Nonequilibrium Phase Transitions in BlackOil

Abstract

The paper argues in favor of the need to adjust pVT properties of the hydrocarbon system and apply non-equilibrium models of phase transitions for purposes of upscaling and history-matching flow simulation models (FSMs) to actual production data. Since most of FSMs are based on the Black Oil model, it features prominently in the paper. The paper considers certain information from laboratory experiments and production data that points to non-equilibrium phase transitions in the in-situ hydrocarbon mix. Provided are also the results of numerical experiments demonstrating the need for upscaling the fluids' pVT properties, and evidence of non-equilibrium effects from the enlarged size of cells in the FSM computational grid. In conclusion, the paper considers capabilities of various commercial flow simulators and new approaches to simulation of non-equilibrium phase behavior effects in the Black Oil model.