KNC 4383 Natural Gas

Engineering

Lecture 2:
Properties of Natural Gas and
Condensate Systems

Nazeri Abdul Rahman

Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability
Faculty of Engineering,
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
 Objectives
• Introduce the students to the composition of natural gas
• Expose the students to the phase behaviour of natural
gas
• Revision on Ideal Gas, properties of gaseous mixtures
and behaviour of real gases
• Establish students understanding on natural gas
compressibility factor, viscosity, gas formation volume
factor and expansion factor
• Introduce the students the concept of water vapor
content and two-phase Systems in natural gas
engineering
 Introduction
• Natural Gas – a mixture of hydrocarbon and impurities
• Hydrocarbon –Methane, Propane Butanes, pentanes,
and small amount of hexanes, heptanes, octanes, and
heavier gases
• Impurities – Carbon dioxide, hydrogen Sulfide, Nitrogen,
water vapor, and heavier hydrocarbon
• Propane and other heavier hydrocarbon are removed for
further processing (higher market value)
• Properties of Natural Gas – important in solving gas well
performance, gas production, and gas transmission
problems
• The properties is determined from laboratory tests or
prediction from known chemical composition of the gas
 Composition of Natural Gas
• No one composition or mixture can be referred as the
Natural gas
• Each gas stream produced its own composition
• Two well from same reservoir may have different
composition.
• Natural gas composition from the same stream may
change as the reservoir is depleted.
• Natural gas is normally regarded as a mixture of
straight-chain or paraffin hydrocarbon gases.
• Straight-chain - the carbon atoms are attached to form
chains
• Cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons gases are occasionally
found in natural gas.
Composition of Natural Gas
Composition of Natural Gas
 Phase Behaviour
• Conventional gas reservoir – defined on the basis of
their initial reservoir pressure and temperature on the
usual pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram.
(Figure 2.2)
• P-T shows the effects of pressure and temperature on
the physical state of a hydrocarbon system.
• The area enclosed by the bubble point (BP) line A-S-C
and the dew point (DP) line C-D-T-B is the region of
pressure –temperature of both liquid and gas exist.
• A-S-C separates two phase region from single phase
liquid region.
• C-D-T-B separates two phase region from single phase
gas region.
• Retrograde condensation – a liquid condenses out of
the reservoir fluid as a fog or dew rather than as
condensate due to isothermal expansion rather than
condensation. (Figure 2.3)
Composition of Natural Gas
Composition of Natural Gas
 Ideal Gas
• Under normal distribution pressure, natural gas follows
the ideal gas laws quite closely.
• However, as the gas pressure increases, a wide
variation of actual and ideal volumes may occur.
 Ideal Gas
• Boyle’s Law

• Charles’ Law

• Boyle’s and Charles’ Laws

• Avogadro’s Laws
– There are 2.733 x 1023 molecules in 1 pound-mole
of any gas.
 Ideal Gas
• Only apply to the pressure close to atmospheric.

• Table 2.2 gives numerical values of R for various

systems of units.
Ideal Gas
 Properties of Gaseous
Mixtures
• Natural gas engineers invariably deal with gas mixtures.
• The overall physical properties of a natural gas
determine the behaviour of the gas under various
processing conditions.
• If the composition is known, the overall physical
properties can be established from physical properties of
each pure component in the mixture by using Kay’s
mixing rule.
• Most useful physical properties – Molecular weight,
boiling point, freezing point, density, critical
temperature, critical pressure, heat of vaporisation, and
specific heat.
Properties of Gaseous
Mixtures
 Composition
• Composition of Natural gas can be expressed as either
the mole fraction, volume fraction, or weight fraction of
its component.
Composition
 Apparent Molecular Weight
• A gas mixture does not have a unique molecular weight
but it behaves as it does.
• The apparent molecular weight of a gas mixture is a
pseudo property of the mixture and is defined as
 Behaviour of Real Gases
• At moderate pressures, natural gas tends to compress
more that the ideal gas law indicate especially
temperature close to critical temperatures.
• At higher pressure, the gas tends to compress less that
the ideal gas law predict.
• An empirical factor, z, is used to correct the deviation
between the measured or observed volume and that
calculated using ideal gas law.
 Real Gas Equation of State
• The real gas equation used by the industry is

• In which, z, is the dimensionless gas deviation factor.

• It can also be written as
 Theorem of Corresponding
States
• Critical pressure is that pressure which is exerts when in
equilibrium with the liquid phase and at the critical
temperature. It may also be defined as the saturation
pressure corresponding to the critical temperature.

• Critical temperature is that temperature (of a gas)

above which is a gas cannot be liquefied by the
application of pressure alone, regardless of the amount
if pressure.

