PHASE-BEHAVIOR OF A NEAR-CRITICAL RESERVOIR FLUID MIXTURE

In this paper, the phase behavior of a naturally occurring reservoir f luid mixture has been experimentally studied in the near-critical regi on. The computer-controlled ROP (France) high-pressure PVT system equi pped with video camera-monitor-recorder system and an on-line Anton-Pa ar fluid density meter was used in the experimental work. The measurem ents involve the compressibility factor of the compressed fluid, the b ubble/dew point locus in the near-critical region, the mixture critica l point, the liquid volume fraction in the two-phase region, and the d ensity of the liquid/vapor phase. The volume-translated Soave-Redlich- Kwong equation of state proposed by Peneloux and Rauzy (1982) [Penelou x, A. and Rauzy, E., 1982. A consistent correction for Redlich-Kwong-S oave volumes, Fluid Phase Equilibria, 8: 7-23] was selected to test it s performance in the near-critical region. The C-7(+)-fraction of the reservoir fluid was characterized by the procedure proposed by Pederse n et al. (1984) [Pedersen, K.S., Thomassen, P. and Fredenslund, Aa., 1 984. Thermodynamics of petroleum mixtures containing heavy hydrocarbon s. 1. Phase envelope calculations using Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation o f state. Ind. Eng. Chem., Process. Des. Dev., 23: 163-170].