By: Bilal Amjad

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INDEX

Conference Papers ............................................................................................................................... 3

1.

STUDY OF COMPOSITIONAL MULTI-PHASE FLOW FORMULATIONS WITH CUBIC EOS........................................ 3

2.

A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS AND AUTOMATED WORKFLOW FOR DESIGNING AND DATA VALIDATION FOR DIFFERENT

RESERVOIR FLUID ANALYSIS STUDIES TOWARDS BUILDING AN INTEGRATED PVT CATALOG ...................................... 3
3.

DELIVERING A PRODML DATA-EXCHANGE STANDARD FOR PVT AND FLUID CHARACTERIZATION DATA FOR THE

FULL LIFECYCLE OF A RESERVOIR .................................................................................................................. 4

4.

EVALUATING FORMATION FLUID PROPERTIES DURING SAMPLING-WHILE-DRILLING OPERATIONS ...................... 5

5.

ANALYSIS OF NARROW-BOILING BEHAVIOR FOR THERMAL COMPOSITIONAL SIMULATION ................................ 6

6.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THREE-HYDROCARBON-PHASE FLOW WITH ROBUST PHASE IDENTIFICATION ........... 6

7.

A GENERIC PHYSICS-BASED NUMERICAL PLATFORM WITH HYBRID FRACTURE MODELLING TECHNIQUES FOR

SIMULATING UNCONVENTIONAL GAS RESERVOIRS .......................................................................................... 7

8.

DEVELOPMENT OF A FOUR-PHASE CHEMICAL-GAS MODEL IN AN IMPEC RESERVOIR SIMULATOR...................... 8

9.

A COMPOSITIONAL MODEL FULLY COUPLED WITH GEOMECHANICS FOR LIQUID-RICH SHALE AND TIGHT OIL

RESERVOIR SIMULATION ............................................................................................................................ 9

10. CONSISTENT EXTRAPOLATION OF BLACK AND VOLATILE OIL FLUID PROPERTIES ABOVE ORIGINAL SATURATION
PRESSURE FOR TIGHT AND CONVENTIONAL RESERVOIRS ................................................................................. 10
11. DEVELOPMENT OF A NUMERICAL SCHEME FOR SIMULATION OF ASPHALTENE DEPENDENT PHENOMENA IN POROUS
MEDIA................................................................................................................................................. 11
12. EXPERIMENTAL GAS ABSORPTION IN PETROLEUM FLUIDS AT HPHT CONDITIONS ......................................... 12
13. PHASE-BEHAVIOR MODELING AND FLOW SIMULATION FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE CO2 INJECTION .................... 13
14. MODELING FROM RESERVOIR TO EXPORT: A COMPOSITIONAL APPROACH FOR INTEGRATED ASSET MODEL OF
DIFFERENT GAS FIELDS IN NORTH KUWAIT JURASSIC CARBONATE RESERVOIRS .................................................... 13

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15. COMPARISON OF MMP ESTIMATION METHODS WITH PROPOSED WORKFLOW............................................ 14

Journals Papers .................................................................................................................................. 15
16. PVTX CHARACTERISTICS OF OIL INCLUSIONS FROM ASMARI FORMATION IN KUH-E-MOND HEAVY OIL FIELD IN IRAN
15
17. ASPHALTENE LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF A HEAVY ONSHORE RESERVOIR DURING PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE AND
COMPOSITION VARIATIONS TO PREDICT ASPHALTENE ONSET PRESSURE ............................................................... 16

18. CONSTRUCTING A UNIQUE TWO-PHASE COMPRESSIBILITY FACTOR MODEL FOR LEAN GAS CONDENSATES ............. 16
19. DETERMINATION OF DEW POINT PRESSURE IN GAS CONDENSATE RESERVOIRS BASED ON A HYBRID NEURAL GENETIC
ALGORITHM .......................................................................................................................................... 17

20. EMPIRICAL ESTIMATING OF BLACK OILS BUBBLEPOINT (SATURATION) PRESSURE ............................................ 18

21. MODELING CLOUD POINT OF SOLUBLE POLYMERS IN SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE FLUID USING PCP-SAFT
EQUATION OF STATE AN APPLICATION IN ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY ................................................................ 18

22. PVT MODELING OF RESERVOIR FLUIDS USING PC-SAFT EOS AND SOAVE-BWR EOS ..................................... 19
23. ESTIMATION OF VAPORLIQUID EQUILIBRIUM RATIOS OF CRUDE OIL COMPONENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ...... 19
24. SMART CORRELATION OF COMPOSITIONAL DATA TO SATURATION PRESSURE ................................................ 20
25. MARANGONI FLOW: AN UNKNOWN MECHANISM FOR OIL RECOVERY DURING NEAR-MISCIBLE CO2 INJECTION ..... 21
Patents .............................................................................................................................................. 21
26. SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOLVING A MULTI-RESERVOIR SYSTEM WITH HETEROGENEOUS FLUIDS COUPLED TO
COMMON GATHERING NETWORK ............................................................................................................... 21

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Conference Papers
1. Study of Compositional Multi-Phase Flow Formulations with Cubic EOS
Gharbia, I. Ben, IFP Energies Nouvelles
Flauraud, E., IFP Energies Nouvelles
Michel, A., IFP Energies Nouvelles
Abstract: In this article, two formulations of multiphase compositional Darcy flows taking into account phase
transitions are compared. The first formulation is the so called natural variable formulation commonly used in
reservoir simulation, the second has been introduced by Lauser et al. and uses the phase pressures, saturations
and component fugacities as main unknowns. We will discuss how the Coats and the Lauser approaches can be
used to solve a compositional multiphase flow problem with cubic equations of state of Peng and Robinson. Then,
we will study results of several synthetic cases that are representative of petroleum reservoir engineering problems
and we will compare their numerical behavior.

Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173249-MS

2. A Systematic Process and Automated Workflow For Designing and Data

Validation for Different Reservoir Fluid Analysis Studies Towards
Building An Integrated PVT Catalog
Mawlod, Arwa Ahmed, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations, Abu Dhabi, UAE
David, Richard Mohan, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Abstract: Pressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) and other physical and chemical properties of hydrocarbon fluids
are critical to reservoir engineers to evaluate the initial hydrocarbon volumes in place, predict reservoir dynamic
behaviour and future production, design production facilities etc. The fluid properties need to be measured over a
wide range of temperature and pressure for proper fluid characterization and Equation of State (EOS), particularly
when gas is injected in the reservoir.
There are various parties involved in planning for PVT studies. There have been problems associated with PVT
studies work flow such as poor scope of work, data quality issues, missed deadlines, lost documents and others.
Therefore, it was essential to standardize and enhance the data acquisition by streamlining the process starting from
requesting PVT analysis, controlling data quality, reporting and archiving the data systematically for future usage.
This paper presents the steps taken in developing the automatic PVT workflow. The project includes mapping the
PVT workflow, developing a tool to build a well-defined scope of work based on objectives, establishing quality
measurement criteria for tests, automated tool to (QA/QC) data for different studies, standard reporting and finally
archiving the validated data in data base. The process covers different types of fluid analysis studies. Results indicate

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that the PVT workflow automation is a sophisticated way to enhance the PVT business work efficiency and helps to
overcome problems associated with PVT studies. The automated QC tool embedded in the work flow is significantly
helping in capturing data uncertainties and fixing anomalies at early stage of project execution. Further, the service
quality of the laboratories can be measured for continuous improvement of the data and service provided. The
proposed approach also allows a quick analysis of fluid properties to capture trends across reservoir formations, and
thus improve data validation prediction procedures.

Source: 2015 SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference, 8-11 March, Manama, Bahrain
DOI: 10.2118/172832-MS

3. Delivering a PRODML Data-Exchange Standard for PVT and Fluid

Characterization Data for the Full Lifecycle of a Reservoir
Aydelotte, Robert, ExxonMobil
Alboudwarej, Hussein, Chevron
Dindoruk, Birol, Shell
Qi, Yunying, Shell
McCreless, Jacob, Schlumberger
Nighswander, John, Schlumberger
Kunt, Tekin Ali, Weatherford
Lucas-Clements, Daniel, Schlumberger
Ormerod, Laurence, Energistics
Hollingsworth, Jay, Energistics
Mao, Mark, Energistics
Abstract: Data associated with reservoir fluids are diverse, detailed and important. Reliable reservoir fluid properties
obtained during the field's lifecycle are critical factors in planning reservoir, facilities, and well developments to
maximize return on capital.
Fluids data, however, are often based on samples, which are normally collected, analyzed and modelled early in the
reservoir's lifecycle. Because of the diversity and physical nature of reservoir fluids, the data are usually
characterized by complex experiments that represent a best approximation of fluid behavior along the entire
production pathway. The quality of the results of these experiments depends on the test sample's handling and
preparation, the experimental process used, and the test conditions employed. Understanding and accurately
communicating this background context for fluid properties is essential to ensure that adequately representative
properties are available for a specific technical workflow.
This paper describes an Energistics-sponsored and proposed PRODML industry standard to consistently capture
and communicate fluid and pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) analysis data covering sample acquisition,
laboratory analysis, fluid system characterization, and property generation for upstream technical workflows. While
not dealing with how to perform these steps in the reservoir fluid's lifecycle, this XML standard allows data to be
initially incomplete and updated as additional data are developed. Also, the final products, such as a fluid property

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table or an equation-of-state (EOS) model, remain connected to the earlier lifecycle stages of characterization,
analysis, and acquisition as well as the reports and documents created at each stage.
This proposed standard is designed to improve reliability and reduce costs for data exchanges between field
personnel, laboratory personnel, subject matter experts, and end users. The standard is also designed to support
the evolution of a single document for a fluid sample's lifecycle. Other capabilities include storing these data in a
system of record.

Source: 2015 SPE Digital Energy Conference and Exhibition, 3-5 March, The Woodlands, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173425-MS

4. Evaluating Formation Fluid Properties During Sampling-While-Drilling

Operations
Indo, K., Schlumberger
Pop, J., Schlumberger
Hsu, K, Schlumberger
Ossia, S., Schlumberger
Atzeni, G-L., eni
Malossi, A., eni
Agarwal, V., Schlumberger
Garcia-Mayans, A., Schlumberger
Paul, S., Schlumberger
Varughese, J., Schlumberger
Haq, S., Schlumberger
Abstract: Recent experience with a newly introduced sampling-while-drilling service has shown that it is possible to
make reliable downhole formation fluid property estimates during sampling-while-drilling operations. Such fluid
properties, derived by means of downhole optical spectrometry, include hydrocarbon composition (C1 through C5
and C6+), carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, gas/oil ratio (GOR), formation volume factor (FVF), and, asphaltene
content. Oil-based mud filtrate contamination estimates made during the sample cleanup process enable assessing
the quality of the pumped fluid in real time. These property and contamination estimates facilitate the management
of the entire while-drilling sampling process by aiding sample-capture decisions and allowing the best possible
utilization of the sample bottles currently available on a drilling bottomhole assembly. Moreover, the contamination
estimates together with the real-time fluid property estimates enable prediction of the uncontaminated fluid
properties. These may be the only available estimates of clean-fluid properties in zones where fluid scanning was
performed with no physical sample recovery. The real-time while-drilling fluid property predictions made during
sampling-while-drilling operations performed in a Gulf of Mexico deepwater exploration well are compared to the
properties measured during pressure/volume/temperature (PVT) laboratory analysis performed on recovered
samples. Furthermore, the predicted clean-fluid properties are compared to uncontaminated properties derived using
an equation-of-state (EoS) after mathematically removing the contamination from the composition of the laboratoryanalyzed samples. The downhole estimated fluid properties are found to be in good agreement with the properties

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measured in the PVT laboratory on recovered samples. Similarly, the downhole predicted clean-fluid properties are
found to be in good agreement with the laboratory cleaned estimates obtained by the EoS approach.

Source: 2015 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, 17-19 March, London, England, UK
DOI: 10.2118/173152-MS

5. Analysis of Narrow-Boiling Behavior for Thermal Compositional

Simulation
Zhu, Di, SPE
Okuno, Ryosuke, University of Alberta
Abstract: Thermal compositional simulation can be challenging when narrow-boiling behavior is involved. The term
narrow-boiling is used in the literature to refer to enthalpy that is sensitive to temperature. This paper presents an
analysis of narrow-boiling behavior on the basis of multiphase isenthalpic-flash equations, where energy and phase
behavior equations are coupled through the temperature dependency of K values. The Peng-Robinson equation of
state is the thermodynamic model used in the analysis.
The general condition for narrow-boiling behavior is that the interplay between energy balance and phase behavior
is significant. This is realized in engineering computations, such as flash calculations and reservoir simulation, as
the sensitivity of K values to temperature. Two subsets of the condition are derived by analyzing the convex function
whose gradient vectors consist of the Rachford-Rice equations; (i) the overall composition is near an edge of
composition space, and (ii) the solution conditions (temperature, pressure, and overall composition) are near a
critical point, including a critical endpoint. A special case of the first specific condition is the fluids with one degree
of freedom, for which enthalpy is discontinuous in temperature.
Case studies are given to confirm the narrow-boiling conditions for water-containing hydrocarbon mixtures. Narrowboiling behavior tends to occur in thermal compositional simulation likely because water is by far the most dominant
component in the fluid systems formed in the simulation. K values can be sensitive to temperature for those fluids
with skewed concentration distributions. Decoupling of temperature from the other variables is confirmed to be robust
in isenthalpic flash for narrow-boiling fluids.

Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173234-MS

6. Numerical Simulation of Three-Hydrocarbon-Phase Flow with Robust

Phase Identification
Xu, Zhongguo, University of Alberta
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Okuno, Ryosuke, University of Alberta

Abstract: Low-temperature oil displacement by enriched-gas or carbon-dioxide (CO2) can exhibit multiphase flow
of three hydrocarbon phases; the oleic (L1), solvent-rich liquid (L2), and gaseous (V) phases. The L2 phase can play
a significant role in these oil recovery processes. Recently, oil displacement by three hydrocarbon phases was
explained on the basis of interphase mass transfer on phase transitions in multiphase flow. However, systematic
investigation into the complex interplay between phase behavior and mobilities has been hindered by issues in
multiphase compositional flow simulation, such as incorrect phase identification.
This paper presents the effect of relative permeability on oil displacement by three hydrocarbon phases. A new
method for robust phase identification is developed and implemented in a 1D convective flow simulator with no
volume change on mixing. The new method uses tie triangles and their normal unit vectors tabulated as part of the
simulation input information. The extensions of the limiting tie triangles at the upper and lower critical endpoints
(UCEP and LCEP) define three different regions in composition space; the super-UCEP, super-LCEP, and sub-CEP
regions. The method can properly recognize five different two-phase regions surrounding the three-phase region;
the two two-phase regions that are super-CEP, and the three different two-phase regions that originate with the
corresponding edges of the three-phase region in the sub-CEP region. Multiphase behavior calculations are
conducted rigorously by use of the Peng-Robinson equation of state with the van der Waals mixing rules during the
flow simulation. Simulation case studies are presented with a quaternary model and the West Sak oil model with 15
components.
Results show that the phase-identification method developed in this research can correctly solve for phase identities
in three-hydrocarbon-phase flow simulation. The method can quantify the relative location of the current overall
composition to the three-phase region in composition space. Simulation results are analyzed by use of the distance
parameters that describe interphase mass transfer on multiphase transitions in oil displacement. In the case study
for the West Sak oil displacement, the analysis confirms that the miscibility level of oil displacement increases with
increasing methane dilution. The effect of relative permeability diminishes as the miscibility level increases owing to
methane dilution. The distance parameters can properly represent the interaction of phase behavior and mobilities
since they are derived from mass conservation, not only from thermodynamic conditions.

Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173202-MS

7. A Generic Physics-based Numerical Platform with Hybrid Fracture

Modelling Techniques for Simulating Unconventional Gas Reservoirs
Jiang, Jiamin, University of Tulsa
Younis, Rami M., University of Tulsa
Abstract: Unconventional gas reservoirs have become the focus of considerable attention as primary energy
resource over the past decades worldwide. Numerical modelling technique plays a critical role in providing the

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essential tools for evaluating, optimizing and managing the development of such complex systems. In this work, we
develop a generic simulation platform which allows investigators to rapidly implement and experiment with a wide
array of alternate physical and constitutive models. The simulation platform is designed to incorporate the spectrum
of known physics inherent in unconventional gas reservoirs, such as the non-Darcy effect covering various flow
regimes, multi-phase behavior, adsorption/desorption, high-velocity turbulent flow, as well as the rock unconsolidation of natural fractures network.
In addition, the platform provides maximum flexibility of representation for the complex fractured network with
irregular and non-ideal fracture geometries in unconventional formations. Two types of hybrid fractures models which
integrate discrete fracture models (DFMs) with continuum-type approaches were developed for describing the multiscaled multi-continuum nature of the stimulated fractured system. The hybrid modelling techniques could be utilized
for applications with different requirements for efficiency and accuracy considerations, such as long-term gas
recovery evaluation, multi-well interaction, completion optimization and transient behavior characterization, etc.
The simulation platform is designed and applied using a general abstraction that is built on top of the Automatically
Differentiable Expression Templates Library (ADETL). In this paper, we conduct preliminary sensitivity studies to
determine the key factors of reservoir and fractures that affect the production performance of unconventional gas
wells. We present preliminary simulation results to demonstrate the model applications, and show the results of our
model validation effort.

Source: SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173318-MS

8. Development of a Four-Phase Chemical-Gas Model in an IMPEC Reservoir

Simulator
Lashgari, Hamid R., The University of Texas at Austin
Sepehrnoori, Kamy, The University of Texas at Austin
Delshad, Mojdeh, The University of Texas at Austin
DeRouffignac, Eric, The University of Texas at Austin
Abstract: This paper describes a general four-phase model developed for gas (steam)/oil/water/microemulsion, coexisting at equilibrium and implemented using original framework of the IMPES chemical flooding simulator. This
model represents a new method to couple black oil model with chemical phase behavior i.e. Hand's rule. Hand's rule
is used to capture the equilibrium among surfactant, oil, and water species as a function of salinity and species
concentrations for oil/water/microemulsion phases. Therefore, inter-phase mass transfer between gas/oil or
steam/water in the presence of the microemulsion phase and the equilibrium between phases is calculated.
Furthermore, a new volume balance equation is derived to develop pressure equation for compressible and real
mixtures. Hence, the pressure equation is derived by extending the black oil model to a pseudo-compositional model
for a wide range of components (water, oil, surfactant, polymer, anion, cation, alcohol, and gas). Mass balance
equations are then solved for each component to calculate the volumetric concentration. Finally, we implemented
the coupled surfactant and black oil phase behavior models and the fluid flow formulations in an IMPEC chemical

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flooding simulator (UTCHEM). The results are validated against conventional reservoir simulators for several threephase cases comprising steam/water/oil, gas/oil/water, and oil/water/microemulsion. The results show that the new
phase behavior model and the fluid flow formulations are reliable and in good agreement with other reservoir
simulators for all case studies. Moreover, the findings of this study can be used to model and capture all possible
four-phase flow that may arise in hybrid thermal-chemical flooding applications and considering different phenomena
such as inter-phase mass transfer.

Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173250-MS

9. A Compositional Model Fully Coupled with Geomechanics for Liquid-Rich

Shale and Tight Oil Reservoir Simulation
Xiong, Yi, Colorado School of Mines
Winterfeld, Philip H., Colorado School of Mines
Wang, Cong, Colorado School of Mines
Wu, Yu-Shu, Colorado School of Mines
Huang, Zhao-Qin, China University of Petroleum (East China)
Abstract: The pore sizes of unconventional reservoir rocks, such as shale and tight rocks, are on the order of
nanometers. The thermodynamic phase behavior of in-situ hydrocarbon mixtures in such small pores is significantly
different from that of bulk fluids in the PVT cells, primarily due to effect of large capillary pressure. For example, it
has been recognized that the phase envelop shifts and bubble point pressure is suppressed under subsurface
condition in tight oil reservoirs. On the other hand, it has been observed that the pore sizes, especially the sizes of
pore-throats, are subject to change due to rock deformation induced by the fluid depletion from over-pressurized
unconventional reservoirs. As the fluids are being produced from the pore space, the effective stress on reservoir
rock increases, resulting in reduction of the pore and pore-throat sizes. This reduction on pore spaces again affects
the fluid flow through impacts on the thermodynamic phase behavior, as well as stress induced changes in porosity
and permeability. Thus a coupled flow-geomechanics model capturing in-situ reservoir phase behavior is in general
necessary to model tight and shale reservoir performance.
In this paper, we propose a multiphase, multidimensional compositional reservoir model, fully coupling fluid flow with
geomechanics for tight and shale reservoirs. The fluid flow model is a compositional model, based on general mass
conservation law for each component, incorporating both Darcy flow and molecular diffusions. The geomechanical
model is derived from the thermo-poro-elasticity theory extended to multiple porous and fractured media systems;
mean normal stress as the stress variable is solved simultaneously with mass conservation equations. The vaporliquid equilibrium (VLE) calculation is performed with Peng-Robinson Equation of State (EOS) including the effects
of capillary pressure on phase behaviors. The finite-volume based numerical method, integrated finite difference
method, is used for space discretization for both mass conservation and stress equations. The formulations are
solved fully implicitly to assure the stability.

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This compositional model integrates key subsurface behaviors of unconventional shale reservoirs, such as rock
compaction effect, stress-induced changes of rock properties, and stress-dependent capillary effects on VLE. We
take the Eagle Ford tight oil as an example to illustrate the effects of stress-dependent capillary pressure on VLE
and in-situ fluid properties. This model can be generally applied to both dew-point (gas condensate) and bubblepoint (tight oil) systems of tight and shale reservoirs. Eventually it could improve the forecast accuracy for long-term
production rate and recovery factors of unconventional petroleum reservoirs.

Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173261-MS

10. Consistent Extrapolation of Black and Volatile Oil Fluid Properties Above
Original Saturation Pressure for Tight and Conventional Reservoirs
Nojabaei, Bahareh, The Pennsylvania State University
Johns, Russell T., The Pennsylvania State University
Abstract: Black-oil fluid properties are determined by lab measurements or can be calculated through flash
calculations of the reservoir fluid. Allowing for a variable bubble-point pressure in black- or volatile-oil models requires
a table of fluid properties be extended above the original bubble-point. Reservoir simulation accuracy, however, may
be affected by discontinuities in the input data and poor predictions of extrapolated fluid properties. Common practice
is to add surface gas to the original oil in the lab and increase the pressure to reach a new bubble-point. Another
approach is to use linear extrapolation of oil and gas K-values with pressure on a log-log plot, where K-values are
equal to 1.0 at a pseudo-critical or convergence pressure. The latter approach results in discontinuities in the phase
behavior.
We calculate continuous black-oil fluid properties above the original bubble-point by adding a fraction of the
equilibrium gas at one bubble-point pressure to achieve a larger bubble-point pressure. This procedure continues
until a critical point is reached at the top of the pseudocomponent pressure-composition diagram. Unlike other
methods commonly used or recently proposed, the approach provides a smooth and continuous pressurecomposition curve to the critical point. The model further allows for reinjection of produced gas, methane, or CO2 to
increase oil recovery for both volatile and black oils. We show how to tune the models to the MMP by matching the
appropriate critical point pressure. Further, the approach allows the use of black-oil or volatile-oil properties for tight
rocks where capillary pressure alters the saturation pressures by decreasing the bubble-point pressure or increasing
the dew-point pressure. Bubble-point pressure in the new model is a function of both capillary pressure (effective
pore radius) and gas content. The phase behavior is also described on ternary diagrams for up to four components
(water, oil, gas, and CO2 or CH4) and three phases (aqueous, oleic, gaseous) to allow for miscible and immiscible
injection (or soaking) of various gases. The new phase behavior could be easily incorporated in a compositionallyextended black- or volatile-oil simulator. The approach could also be extended to model gas condensate reservoirs
with or without gas injection and capillary pressure.

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Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173221-MS

11. Development of a Numerical Scheme for Simulation of Asphaltene

Dependent Phenomena in Porous Media
Hematfar, V., University of Calgary
Chen, Z., University of Calgary
Maini, B. B., University of Calgary
Abstract: Asphaltene is the highest molecular weight fraction of crude oil that under some conditions can undergo
deposition and adsorption and affect the properties of porous media. This work presents a mathematical model for
fractionation of asphaltene content of crude oil into different parts that evolve as a result of mechanisms like
precipitation, flocculation, adsorption and entrapment during pressure depletion and solvent injection tests in core
samples.
A fully coupled numerical scheme that bundles all nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) and pertinent
relations is developed to compute the distribution of these fractions and other properties with respect to time and
space. Flow of suspended asphaltene particles in the oil phase is modeled and phase behavior properties are
predicted by the Peng-Robinson equation of state. A thermodynamic equation is derived to calculate the solubility
parameter as an indication of asphaltene stability in the flowing system. The pressure distribution along the core is
determined by combining the mass balance equations for oil, gas and asphaltene components into one PDE. In
addition, a convection-dispersion PDE is developed to calculate the distribution of asphaltene concentration and
include the effect of dispersion of asphaltene particles in the model. A reduction in transmissibility and large additional
pressure drop due to asphaltene precipitation are used to infer the extent of damage to porous medium. Furthermore,
an artificial neural network is trained using asphaltene deposition data and is then applied to calculate permeability
evolution based on porosity. Finally, the modeling results are validated by experimental data.
Interpretation of the obtained results and tracking of distribution for various fractions of asphaltene are useful to
detect and evaluate the asphaltene dependent phenomena, their real cause and relative importance, and the
locations where they may occur.
Asphaltene is shown to affect the oil production rate and recovery efficiency. An enhanced knowledge of all relevant
mechanisms and considering them in simulation and decision making will lead to the development of improved
production schemes.

