For comparison (in bbl/STB), Standing[2][3] = 1.410, Glas[4] = 1.

386, Al-Marhoun[
7] = 1.364, Farshad[8] = 1.364, and Kartoatmodjo[9][10][11] = 1.358. The measure
d bubblepoint oil FVF is 1.398 bbl/STB.
Isothermal compressibility
Calculate the isothermal compressibility of oil using the Farshad[8] correlation
.
RTENOTITLE....................(8)
RTENOTITLE....................(9)
RTENOTITLE
The measured isothermal compressibility is 11.06 10-6psi-1.
Undersaturated oil formation volume factor
With the results from Lasater s[1] method for bubblepoint pressure, use Al-Shammas
i s[5] method for bubblepoint oil FVF, and Farshad s[8] equation for isothermal comp
ressibility, the undersaturated oil FVF is given by
RTENOTITLE....................(10)
RTENOTITLE
which compares to a measured value of 1.367 bbl/STB. Because this calculation us
es the results from multiple correlations, individual correlation error compound
s and propagates through to the final result. The calculated value is 1.367 bbl/
STB with the actual bubblepoint value of 1.398 bbl/STB; therefore, the accuracy
of the bubblepoint FVF is primarily affected by the accuracy of the undersaturat
ed FVF.
Oil density
Calculate the oil density.
RTENOTITLE....................(11)
Dead oil viscosity
Calculate the dead oil viscosity using the correlation from Glas.[4]
RTENOTITLE....................(12)
For comparison, Fitzgerald[12][13][14] = 1.808 cp, and Bergman[15][16] = 2.851 c
p. The measured dead oil viscosity is 1.67 cp.
Bubblepoint oil viscosity
Calculate the bubblepoint oil viscosity using the method developed by Chew and C
onnally.[17][18]
RTENOTITLE....................(13)
RTENOTITLE....................(14)
RTENOTITLE....................(15)

For comparison, Beggs and Robinson[19] = 0.515 cp. The measured viscosity at bub
blepoint is 0.401 cp.
Undersaturated oil viscosity
Calculate the undersaturated oil viscosity by applying the Vazquez and Beggs[20]
[21] correlation.
RTENOTITLE....................(16)
RTENOTITLE
For comparison, Beal[22] = 0.730 cp and Kouzel[23] = 0.778 cp. The measured valu
e is 0.475 cp. This example illustrates the steps necessary to calculate oil vis
cosity requiring correlations for dead oil viscosity, bubblepoint viscosity, und
ersaturated viscosity, and bubblepoint pressure/solution GOR. Errors in individu
al correlations can compound and propagate through to the resulting answer. For
instance, if the measured bubblepoint viscosity is used in Eq. 16, the result is
0.52 cp much closer to the measured value. Therefore, care should be exercised in
the selection of accurate correlations for individual properties.
Gas/oil interfacial tension
Estimate the gas/oil surface tension using the method developed by Abdul-Majeed.
[24] Calculate the dead oil surface tension.
RTENOTITLE....................(17)
RTENOTITLE
Determine the live oil adjustment factor.
RTENOTITLE....................(18)
RTENOTITLE
Calculate the live gas/oil surface tension.
RTENOTITLE....................(19)
RTENOTITLE
For comparison, Baker and Swerdloff[25][26] = 4.73 dynes/cm.
Water/oil interfacial tension
Estimate the water/oil surface tension using Firoozabadi and Ramey.[27] Calculat
e the pseudocritical temperature of the dead oil.
RTENOTITLE....................(20)
RTENOTITLE
Calculate the pseudocritical temperature of the gas.
RTENOTITLE....................(21)
RTENOTITLE
Calculate the pseudocritical temperature of the live gas/oil mixture.

RTENOTITLE....................(22)
Convert oil density units from lbm/ft3 to g/cm3.
RTENOTITLE....................(23)
Calculate the surface tension between the oil and water phases.
RTENOTITLE....................(24)
RTENOTITLE
Nomenclature
Bg = gas FVF, ft3/scf
Bo = oil FVF, bbl/STB
Bob = oil formation volume at bubblepoint pressure, bbl/STB
co = oil isothermal compressibility, Lt2/m, psi-1
cob = oil isothermal compressibility at bubblepoint, Lt2/m, psi-1
Kw = Watson characterization factor, R1/3
Mg = gas molecular weight, m, lbm/lbm mol
Mgo = gas/oil mixture molecular weight, m, lbm/lbm mol
Mo = oil molecular weight, m, lbm/lbm mol
Mog = oil-gas mixture molecular weight, m, lbm/lbm mol
p = pressure, m/Lt2, psia
pb = bubblepoint pressure, m/Lt2, psia
RTENOTITLE = bubblepoint pressure of oil with N2 present in surface gas, m/Lt2
, psia
pbh = bubblepoint pressure of oil without nonhydrocarbons, m/Lt2, psia
pf = bubblepoint pressure factor, psia/R
pr = pressure ratio (fraction of bubblepoint pressure)
Rs = solution GOR, scf/STB
T = temperature, T, F
Tabs = temperature, T, R
Tb = mean average boiling point temperature, T, R
Tcg = gas pseudocritical temperature, T, R
Tcm = mixture pseudocritical temperature, T, R