PNG 520
Phase Relations in Reservoir Engineering

Introduction

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Gas and liquid co-existence is common to all petroleum and natural gas applications, as we have mentioned already. Additionally, in our discussions presented in Modules 12 and 13, we tried to mathematically model the problem of vapor-liquid co-existence in equilibrium. As we recall, at that time we concluded that we were lacking tools necessary to complete the definition of the problem. Then we went on and concentrated on building those thermodynamic tools which we needed. Now we are ready to couple the concepts reviewed in Modules 14 through 16 (“Thermodynamic Tools”) with those reviewed in Modules 12 and 13. In order for us to do that, we will need to apply our knowledge of equations of state (studied in Modules 6 through 11).

Once the mathematics of vapor-liquid equilibrium is understood, we will be able to solve for a variety of applications. They will be discussed in the last modules of this course. One of those applications will be to generate any sort of phase diagrams, like the ones that we studied in our earlier discussions.

As you see, everything that we have studied in this course is completely interlinked. That’s one of the main ideas that I want you to glean from these discussions.