Source: 2014 SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, 13-15 April, The Woodlands, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173710-MS

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12. Experimental Gas Absorption in Petroleum Fluids at HPHT Conditions

Flatab, Gudny ., SINTEF Petroleum, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway
Torsvik, Anja, SINTEF Petroleum, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway
Oltedal, Velaug M., SINTEF Petroleum, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway
Bjrkvik, Brd, SINTEF Petroleum, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway
Grimstad, Alv-Arne, SINTEF Petroleum, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway
Linga, Harald, SINTEF Petroleum, Bergen and Trondheim, Norway
Abstract: For efficient and safe well operations it is important to understand the behaviour of gas influx in petroleum
fluids and the impact of relevant temperature and pressure changes in the well. Drilling simulators are tools for
analysing gas kick detection limits, designing well control procedures, planning the chemicals and equipment needed
on the rig, and generally for planning the well design. A major weakness in current models of kick detection is the
lack of experimentally verified data in the HPHT region. The data from this study will be analysed and used as an
input in a computational model of two phase gas-drilling fluid flow in the well, allowing better prediction of gas
absorption.
This study will provide experimental measurements under HPHT conditions for oil based drilling fluids (OBDFs) and
base oils mixed with methane. As a part of the DrillWell centre program, SINTEF has developed an experimental
setup for studying the effects of natural gas dissolved in drilling fluids under conditions relevant for HPHT drilling
operations. In this setup we are able to measure density and rheological properties of drilling fluids with different
degrees of methane saturation at pressures and temperatures of up to 1000 bar and 200C.
Base oils, the major constituent of OBDFs, contribute to the mud properties. Knowing the properties of the base oils
at different pressure and temperature conditions enables assessment of the influence of the other components in
the drilling fluid. In this paper we present measurements of a refined mineral base oil, especially designed for
deepwater operations, and a linear paraffin oil. These base oils were tested for gas absorption capacity at various
pressures and temperatures, and the effect of dissolved gas on the density of the base oils was measured.
Experimentally determined saturation pressures show good correlation with predictions made with PVTsim for low
gas-oil-ratios (GORs), however, at higher GOR-values the deviation is significant. The temperature influence on the
saturation pressure is underestimated by PVTsim, demonstrating the need for more experimental data of drilling fluid
behaviour at HPHT conditions. Furthermore, there was a clear difference in the maximum saturation pressure of the
two base oils, which may be of high importance for the choice of drilling fluid at high reservoir pressures.
In the continuation of this study we will perform measurements of methane solubility in two OBDFs composed of the
two base oils studied in this work, respectively. Density and viscosity of mixtures of OBDF/CH4 will be measured for
various amounts of methane at pressures and temperatures ranging from standard ambient to HPHT. The resulting
HPHT data will be highly important for improved calculation of bottom hole pressure and prediction of gas kicks.

Source: 2015 SPE Bergen One Day Seminar, 22 April, Bergen, Norway
DOI: 10.2118/173865-MS

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13. Phase-Behavior Modeling and Flow Simulation for Low-Temperature CO2

Injection
Pan, Huanquan, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Chen, Yuguang, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Sheffield, Jonathan, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Chang, Yih-Bor, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Zhou, Dengen, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Abstract: CO2 injection into an oil reservoir at low temperatures (less than 120 F) can form three hydrocarbon
phasesa vapor phase, an oil-rich liquid, and a CO2-rich liquid phase. Most available reservoir simulators cannot
handle three-hydrocarbon-phase flash, and the use of two-phase flash may cause significant numerical instability.
The issue has been recognized in the industry for a long time. Studies to include three-hydrocarbon-phase flash in
compositional simulations exist in the literature. However, this approach results in substantial increases of model
complexity and computational cost; thus, it may not be realistic for practical applications (at least for now). In this
work, we propose a new pressure/volume/ temperature (PVT) modeling procedure to eliminate the threehydrocarbon-phase region for reservoir-fluid/CO2 mixtures at low temperatures and to study its implication for flow
simulation. In our method, the acentric factors of pseudocomponents are adjusted to eliminate the threehydrocarbon-phase region, which was not considered in any of the previous studies. Then, the experimental data
for reservoir-fluid PVT, CO2 swelling test, and minimum miscibility pressure are also matched by adjusting further
binary-interaction coefficients, volume-shift parameters, and critical volumes of the pseudocomponents. The
procedure is applicable for cases with relatively small three-phase regions (e.g., some fields in west Texas), and can
be applied with any PVT simulation software and conventional two-hydrocarbon-phase simulators. The method is
considered for two sector models from oil fields in west Texas, with fine-scale (more than 600,000 gridblocks) and
upscaled models. Compared with the standard characterization, in which the three-hydrocarbon phases exist, the
new fluid model significantly improves the stability of flow simulation, demonstrating the robustness and efficiency
of the new procedure. One can view the method as a practical approximation to field-scale simulations of CO2
injection at low temperatures.

Source:

SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, April 2015

DOI: 10.2118/170903-PA

14. Modeling from Reservoir to Export: A Compositional Approach for

Integrated Asset Model of Different Gas Fields in North Kuwait Jurassic
Carbonate Reservoirs
Torrens, Richard, Schlumberger
Daoud, Ahmed, Schlumberger
Amari, Mustafa, Schlumberger
Sharifzadeh, Ahmad, Schlumberger
Prakash, Roshan, Schlumberger
Al-Enzi, Bashayer, Kuwait Oil Company
Dashti, Qasem, Kuwait Oil Company

