properties of the reservoir fluids;

2) To make field determinations of gas and liquid properties

3) Determine formation and well characteristics, including productivity& injectivity.

Material balance of retrograde gas condensate reservoirs