Numerical Prediction of Oil Formation Volume Factor at Bubble Point for Black and Volatile Oil Reservoirs Using Non - Linear Regression Models

Empirical Pressure - Volume - Temperature PVT correlations acquired increased attention for prediction of reservoir fluid properties. Oil formation volume factor is one of the most important pressure - volume - temperature properties of crude oils for reservoir evaluation and simulation. Experimental PVT analysis including constant mass depletion and differential liberation (vaporization) tests carried out on black and light volatile oil samples covering a great range of physical properties. An empirical correla tion predicting bubble point oil formation volume factor was developed based on (100) data set covering different Egyptian oil production regions built up using non - linear regression models. Assessment and validation of the developed correlation were esti mated by statistical and graphical error analysis. Statistical analysis parameters involve Average percent relative error (E r ) , Average absolute percent relative error (E a ) , Maximum absolute percent relative error (E max ) , Minimum absolute percent relative error (E min ) , Root mean square error (E rms ), and Standard deviation (S). The obtained results indicate high accuracy of the developed correlation with a correlation coefficient (r= 0.988) compared to the published correlations. Scientific contribution of t he newly correlation results from the fact that it depends on experimental field data, new correlating parameters not considered before that in published literatures are introduced depending on separator conditions and has a wide application range for petr oleum engineers especially when actual PVT laboratory data are missed or in case of highly costed analysis.