Volatile oils and retrograde gases - What's the difference

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Petroleum Engineer International; (United States)

OSTI ID:5245860

McCain, Jr, W D ^[1]; Bridges, B ^[2]

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1. S.A. Holditch and Associates, College Station, TX (United States)
2. Texas A M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)

Part 1 showed that at reservoir conditions, volatile oils exhibit bubble points and retrograde gases exhibit dew points. The article contained a graph of initial producing gas-oil ratio plotted against concentration of heptanes plus in the fluid. This paper reproduces a portion of that graph with the data points indicating that the fluid had a dew point or a bubble point at reservoir conditions. The scatter in the data reflects the compositional differences among the fluids and the differences in surface separation facilities and conditions. In this graph, only three fluids have dew points and initial producing gas-oil ratios less than 3,200 scf/STB, and only one fluid reaches a bubble point above this value. Therefore, a value of 3,200 scf/STB appears to be a good cutoff between volatile oils and retrograde gases.

• OSTI ID: 5245860
• Journal Information: Petroleum Engineer International; (United States), Journal Name: Petroleum Engineer International; (United States) Vol. 66:1; ISSN 0164-8322; ISSN PEEID4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
023000* -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
03 NATURAL GAS
033000 -- Natural Gas-- Properties & Composition
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DEW POINT
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
NATURAL GAS
PETROLEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
VOLATILITY