US 4,395,902 AGranted

Method and apparatus for determining phase behavior of oil/gas mixtures at high pressures and temperatures

AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation

InventorsWilton F. Espenscheid, Richard E. Aikin

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the phase behavior of gas/oil mixtures at preselected controlled high temperatures and high pressures wherein a stream of oil and gas under controlled conditions of volume rate and pressure are separately introduced into a mixing chamber and then into a separator wherein the liquid oil phase separates by gravity into the bottom of the separator and the gas phase migrates by gravity to the top of the separator. The gas phase of the separator is in fluid communication with a pressure control system. Samples of oil and gas are separately withdrawn from the separator after thermo-dynamic equilibrium is reached in the mixing chamber and each sample is analyzed to measure the gas/oil ratio.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for determining the phase behavior of an oil/gas mixture at a predetermined temperature and pressure comprising:

(a) separately feeding a flowing stream of pressurized oil and gas at a predetermined volume of oil and gas per unit time into a mixing chamber;
(b) passing the effluent of mixed oil and gas from said mixing chamber into an oil-gas separator maintained at a predetermined absolute test pressure wherein the oil and gas separate by gravity;
(c) surrounding said mixing chamber and said separator by a medium heated to a controlled, constant, elevated temperature;
(d) withdrawing gas from the upper portion of said separator and continuously sensing the absolute pressure of said gas;
(e) controlling the pressure of said gas within the separator in response to sensed pressure changes whereby said absolute pressure is maintained at a predetermined value;
(f) withdrawing samples of oil from the bottom of said separator and measuring the content of gas in said oil;
and
(g) withdrawing samples of gas from the upper portion of said separator and measuring the content of oil in said gas.

5 more elements

Apparatus for determining the phase behavior of oil/gas mixtures comprising:

(a) means for constantly supplying a predetermined volume of pressurized oil and gas per unit time into a mixing chamber;
(b) an oil/gas separator positioned below said mixing vessel and in fluid communication therewith wherein the oil and gas separate by gravity;
(c) means for surrounding the mixing chamber and separator within a medium heated to a controlled, constant, elevated temperature;
(d) means for controlling the absolute pressure of said gas within the upper portion of said separator;
(e) means communicating with said separator at a bottom portion thereof for withdrawing an oil sample;
(f) means for measuring the amount of gas contained in the sample of oil withdrawn from the bottom portion of the separator;
(g) means communicating with said separator at an upper portion thereof for withdrawing a gas sample;
and
(h) means for measuring the amount of oil contained in the sample of gas withdrawn from the upper portion of the separator.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.