Development of compositional reservoir simulators is presently hampered due to the complexity of the existing computational algorithms of reservoir fluid phase behavior calculations. Through the application of the theory of polydisperse fluid mixtures we have been able to develop a number of algorithms for phase behavior calculations. In the present report we introduce one of such algorithms. In this algorithm reservoir fluid is considered to consist of a continuous mixture with a defined molecular weight/composition distribution function. Computational computer time required for the new algorithm is shown to be one order of magnitude smaller than the existing algorithms. As an example, the new algorithm is used to perform retrograde condensation calculations for two different gas-condensate reservoir fluids. Comparisons of experimental data with the calculated results indicate good agreement between the two.

Keywords:
gibb free energy, algorithm, equation, equilibrium calculation, condensate reservoir, continuous mixture, complex reservoir, phase behavior, total gibb free energy, expression
Subjects:
Fluid Characterization, Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs, Fluid modeling, equations of state, Gas-condensate reservoirs
Copyright 1986, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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