8.2 Business Case: Why is a PVT Data-Exchange Standard Important?

Data associated with reservoir fluids are diverse, detailed, and important. Good reservoir fluid characterization is critical for most business decisions about the development of oil and gas fields. Reliable reservoir fluid properties obtained during the field’s lifecycle are critical factors in planning reservoir, facilities, and well developments to maximize return on capital.

However, fluids data are often based on samples, which are normally collected, analyzed, and modelled early in the reservoir’s lifecycle. Because of the diversity and physical nature of reservoir fluids, the data are usually characterized by complex experiments that represent a best approximation of fluid behavior, along the entire production pathway. The quality of the results of these experiments depends on the test sample’s handling and preparation, the experimental process used, and the test conditions used. To ensure that adequately representative properties are available for a specific technical workflow, it is vital to understand and accurately communicate this background process for fluid properties.