• Critical volume is the volume of 1 pound-mass of gas at

the critical temperature and pressure; that is, the
specific volume of the gas at critical temperature and
critical temperature
 Theorem of Corresponding
States
• Reduced temperature, reduced pressure, and reduced
volume are the ratios of the actual temperature,
pressure, and specific volume to the critical temperature,
critical pressure, and critical volume, respectively;

• The z-factor for any gas mixture is defined solely by

reduced temperature and reduced pressure
 Determination of z-factor
• Experimental determination
- Some quantity of gas (n-moles) is charged into a
cylinder, the volume of which can be altered by the
movement of a piston and the contained is maintained
at the desired temperature, T, throughout the
experiment.
- By using the equation below and atmospheric pressure
of 14.7 psia, V0=nRT since z  1

- Therefore,
 Determination of z-factor
• The z-factor Correlation of Standing and Katz
- Generally reliable for sweet natural gas and correctable
for those containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.
- Need to determine the pseudo critical pressure and
temperature, or the apparent molecular weight of the
mixture. In which the z-factor can be determined by
using Figure 2.4.
Determination of z-factor
 Determination of z-factor
• The z-factor Correlation of Standing and Katz (continue)
- In the case of the composition of natural gas is not
available, the pseudo critical pressure and temperature
may be approximated by using Figure 2.5 and a
knowledge of the gas gravity.
- Useful correlation derived from Figure 2.5 by Thomas,
Hankinson, and Philips are

- The allowable concentration of sour gas and other

nonhydrocarbons for the equation above are 3% H2S
and 5% N2 and total impurity content of 7%.
- The next step is to calculate the pseudoreduced
pressure and temperature.

• With these two reduced parameters, z-factor can be

determined by using Standing and Katz Correlation
Determination of z-factor
 Determination of z-factor
• The z-factor Correlation of Standing and Katz (continue)
- For sour natural gas, Standing and Katz chart may be
used with appropriate adjustment of the pseudocritical
temperature and pseudocritical pressure. The
pseudocritical temperature adjustment factor 3 is given
by
 Determination of z-factor
• The z-factor Correlation of Standing and Katz (continue)
- For sour natural gas, Wichert and Aziz have developed a
chart (figure 2.6) that gives values of 3 to be used in
adjusting the pseudocritical temperature and pressure
as follow:

- By using the adjusted pseudocritical temperature and

pressure, the reduced temperature and reduced
temperature are calculated for use in Figure 2.4.
 Determination of z-factor
• The z-factor Correlation of Standing and Katz (continue)
 Determination of z-factor
• Direct Calculation of z-factor
- The Hall-Yarborough Method (1973) – developed using
the Starling-Carnahan equation of state,

- The y value can be solved by using Newton-Raphson

iterative technique and substitution of the correct value
of y will provide the z-factor.
 Determination of z-factor
• Direct Calculation of z-factor
- Dranchuk, Purvis and Robinson Method (1974) – this
method fits the Standing-Katz z-factor correlation by
means of eight-coefficent Benedit-Webb-Rubin type of
equation,
 Determination of z-factor
• Direct Calculation of z-factor
- Gopal Method (1977) – this method fits the straight line
equations to different portions of the z-factor chart. The
values of constant A,B,C and D for various combination
of Pr and Tr are obtained from a table. For pr >5.4
different form of equation is used.
 Determination of z-factor
• Direct Calculation of z-factor
- Gopal Method (1977)
 Compressibility
• Another term used by natural gas engineer to
compensate the deviation from ideal gas law
• The term, supercompressibility Fpv is used primarily for
high pressure calculation.
• The mathematical relationships between compressibility
and gas deviation factor.

• The equation of state for real gas can be written as

 Other Equations of State
• An equation of state gives the relationship between the
pressure p, molar volume v, and absolute temperature T
of a fluid.

• Alternatively, explicitly in terms of p

• Gas deviation factor mentioned earlier is not constant ,

and needs to be obtained graphically or thru numerical
techniques.
• This cause direct mathematical manipulations difficult.
• As such other equations of state have been developed
with a constant correction factor thus permitting direct
mathematical manipulation.
 Other Equations of State
• Van der Walls’ Equation of State
- An attempt to modify the ideal gas law so that it will be
applicable to nonideal gas. Values of a and b for
common substances is given by Table 2.5. For one mole
of a pure gas,

- If n moles of gas are involved,

• If constants a and b are not known, it is possible to

estimate their values form values of critical pressure Pc
and critical volume Vc
 Other Equations of State
• Van der Walls’ Equation of State
- This equation is accurate only at low pressure.
 Other Equations of State
• Benedict-Webb-Rubin (B-W-R) Equation of State
- A powerful equation of state describing the behavior of
pure, light hydrocarbon over single and two phase
regions, both below and above critical pressure.

