Development of PVT Correlations According to Geography

Abstract

An enormous number of pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) correlations have been developed over the years for different types of hydrocarbon systems. However, the accuracy of these correlations is often limited due to crude oil compositional difference, impurities, etc., from different geographical locations. The literature has revealed that the predictive capabilities of the previously developed PVT correlations for Nigerian crude oil system are still associated with large errors and as the accurate determination of the PVT properties is uncompromising, it is of great importance to develop new models for the Niger Delta region. In this study, we present new empirical PVT correlations for calculating bubble point pressure (P_b ) and bubble point oil formation volume factor (B_ob ) using Niger Delta crude oil data based on multiple regression methods. Performance prediction based on statistical and graphical methods was carried out. The performance prediction results of the developed P_b and B_ob correlations, when used to predict PVT data of crude oil system from different geographical locations, showed very high relative errors. This implies that in order to predict PVT data for a crude oil systems with high accuracy, local PVT correlations need to be developed.

Keywords:

• Middle East crude oil
• Niger Delta crude oil
• PVT correlation
• statistical analysis
• UAE crude oil