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Abstract: A project was undertaken to construct an overview to build an integrated asset model (IAM) of an onshore
fractured carbonate gas condensate and volatile oil asset in Northern Kuwait that is considered the first gas asset
discovered in Kuwait. The asset has the potential to produce from six distributed fields producing from four
hydrocarbon-bearing structures. The development strategy calls for extensive drilling and facilities expansion to
increase and sustain production with the potential addition of depletion compression to further sustain the plateau.
Because the reservoirs are highly compartmentalized, they are split into 19 separate models. Production is through
three surface facilities, fluids vary significantly across the field from sour gas condensate to volatile oil, and it is
important to consider the impact of reservoir deliverability, facilities capacity, and surface backpressure when
evaluating different development scenarios.
A novel IAM was constructed that integrates reservoirs, wells, pipelines, and facilities models into an integration
platform. The IAM comprises 19 black oil dual porosity reservoir models coupled to a compositional network model
via black oil delumping to convert the subsurface rates into six-components composition. A split table (compositional
delumping) is then used to convert the six-components composition to 35 surface components to be used in the
equation-of-state (EOS) surface network models to estimate the composition at each point at the surface (inlet and
outlet of each facility). Then the network model is coupled to surface facilities modeling to estimate the rates and
composition at the export level. This idea of mapping the subsurface fluid from black oil at subsurface to
compositional at surface reduces the subsurface running time and makes the IAM more feasible from the running
time perspective.
The IAM has highlighted several differences versus the stand-alone modeling and the coupled modeling at the
surface only. First, more accurate accounting for backpressure results in an increase in the plateau. Second, a
production forecast for each facility gives a detailed analysis of production and the number of wells for each facility.
Finally, detailed compositional information becomes available at all points in the surface network, which is important
input to the facilities design.

Source: 2015 SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, 23-25 February, Houston, Texas, USA
DOI: 10.2118/173308-MS

15. Comparison of MMP Estimation Methods with Proposed Workflow

Kanatbayev, M., Statoil ASA
Meisingset, K.K., Statoil ASA
Uleberg, K., Statoil ASA
Abstract: This paper presents a practical workflow for evaluating standard MMP estimation methods and fluid
characterization and lumping schemes for equation-of-state models with a high number of pseudo-components
(typically 22). It has also been illustrated the validity of a minimum tuning procedure (mostly to saturation pressure,
constant-mass expansion test at Tres, differential liberation experiment if available; adjusting only Tc, Pc), and the
predictability of each of the applied approaches.

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A quick estimate of MMP with the various methods available is critical when the experimental data are not measured.
Given an uncertainty range to calculated MMP based on the data comparison, one might make a valuable
contribution to the project where multi-contact miscibility needs to be modelled properly.
In the present study, the experimental slim tube MMP data were measured for reservoir fluids interacted with rich
separator gases (17 cases), with pure CO2 (3 cases). The reference reservoir fluids were mostly collected from the
Norwegian Continental Shelf.
A minimum tuning procedure for estimating MMP was validated throughout the present study. The fluid
characterization workflow proposed in the present study is an efficient starting point to compare estimated MMPs.
The results of MMP estimation methods, the tie-line approach (in PVTsim software), slim tube simulation approach
(both in PVTsim and Eclipse 300) and the mixing cell approach, agree reasonably well within laboratory accuracy
range. The uncertainty range observed in the present study would be acceptable for most field application cases.

Source: 2015 SPE Bergen One Day Seminar, 22 April, Bergen, Norway
DOI: 10.2118/173827-MS

Journals Papers
16. PVTX characteristics of oil inclusions from Asmari formation in Kuh-eMond heavy oil field in Iran
Zeinab Shariatinia, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Manouchehr Haghighi, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Ali Shafiei, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Sadat Feiznia, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Sohrab Zendehboudi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Abstract: Incorporating PVT properties and compositional evolution of oil inclusions into reservoir engineering
simulator protocols can enhance understanding of oil accumulation, reservoir charge history, and migration events.
Microthermometry and volumetric analysis have proven to be useful tools in compositional reconstitution and PT
studies of oil inclusions and were used to determine composition, thermodynamic conditions, physical properties,
and gas-to-oil ratios of heavy oil samples from Asmari carbonate reservoir in Kuh-e-Mond heavy oil field in Iran. PVT
properties were predicted using a PVT black-oil model, and an acceptable agreement was observed between the
experiments and the simulations. Homogenization temperatures were determined using microthermometry
techniques in dolomite and calcite cements of the Asmari Formation, as well. Based on the homogenization
temperature data, the undersaturated hydrocarbon mixture prior to formation of the gas cap migrated with a higher
gas-to-oil ratio from a source rock. According to the oil inclusion data, the onset of carbonate cementation occurred
at temperatures above 45 C and that cementation was progressive through burial diagenesis. PVT black-oil
simulator results showed that the reservoir pressure and temperature were set at 100 bar and 54 C during the initial
stages of oil migration. Compositional modeling implies that primary and secondary cracking in source rocks were

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responsible for retention of heavy components and migration of miscible three-phase flow during hydrocarbon
evolution. The PT evolution of the petroleum inclusions indicates changes in thermodynamic properties and mobility
due to phenomena such as cracking, mixing, or/and transport at various stages of oil migration.

Source: International Journal of Earth Sciences, April 2015, Volume 104, Issue 3, pp 603-623
DOI: 10.1007/s00531-014-1101-y

17. Asphaltene laboratory assessment of a heavy onshore reservoir during

pressure, temperature and composition variations to predict asphaltene
onset pressure
Peyman Bahrami, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Riyaz Kharrat, Petroleum University of Technology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Sedigheh Mahdavi, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland, Canada
Yaser Ahmadi, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Lesley James, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland, Canada
Abstract: An Iranian heavy oil reservoir recently encountered challenges in oil production rate, and further
investigation has proven that asphaltene precipitation was the root cause of this problem. In addition, CO2 gas
injection could be an appropriate remedy to enhance the production of heavy crudes. In this study, high pressurehigh temperature asphaltene precipitation experiments were performed at different temperatures and pressures to
investigate the asphaltene phase behavior during the natural depletion process and CO2 gas injection. Compositional
modeling of experimental data predicted onset points at different temperatures which determine the zone of
maximum probability of asphaltene precipitation for the studied heavy oil reservoir. Also, the effect of CO2 gas
injection was investigated as a function of CO2 concentration and pressure. It was found that a CO2-oil ratio of 40%
is the optimum for limiting precipitation to have the least formation damage and surface instrument contamination.As
results show, the hydrocarbon fluids under confinement tend to behave similar to dry gas. This reduces condensate
banking and near-wellbore permeability impairment in comparison to conventional approaches. It has several
implications for prediction of reservoir and well performance by implementing it into a numerical reservoir simulation
package.

