Bakken – Multi-Client PVT Study

Last updated: 15 January 2024

Bakken – Multi-Client Study

The Bakken multi-client project was first initiated in 2018. The main objective of the study was to create one, field-wide equation of state (EOS) model for the entire Bakken. Since then more data has been incorporated into the model, resulting in a more robust thermodynamic description. But what is a field-wide EOS model? In simple terms, you can think of it as a field-wide “PVT correlation” applicable for all fluids in a given basin (black oils | volatile oils | near-critical fluids | gas condensates | wet gases | dry gases). The model is tuned/adjusted to measured PVT laboratory data available in that particular basin, and can be used to consistently predict PVT data such as saturation pressures, formation volume factors (FVF), solution GORs/CGRs, densities, compressibilities and viscosities across a field.. Here are some key information about the study.

Number of PVT Samples

In this study, 74 samples from 46 different well locations were included in the EOS model development work. The production comes from Middle Bakken and Three Forks formation, with GOR ranging from 550 to 4500 scf/STB and API ranging from 37 to 46. The minimum mol percentage of C7+ is 12 mol% and the maximum is 47 mol%.

Participating Companies

New companies are joining the study every single year.

  • Crescent Point Energy
  • Devon
  • Grayson Mill Energy (Equinor)
  • Chevron (HESS)
  • Marathon
  • Chord Energy (Oasis Petroleum)
  • Ovintiv
  • Continental
  • ConocoPhillips

Experimental Overview

Table above summarize PVT experiments performed on all samples. Note that only multi-stage separation tests performed on reservoir fluids are counted (*).

Experiments #
CCE69
CVD0
DLE48
Separator test34*
Oil viscosity39
Swell test1

Unconventional Fluids Systems

Unconventional fluid systems demonstrate strong field-wide PVT consistency although the reservoir fluid (i.e. composition) varies significantly. Reservoir fluid differences are dominantly determined by thermal maturity, which is the main reason behind the consistent fluid characteristics over large areas. What this means in practice, is that we can use one fluid model (i.e. EOS model) for the entire field, but what changes from area-to-area/well-to-well is the GOR (i.e. composition). This has been one of the key findings in all our studies.

Which Unconventional Basins Have We Conducted This Type of Work?

Consortium Budget

The participation budget is 40,000 USD per company.

Want to know more? Send an e-mail to carlsen@whitson.com

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Kameshwar Singh
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Ahmad Alavian
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Mathias Lia Carlsen
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About whitson
whitson supports energy companies, oil services companies, investors and government organizations with expertise and expansive analysis within PVT, gas condensate reservoirs and gas-based EOR. Our coverage ranges from R&D based industry studies to detailed due diligence, transaction or court case projects. We help our clients find the best possible answers to complex questions and assist them in the successful decision-making on technical challenges. We do this through a continuous, transparent dialog with our clients – before, during and after our engagement. The company was founded by Dr. Curtis Hays Whitson in 1988 and is a Norwegian corporation located in Trondheim, Norway, with local presence in USA, Middle East, India and Indonesia

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