- Pm is the molar density in lb-mole/cu-ft

- The pure components values of the eight constants are
listed in Table 2.6
 Other Equations of State
• Benedict-Webb-Rubin (B-W-R) Equation of State
 Compressibility of Natural gas
• Coefficient of isothermal compressibility of a gas is
given by
Compressibility of Natural gas
 Compressibility of Natural gas
• Mattar, Brar, and Aziz have obtained an expression for
cpr
Compressibility of Natural gas
Compressibility of Natural gas
 Viscosity of Natural gas
• The coefficient of viscosity is a measure of the
resistance to flow by a fluid.
• The dynamic or absolute viscosity  of a Newtonian fluid
is defined as the ratio of the shear force per unit area to
the local velocity gradient.
• Dynamic viscosity is measured in the unit of centipoise
equivalent to 1g mass/100sec cm (1cp=6.72×10-4lbm/ft
sec)
• The kinematic viscosity, not normally used, is defined as

• Kinematic viscosity is in centistokes equivalent to

cm2/100sec
• Natural gas viscosity depends on temperature, pressure
and composition of the mixture.
 Viscosity of Natural gas
• If the composition and component viscosity of the are
known then the viscosity of a mixture gas is

• For natural gases, correlations of Carr, Kobayashi, and

Burrows is commonly used which the form of

• The correlation also include the correction due to

nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide
Viscosity of Natural gas
Viscosity of Natural gas
Viscosity of Natural gas
Gas Formation Volume Factor and
Expansion Factor
• In reservoir engineeringg , the main use of real gas
equation is to relate surface volumes to reservoir
volumes of hydrocarbon.
• This is accomplished by use of the gas formation volume
factor Bg and gas expansion factor E.
• Bg is defined as the volume occupied in the reservoir by
one standard cubic foot of gas or the ratio of the volume
of gas in the reservoir to its volume at standard
conditions. (in units of reservoir cubic feet per standard
cubic foot)
• E is simply the reciprocal of the gas formation volume
factor.
Gas Formation Volume Factor and
Expansion Factor
• At standard conditions of 14.7 psia and 60 F, assuming
Zsc

• By dividing 5.615 to convert cubic feet to reservoir

barrel
Water Vapor Content of Natural
Gas
• Water carried along with the gas in vapor phase or
entrained in the droplet form.
• A gas is completely saturated when it contains the
maximum amount of water vapour for the given
temperature and pressure conditions.
• The saturate temperature at the specified pressure is
the dew point of the gas.
• Maintained the temperature and volume constant and
lower the pressure – will cause the water condense as
the capacity of the gas to hold water is reduced.
• The same observation – if pressure and volume constant
and temperature is lowered.
• Water contents of natural gas can be estimated by using
Figure 2.13 with corrections for salinity and gas gravity.
Water Vapor Content of Natural
Gas
 Two-Phase Systems
• For retrograde and wet gas reservoirs, the surface oil
and gas produced exist as an all gases phase in the
reservoir.
• Accurate material-balance calculations should be made
on the basis of total reservoir gas produced, which is
equal to the surface gas produced plus the gas
equivalent of the oil produced.
• Reservoir calculation may be made from generally
available field data by recombining the produced gas
and oil in the correct ration to find the average specific
gravity (air=1) of the total well fluid.
Two-Phase Systems – API Gravity
• The API gravity is another gravity term is used with
hydrocarbon liquids.

• 0 is the liquid’s specific at 60F,

• Table 2.7 shows the conversion of API gravity to liquid

Specific Gravity at 60F
Two-Phase Systems – API Gravity
Two-Phase Systems – Gas Gravity
of Total Well Stream
• Total well stream gas gravity differ greatly from the
surface gas specific gravity where the gas-oil ratio is low.
• The well stream is (Craft and Hawkins)

• If the molecular weight if the tank oil is not known, it

may be estimated by
Two-Phase Systems – Two-phase
z-factor
• If a gas mixture has two phases existing at the pressure
and temperature of interest, the gas deviation factor of
the two phase-phase mixture can be estimated from
Figure 2.14.
• As indicated on this figure, if the z-factor from figure
2.14 is essentially the same as the z-factor from figure
2.4, this indicate that the mixture exists as one single
gaseous phase.
• The z-factor for a gas condensate reservoir may be
calculated using the gas law as
Two-Phase Systems – Two-phase
z-factor
Some Gas Conversion Equation
 Further Reading
• Ikoku, C. U. (1992), Chapter 2: Properties of Natural Gas and
Condensate Systems, Natural Gas Production Engineering,
Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida
• Mokhatab, S, Poe, W. A., and Speight, J. G., (2006), Chapter 1:
Natural Gas Fundamental, Handbook of Natural Gas
Transmission and Processing, Gulf Professional Publishing,
Oxford, United Kingdom
• Wang, X. and Economides, M., (2009), Chapter 1: Natural Gas
Basics, Advanced Natural Gas Engineering, Gulf Publishing
Company, Houston, Texas, Unites States of America
• Guo, B. and Ghalambor, A., (2005), Chapter 2: Property of Natural
Gas, Natural Gas Engineering Handbook, Gulf Publishing
Company, Houston, Texas