You are here: SLB.

com > Resources > Oilfield Glossary

Phase envelope for a retrograde condensate

A hydrocarbon phase envelope for a retrograde condensate. Between the bubblepoint

and dewpoint curves, hydrocarbon fluids are in two phases. The lines of constant liquid
mole fraction (dashed) meet at the critical point. Fluids that enter the two-phase region to
the right of the critical point are termed retrograde condensates. Fluids at temperatures
greater than the cricondentherm remain single-phase at all pressures. If the initial
reservoir condition of temperature and pressure is above the phase envelope and
between the critical temperature and the cricondentherm, the fluid goes through a
dewpoint and liquid drops out of the gas phase as the reservoir pressure declines. This
condition (vertical line) starts at initial reservoir condition, shown here at an arbitrarily
chosen temperature and pressure.
<< Return to previous page

Interpreting Phase Diagrams

A phase diagram is a graph of physical state versus temperature and pressure. The
lines dividing the physical state represent conditions where a change of physical state
occurs. At a point on the line, both physical states (the ones on either side of the line)
exist. The line between the gas and liquid states represents boiling (liquid to gas) or
condensation (gas to liquid). The line between the liquid and solid states represents
melting (solid to liquid) or freezing (liquid to solid). The line between the solid and gas
state represents sublimation (solid to gas) or deposition (gas to solid). The point where
all three lines meet is called the triple point. At that point all three phases exist.
The liquid-solid line extends indefinitely. However, the liquid-gas line ends. The point at
the end of this line is called the critical point. Substances with n pressures and
temperatures above the critical point are in a fourth physical state called a supercritical
fluid.
>> Example
Answer the following questions about a hypothetical substance, based on the following
phase diagram.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

What is the triple point?

What is the critical point?
What is the physical state at 350 K and 2.0 atm?
Under what conditions does the substance sublime?
What is the physical state at 600 K and 4.0 atm?
Under 1.0 atm, at what temperature will the substance boil?

g. At 3.0 atm, at what temperature will the substance melt?

h. At 2.0 atm, at what temperture will the substance boil?
i. What is its physical state at 3.0 atm and 300 K?
Solution:
In the diagram the substance is a solid at low temperature and high pressure, a gas at
low pressure and high temperature, and a liquid in between.
a. The triple point is where all three lines meet. In this example that is at 200 K and
1.5 atm.
b. The critical point is where the line between liquid and gas ends, the one with the
bit of a curve. In this example the critical point is at 500 K and 3.0 atm.
c. This point is between the two lines. Therefore the substance is a liquid under
these conditions.
d. The sublimation line is the line between solid and gas. In this example the line is
at temperatures of less than 200 K. So the primary requirement is that the
temperature be less than 200 K.
In addition, for a substance to sublime, it must turn from a solid to a gas, so the
pressure must be appropriate for a gas. That pressure depends somewhat on the
temperature. Any pressure lower than about 0.8 atm will definitely result in
sublimation.
e. At 600 K and 4.0 atm the substance is above the critical point (part b). Therefore
the substance acts as a supercritical fluid.
f. The substance will not boil at 1.0 atm. The sublimation line crosses at 1.0 atm.
The boiling point line is the line between liquid and gas.
g. At that pressure the substance melts at 300 K. The line between liquid and solid
crosses 3.0 atm at that temperature.
h. The substance boils at 450 K. That is the point where the liquid-gas line crosses
2.0 atm.
i. That point is on the solid-liquid line, so both solid and liquid exist at that point.
The substance is either freezing or melting.