PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

Practical Workbook
PE-302: RESERVOIR FLUID PROPERTIES

Name:
Year:
Roll No:
Batch:
Discipline:

Department Of Petroleum Engineering

NED University of Engineering& Technology,
Karachi 75270, Pakistan

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

CERTIFICATE
It is Certified that Mr. / Miss __________________,
student of class ___________, batch_____________,
and bearing roll no. __________________ has
completed his/her course work in the subject of PE302: RESERVOIR FLUID PROPERTIES as prescribed
and approved by Department of Petroleum
Engineering.

_____________
Course Teacher

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

CONTENTS
LAB
SESSION

01

OBJECT
Introduction to PVT Lab

PAGE
NO.

02

To determine the relative density OR

specific gravity of a liquid sample by
hydrometer

03

To determine the relative density of a

liquid sample by Pycnometer

04

To determine the relative density OR

specific gravity of a liquid sample by
schilling effusiometer.

05

To determine the viscosity of a liquid

sample by Cannon-Fenske Opaque
(Reverse-Flow) Viscometer.

06

To determine the surface tension of a

liquid sample by DCAT.

11

07

14

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

Lab Session 01
Introduction to PVT Lab

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

Lab Session 02
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the relative density OR specific gravity of a liquid sample by
hydrometer
INTRODUCTION:
A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity (or relative
density) of liquids; that is, the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of
water.
A hydrometer is usually made of glass and consists of a cylindrical stem and a
bulb weighted withmercury or lead shot to make it float upright. The liquid to be
tested is poured into a tall container, often a graduated cylinder, and the
hydrometer is gently lowered into the liquid until it floats freely. The point at which the surface of the liquid
touches the stem of the hydrometer is noted. Hydrometers usually contain a scale inside the stem, so that
the specific gravity can be read directly.

PRINCIPLE:
Operation of the hydrometer is based on Archimedes' principle that a solid suspended in a fluid will be
buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the submerged part of the suspended
solid. Thus, the lower the density of the substance, the farther the hydrometer will sink.

PROCEDURE:
1. Find the suitable hydrometer, which do not completely sinks in the graduated cylinder.
2. Immerse it properly, do not put it in such a way that it strikes hard on the base of graduated
cylinder.
3. Give it some time to stabilize.
4. Note down the meniscus reading.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

1. Room Temperature = _________________
2. Specific gravity of Liquid Sample 1 = _____________________
3. Specific gravity of Liquid Sample 2 = _____________________

RESULTS:
Relative density OR Specific gravity of the given samples are found to be

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

Lab Session 03
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the relative density of a liquid sample by Pycnometer
INTRODUCTION

Density determination by pycnometer is a very precise method. It uses a workingliquid with

well-known density, such as water. The pycnometeris a glass flask with a close-fitting round
glass stopper with a capillary holethrough it. This fine hole releases a spare liquid after closing a
top-filled pycnometer andallows for obtaining a given volume of measured and/or working liquid
with a highaccuracy.
METHODOLOGY

First we fill pycnometer with distilled water. According to equation, thevolume of water that is
filling the pycnometer and the stopper is

We repeat the procedure for the liquid with unknown density and determine itsweight (measured
weight minus weight of empty pycnometer). Volume V obtained inthis measurement is the same
as the volume of water determined from
equation.
Combining above equation yield

Yields a relation that provides the density of measured liquid

Or specific gravity of liquid is simply =

CALCULATIONS:

RESULTS

Lab Session 04
6

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering
OBJECTIVE:

To determine the relative density OR specific gravity of a liquid sample by schilling

effusiometer.
PRINCIPLE:

Effusion meter works on the principle of Grahams law of effusion, which states that rate of
effusion of gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its density.

METHODOLOGY& PROCEDURE:

In effusion meter, first liquid such as water is filled through the glass tube in to the container
such that water reaches up to the mark. Now air is injected by connecting the compressor pipe to
the inlet nozzle valve, the air with high pressure when enter through the orifice above the glass
tube, it displaces the water in the tube and we will continue injecting gas in the tube until the
water level reaches to the bottom mark. Now the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve is
opened and the air will flow out as water is applying pressure on it, as air start to remove, the
water level start rising. We will continue to note the time such that how much time the gas or air
in the tube will take to evacuate fully. The full evacuation of gas can be identified when the water
level reaches to its initial level. We take three time readings. Similarly we repeat the process for
the gas whose specific gravity is to be determined and take three readings for it.

