Volatile- and Black-Oil Fluid Characteristics

The petroleum fluid spectrum is gradational. There is no strict definition of volatile and black oils; there are only
general guidelines and characteristics. Despite this lack of precision and the occasional confusion it brings,
classification is quite useful and popular.
Molecular weight is a useful yardstick. Black oils typically range from 70 to 150 in molecular weight but may
range as high as 190 to 210. In contrast, volatile oils are lower in molecular weight than black oils and typically
range from 43 to 70. Oils with molecular weights greater than 210 usually are classified as heavy oils. Fluids with
molecular weights of less than 43 are generally gases, which include gas condensates, wet gases, and dry
gases. A molecular weight of 43 marks the lower molecular-weight limit of volatile oils.
Black and volatile oils are sometimes subdivided into different fluid types. For instance, volatile oils include nearcritical fluids and high-shrinkage oils. Near-critical fluids represent light volatile oils and can include some very
rich condensates. High-shrinkage oils represent the high-molecular-weight end of volatile oils and can include
some light black oils.
Volatile and black oils are characterized in terms of a number of different properties. Table 9.1 summarizes their
characteristics. This table includes the properties of the full range of petroleum fluids, including gases.