Source: Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, February 2015, Volume 32, Issue 2, pp 316-322
DOI: 10.1007/s11814-014-0245-6

18. Constructing a unique two-phase compressibility factor model for lean

gas condensates
Mahmood Moayyedi, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran
Arash Azamifard, Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), Tehran, Iran
Aliashghar Gharesheikhlou, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran
Emadoddin Mosaferi, Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), Tehran, Iran

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Abstract: Generating a reliable experimental model for two-phase compressibility factor in lean gas condensate
reservoirs has always been demanding, but it was neglected due to lack of required experimental data. This study
presents the main results of constructing the first two-phase compressibility factor model that is completely valid for
Iranian lean gas condensate reservoirs. Based on a wide range of experimental data bank for Iranian lean gas
condensate reservoirs, a unique two-phase compressibility factor model was generated using design of experiments
(DOE) method and neural network technique (ANN). Using DOE, a swift cubic response surface model was
generated for two-phase compressibility factor as a function of some selected fluid parameters for lean gas
condensate fluids. The proposed DOE and ANN models were finally validated using four new independent data
series. The results showed that there is a good agreement between experimental data and the proposed models. In
the end, a detailed comparison was made between the results of proposed models.

Source: Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, February 2015, Volume 32, Issue 2, pp 323-327
DOI:

10.1007/s11814-014-0233-x

19. Determination of dew point pressure in gas condensate reservoirs based

on a hybrid neural genetic algorithm
Arash Rabieia, Petroleum University of Technology, Ahwaz, Iran
Hossein Sayyadb, Pars Oil and Gas Company, Iran
Masoud Riazic, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abdolnabi Hashemia, Petroleum University of Technology, Ahwaz, Iran
Abstract: Knowing dew point pressure considers as one of the preliminary requirements in retrograde gas
condensate reservoir simulations. When the pressure declines below the dew point pressure, the condensate
dropouts form, which could lead to a substantial decrease in gas relative permeability and well deliverability. Different
methods such as equation of states, empirical correlations and experimental procedures have been proposed to
determine the dew point pressure. However, due to their convergence problem, being expensive and time
consuming, great efforts have been taken to develop an alternative method. In this study, a new method based on
artificial neural network has been developed and optimized by genetic algorithm as an evolutionary technique. A
data set consists of 308 sample collected from different sources and literature including one of Iranian gascondensate field is used. Reservoir temperature, mole percentage of gas components and heavy fractions properties
were considered as input parameters to this model. The performance of the proposed model was compared with
some of the common correlations and PengRobinson equation of state. The results confirmed the accuracy and
capability of this model in determination of dew point pressure based on 2.46%, 3.66%, 95.91%, 0.02% and 24.39%
as average absolute deviation, root mean square error, correlation of determination, minimum and maximum
percentage error; respectively. The sensitivity analysis is also performed on variables to determine the impact and
importance of each parameter on prediction of dew point pressure. The results show that plus fraction properties
and C3C4 fraction have the greatest positive and negative impacts on estimation of dew point pressure; respectively.

Source: Fluid Phase Equilibria, Volume 387, 15 February 2015, Pages 3849

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DOI: 10.1016/j.fluid.2014.11.027

20. Empirical estimating of black oils bubblepoint (saturation) pressure

Azad Jarrahiana, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran
Jamshid Moghadasib, Petroleum University of Technology, Ahwaz, Iran
Ehsan Heidaryanc, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract: Accurate estimate of the pressurevolumetemperature (PVT) properties of black oils is of primary
importance for developing oil fields. Experimental determination of these properties is expensive and timeconsuming; however, empirical models are reliable tools to predict these properties. The purpose of the current study
was to develop new, accurate, easy-to-use correlations to estimate bubblepoint (saturation) pressure of black oil.
Two new correlations were obtained based on 207 PVT samples through commonly available field data and
compositional data. New correlations were evaluated against 1840 commonly available field data points and 171
compositional data points from the global literature. Their average absolute percent relative errors (AARE%) were
15.5 and 7.7, respectively, in comparison with the data in the published literature. Statistical analysis indicated the
superiority of methods over other available models.

Source: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Volume 126, February 2015, Pages 6977
DOI: 10.1016/j.petrol.2014.12.004

21. Modeling cloud point of soluble polymers in supercritical carbon dioxide

fluid using PCP-SAFT equation of state An application in enhanced oil
recovery
Ali Haghtalab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Hamidreza Soltani Panah, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: The phase behavior of the soluble polar polymers in supercritical carbon dioxide fluid has been already
measured through determination of the cloud point pressure against the weight fraction of the polymer. In recent
years, a few works have been carried out to investigate the solubility of some polar polymers in the supercritical
carbon dioxide so that most of them have focused on the synthesis method of the polymers and measurements of
their cloud point pressure. However, there is a lack of a proper thermodynamic model for prediction of the solution
cloud point pressure of such systems. In this work, we model the cloud point pressure of the various types of
poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with the different molar masses and end chemical groups; and various types of poly(1-O(vinyloxy) ethyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl--d-glucopyranoside) (P(AcGlcVE)) with the different molar masses and the
same end chemical groups. The Perturbed-Chain Polar Statistical-Associating-Fluid-Theory (PCP-SAFT EoS) of
Gross, J. AIChE, 51 (2005) 25562568, is applied here through its modification for the present polymerCO2
systems. We account the quadrupolequadrupole term in the PC-SAFT EoS to represent the interaction energy
between carbon dioxide molecules and polymer segments. Using the cloud point pressure data of the present

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polymerCO2 systems, the parameters of the PCP-SAFT EoS are obtained for these polymers. The results show
the present equation of state can correlate with the experimental cloud point data accurately so that the deviation of
the experimental data with the calculated results is low. The proposed equilibria phase prediction method is well
validated examining eight sets of different natural gases from literature which were studied experimentally by
different authors for equilibrium pressure and temperature. The developed method is found to predict the phase
stabilities for a multicomponent natural gas hydrates system satisfactorily.

