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Black & Volatile Oil Compositional difference:

For Black oils, C7+>20%
For Volatile oils, 12.5%<C7+<20%

Before production, reservoir pressure is not same throughout the reservoir. We know that gravity
forces tend to segregate reservoir fluids based on density differences. Gravity causes segregation
in oil itself; the bottom oil has more amount of heavier components, and the top oil has relatively
more amount of lighter components. So the bottom oil is heavy and the top layer is light (both
are oils though). The gas that will liberate will evolve from the light oil layer.

Segregation by gravity will be

more effective on a thicker
reservoir, and also is a
function of time; more time,
more segregation.

As we start producing, the reservoir pressure will decrease. Now as stated above, reservoir
pressure is not homogenous. We also stated that due to the influence of gravity causing
segregation due to density difference there is light and heavy oil. Keeping in mind that we are
producing right now, we are analyzing the figure. Now as the light oil layer has more amount of
lighter components, hence pb will achieve on top before bottom.
Consider above diagram of an oil layer; notice that beginning from center as we go higher, the pb
will achieve first at the extreme top edge of this zone. So we can say that pb is high at the top and
as we go lower the value of pb decreases. Hence, bubble point pressure for light oil will achieve
earlier (and is high) as pressure depletes from high to low.
According to the hydrostatic pressure gradient line, we know that the well flowing pressure will
increase as we go from top to bottom, because as depth of well is deep, mud density times depth
will yield more pressure each time we go deeper. Also reservoir pressure also increases from top
to bottom. But pb decreases as we go from top to bottom.
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Now pb is also pressure required to dissolve a gas in oil. Now volatile oil has more amount of
lighter hydrocarbons, so it is saturated with dissolved gas, and adding more gas in it will require
more pressure. In contrast, black oil has less amount of lighter components so less pressure is
required to dissolve gas in it.
Segregation in gas condensate reservoirs is just reverse. Dew point pressure pd is greater at the
bottom and less on the top. Dew point pressure is the pressure when first bubble of oil comes out.
Now due to gravity segregation the gas (gas condensate) that is at the bottom will have more
amount of heavier hydrocarbons, and as pressure is depleted lower gas layer will achieve pd first.
So you can see that that the lower gas layer can be treated as a rich gas condensate and the top
layer as lean gas condensate. The more the rich a gas condensate is, the higher its pd. Its concept
is reverse of that of oil, i.e. the more amount of heavier components in a gas condensate, the
higher pd is (the heavier an oil is, the less its pb).
Color of Black oil: the color of this oil is black. Also comes in dark green, dark orange or
brown.

In exam you can explain from

either cell or reservoir.

Consider a reservoir situation with pi=3000psi, pb=2000psi & p2=2500 psi. Remember that
reservoir volume doesnt change i.e. Vbulk, Vpore is assumed constant. You drilled well, you
developed it, you produce from it. Reservoir pressure changes. As you produce from it the mass
of hydrocarbons in reservoir reduces. Mass is directly proportional to pressure, consider your cng
cylinder in car, its volume is constant, as mass drops pressure drops. So pressure is an indication
of mass present. As mass is reduced so density reduces.
Lets take examples. Consider 1 bbl of oil coming from reservoir @3000psi. Consider 1 bbl of
oil coming from reservoir at 2500 psi. The oil when pressure was 3000psi is denser then oil when
p=2500psi. The more density of oil, the more liquid youll get at surface.
Vstock from Vo @3000psi=0.8 bbl =>Bo=1/0.8=1.25 bbl/stb
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Vstock from Vo @2500psi=0.7 bbl=>Bo=1/0.7=1.43 bbl/stb

So Bo increases with decrease in pressure. (Note we are keeping Rso constant, only mass change
is dealt with).

Consider the relationship between oil vs p for black and volatile oil. Its reverse of B .
o

The basic importance of viscosity is in Darcy equation, for

estimation of flow rate;
ko A p
Q o=
o L

Where ko= effective permeability of oil. For radial flow;

2 koh p
Qo=
oln( )
rw

Absolute permeability is the measurement of the permeability, or ability to flow or

transmit fluids through a rock, conducted when a single fluid, or phase, is present in the
rock. It is maximum; when whole reservoir is saturated with single fluid. Its a property
of fluid.
Effective permeability is the ability to preferentially flow or transmit a particular fluid
when other immiscible fluids are present in the reservoir. Its a property of fluid.
When there is no connate water, ko=kabs
ko<kabs in presence of connate water or gas. Absolute k never exists as connate water is
always present.
Basic use of Darcy law-to predict flow rate.
Flowlines= route of oil/gas flow.
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