News – DJ Basin: Multi-Client PVT Study
DJ Basin: Multi-Client PVT Study
26 March 2025
The Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basin multi-client PVT consortium was first initiated in December 2024. The main objective of the study was to create one, field-wide equation of state (EOS) model for the entire DJ basin. 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 is some key information about the study.
Number of PVT Samples
In this study, PVT samples from 30 different well locations, spanning from separator to bottomhole fluid sampling, were utilizedin the EOS model development work. Of these 30 wells, 22 produce from the Niobrara formations (A, B and C), while the remaining 8 wells produce from the Codell formations. There are 28 samples classified as bubblepoint samples and 2 are dewpoints samples. The C7+ component in the samples varies significantly, ranging from 3 mol% to 43 mol%.
Experimental Overview
The table below summarizes PVT experiments performed on all samples:
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 is some key information about the study.
Number of PVT Samples
In this study, PVT samples from 30 different well locations, spanning from separator to bottomhole fluid sampling, were utilizedin the EOS model development work. Of these 30 wells, 22 produce from the Niobrara formations (A, B and C), while the remaining 8 wells produce from the Codell formations. There are 28 samples classified as bubblepoint samples and 2 are dewpoints samples. The C7+ component in the samples varies significantly, ranging from 3 mol% to 43 mol%.
Experimental Overview
The table below summarizes PVT experiments performed on all samples:
Participating Companies
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?
United States
Consortium Budget
The participation budget is 40,000 USD per company. At least 10 PVT reports must be provided to join the consortium.
Want to know more? Send an e-mail to carlsen@whitson.com
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- Chevron
- Civitas
- Oxy
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?
United States
- Eagle Ford / Austin Chalk – Texas (Multi client)
- Permian (Midland & Delaware) – Texas & New Mexico (Multi client)
- Anadarko Basin (SCOOP/STACK/Merge) – Oklahoma (Multi client)
- Bakken – North Dakota (Multi client)
- Powder River – Wyoming & Montana (Multi client)
- Uinta Basin – Utah / Colorado (Multi client)
- DJ Basin – Colorado & Wyoming (Multi client)
- Utica Basin – Pennsylvania (Single client)
- Arkoma Basin – Oklahoma (Single client)
- Montney, Alberta & British Columbia (Multi client)
- Duvernay, Alberta (Multi client)
- Garrington, Alberta (Single client)
- Jafurah basin, Saudi Arabia (Single client)
- Vaca Muerta, Argentina (Single client)
Consortium Budget
The participation budget is 40,000 USD per company. At least 10 PVT reports must be provided to join the consortium.
Want to know more? Send an e-mail to carlsen@whitson.com
###
Learn more about our software products