Diagram showing constant volume effusion of air or gas between the two marks

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

CALCULATION:

RESULTS:

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

Lab Session 05
OBJECTIVE:

To determine the viscosity of a liquid sample by Cannon-Fenske Opaque

(Reverse-Flow) Viscometer.
PRINCIPLE:
This test method specifies a procedure for the determination of the kinematic viscosity
of liquid petroleum products, both transparent and opaque, by measuring the time for a
volume of liquid to flow under gravity through a calibrated glass capillary viscometer.
The dynamic viscosity can be obtained by multiplying the kinematic viscosity by the
density of the liquid.
Viscometers are calibrated at different temperatures.
Kinematic Viscosity is calculated as
V=Ct
Where, C- viscometer constant
t- flow time

(mm2/sec)
(mm2/sec)/sec
(sec)

METHODOLOGY & PROCEDURE:

1. Clean the viscometer using suitable solvents, and dry by passing clean, dry,
filtered air through the instrument to remove the final traces of solvents. Periodically, traces of
organic deposits should be removed with chromic acid or non-chromium cleaning solution.

2. If there is a possibility of lint, dust, or other solid material in the liquid sample, filters the
sample through a fritted glass filter or fine mesh screen.
3. To charge the sample into the viscometer, invert the instrument and apply suction to tube
arm L, immersing tube N in the liquid sample, and draw liquid to mark G. Wipe clean
arm N, and turn the instrument to its normal vertical position.
4. Place the viscometer into the holder, and insert it into the constant temperature bath.
Align the viscometer vertically in the bath.
5. Allow sample to flow through capillary tube R and approximately half-fill bulb A,
stopping the meniscus in bulb A by placing a rubber stopper in tube N (you may prefer to
stopper tube L for larger size tubes).
6. Allow approximately 10 minutes for the sample to come to bath temperature at 40C and
15 minutes at 100C. Make sure the meniscus in bulb A does not reach line E.
7. Remove the rubber stopper and allow the meniscus to travel upwards into bulb C,
measuring the efflux time for the meniscus to pass from mark E to mark F.
9

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

8. Calculate the kinematic viscosity of the sample by multiplying the efflux time in seconds
by the viscometer constant for bulb C.
9. The same procedure will follow for Upper bulb (J)
CALCULATION:

RESULTS:

Lab Session 06
OBJECTIVE:

10

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

To determine the surface tension of a liquid sample by DCAT.

METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPLE:
The measurement of surface and interfacial tension is based on force measurements of the
interaction of a probe with the surface of interface of two fluids. In the experiment a probe
(ring/plate) is hung on a balance and brought into contact with the liquid interface tested. The
forces experienced by the balance as the probe interacts with the surface of the liquid can be used
to calculate surface tension. The forces present in this situation depend on the following factors;
size and shape of the probe, contact angle of the liquid/solid interaction and surface tension of
the liquid. The size and shape of the probe are easily controlled. The contact angle is controlled
to be zero (complete wetting). This is achieved by using probes with high energy surfaces.
Attension probes are made of a platinum/iridium alloy which insures complete wetting and easy
and reliable cleaning.

The mathematical interpretation of the force measurements depends on the shape of the probe
used. Two types of probes are commonly used, the Du Noy ring and the Wilhelmy plate. A
metal rod can also be used to limit the liquid sample volume.

THEORY:
What is surface tension?

Surface tension is a measurement of the cohesive energy present at an interface. The molecules
of a liquid attract each other. The interactions of a molecule in the bulk of a liquid are balanced
by an equal attractive force in all directions. Molecules on the surface of a liquid experience an
imbalance of forces as indicated below.

11

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

> Du Noy ring

This method utilizes the interaction of a platinum ring with the surface being tested. The ring is
submerged below the interface and subsequently raised upwards. As the ring moves upwards it
raises a meniscus of the liquid. Eventually this meniscus tears from the ring and returns to its
original position. Prior to this event, the volume, and thus the force exerted, of the meniscus
passes through a maximum value and begins to diminish prior to the actually tearing event. The
process is shown in the diagram below:

12

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering

1 - The ring is above the surface and the force is zeroed.

2 - The ring hits the surface and there is a slight positive force due to the adhesive force between
ring and surface.
3 - The ring must be pushed through the surface (due to the surface tension) which causes a small
negative force.
4 - The ring breaks through the surface and a small positive force is measured due to the
supporting wires of the ring.
5 - When lifted through the surface the measured force starts to increase.
6 - The force keeps increasing until
7 - The maximum force is reached
8 - After the maximum there is a small decrease of in the force until the lamella breaks

13

PE-302Reservoir Fluid Properties____________________________

NED University Engineering & Technology- Department of Petroleum Engineering
CALCULATION:

RESULTS:

Lab Session 07

14