Source: The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, Volume 97, February 2015, Pages 4550
DOI: 10.1016/j.supflu.2014.11.005

22. PVT modeling of reservoir fluids using PC-SAFT EoS and Soave-BWR EoS
Wei Yan, CERE Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
Farhad Varzandeh, CERE Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
Erling H. Stenby, CERE Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
Abstract: Cubic equations of state, such as the SoaveRedlichKwong (SRK) and the PengRobinson (PR) EoS,
are still the mostly used models in PVT modeling of reservoir fluids, and almost the exclusively used models in
compositional reservoir simulations. Nevertheless, it is promising that recently developed non-cubic EoS models,
such as the Perturbed Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) EoS and the Soave modified Benedict
WebbRubin (Soave-BWR) EoS, may partly replace the roles of these classical cubic models in the upstream oil
industry. Here, we attempt to make a comparative study of non-cubic models (PC-SAFT and Soave-BWR) and cubic
models (SRK and PR) in several important aspects related to PVT modeling of reservoir fluids, including density
description for typical pure components in reservoir fluids, description of binary VLE, prediction of multicomponent
phase envelopes, and PVT calculation of reservoir fluids. Extensive data are used in the comparison and the four
models are treated as equally as possible. We adopt the method of Pedersen et al. as the framework for heptanes
plus characterization and the same correlations for estimating the critical properties for SRK, PR and Soave-BWR.
For PC-SAFT, new correlations for estimating its model parameters in heptanes plus are developed. The results
reveal that the non-cubic models are clearly advantageous in density calculation of pure components. For binary
VLE and multicomponent phase envelopes, the results are similar for the four models. For PVT prediction, the noncubic models show advantages in some high pressure high temperature (HPHT) fluids but no clear advantages in
general, indicating the necessity for further improvement of the characterization procedure.

Source: Fluid Phase Equilibria, Volume 386, 25 January 2015, Pages 96124
DOI: 10.1016/j.fluid.2014.11.022

23. Estimation of vaporliquid equilibrium ratios of crude oil components: A

comparative study
Hamed Rashidi, DCE, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran

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Peyvand Valeh-e-sheyda, DCE, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract: The present paper deals with the proposal of a new correlation for vaporliquid equilibrium ratio of Iranian
crude oil components, using multivariable regression techniques. The database for this study was collected from
different Iranian reservoir oil fields extracted from differential liberation tests. They were measured at temperature
range of 150292 F and pressures up to 4992 psia. Compared to the most published empirical correlations, the
number of coefficients used in the new correlation was decreased from 58 for the Almehaideb correlation to 21. The
second objective of this work was to estimate the equilibrium ratio by artificial neural network models. The absolute
average relative error for the whole database was estimated 17.93% for artificial neural network, 33.98% for the new
correlation, 28.98% for Almehaideb correlation, and 69.73% for Whitson & Torp correlation. Furthermore, the
accuracy of the models for calculating the bubble points of ten samples compared with experimental values. The
results shows the absolute average relative error of the artificial neural network to predict the saturation pressures
was 5.38% compared to 14.50% for the new correlation and 8.01% for the PengRobinson equation of state without
tuning. The results clearly depicts that over a range of experimental condition, the artificial neural network predictions
indicate better agreement with experimental data than classic thermodynamic models.
Source: Fuel, Volume 140, 15 January 2015, Pages 388397
DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.09.118

24. Smart correlation of compositional data to saturation pressure

Amin Gholamia, Petroleum University of Technology, Abadan, Iran
Mohammad Afsharb, Islamic Azad University, Kharg, Iran
Parisa Bagheripourb, Islamic Azad University, Kharg, Iran
Mojtaba Asoodehb, Islamic Azad University, Kharg, Iran
Mohsen Vaezzadeh-Asadib, Islamic Azad University, Kharg, Iran
Abstract: Saturation pressure is one of the foremost parameters of crude oil which plays a key role in petroleum
calculations. Experimentally, determination of this parameter in laboratory is costly and labor demanding. In this
study, an improved intelligent model based on neural network optimized with genetic algorithm-pattern search
technique is proposed for building quantitative formulation between saturation pressure and compositional data,
including temperature, hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon compositions of crudes, and heptane-plus specifications.
Genetic algorithm-pattern search technique is embedded in neural network formulation for finding optimal weights
and biases of neural network. A comparison among the proposed model and published models in literature reveals
the superiority of our model in terms of better accuracy and higher generalization. Improved neural networked
showed R-square of 0.9892 and MSE of 17,617.99 which concludes that it is a promising alternative for determination
of saturation pressure which is able to eliminating expenses of laboratory measurements and significantly saving
time. This study showed GA considerably enhanced performance of conventional neural networks

Source: Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Volume 22, January 2015, Pages 661669
DOI: -

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25. Marangoni flow: An unknown mechanism for oil recovery during nearmiscible CO2 injection
Maryam Khosravia, IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company, Tehran, Iran
Behzad Rostamib, IPE, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Karegar
Mohammadali Emadia, IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company, Tehran, Iran
Emad Roayaeia, IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: Previously, we investigated the effect of interfacial tension gradient induced convective fluxes Marangoni
flow on the recovery of bypassed oil during near-miscible and immiscible CO2 injection in a 1D-matrix/fracture
model.
In the current study, the impact of Marangoni flow on oil recovery is studied during CO2 injection into a matrix
(flooding) using experimental results combined with analytical calculations. CO2 injection is conducted at different
pressures below the critical point where the oil/gas interface exists. The ternary system of CO2/C10/C3 was
compared with a binary system of CO2/C10 as the zero level of the Marangoni flow. In this manner, the influence of
other conventional recovery mechanisms can be simultaneously eliminated.
The results show that there is good agreement between the recovery differences of these two systems and the
Marangoni number derived from analytical estimations. Therefore, in the multi-component systems of hydrocarbons,
where IFT increases with CO2 concentration, Marangoni flow improves oil recovery by about 35%. During CO2
flooding, it postpones the breakthrough time by conducting the oil towards the gas channel and guaranteeing the
continuity of recovery. The level of recovery enhancement in the ternary system is proportional to the Marangoni
number, and is maximized at a near-critical state, but vanishes towards the critical point. In far from critical region,
the Marangoni effect is relatively weak.

Source: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Volume 125, January 2015, Pages 263268
DOI: 10.1016/j.petrol.2014.11.030

Patents
26. Systems and methods for solving a multi-reservoir system with
heterogeneous fluids coupled to common gathering network
Graham Christopher FLEMING, Terry Wayne Wong
Abstract: Systems and methods for determining operating settings of a fluid production system with a gathering
network and a plurality of reservoirs, at least some of which include a method that includes lumping common pseudocomponents into reservoir pseudo- components associated with each of the reservoirs. Each common pseudocomponent is associated with the gathering network and maps to one reservoir pseudo-component of each of the
reservoirs. The method further includes performing at least part of a fully-coupled simulation of the gathering network

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and the reservoirs using the common pseudo-components to obtain one or more operating settings that meet one
or more constraints of the production system, and presenting to a user the operating settings.

Applicant: Landmark Graphics Corp.

Publication Date: 25 Feb 2015
Publication Number: EP 2839409 A1

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