Definition - What does Oil Density mean?
Oil Density is the ratio of the mass of oil to its volume. The field data from various oil wells drilled on a lease is taken to determine the density of oil. During the exploration and production process it is important to understand that the density of water is more than that of oil and oil is much denser than gas. This is the prime reason is that oil floats on water and gas remains on top of oil and water.
Petropedia explains Oil Density
The density of oil varies with API gravity of oil and the temperature conditions of the surroundings. It generally ranges from 0.91 to 0.93 gram per cubic centimeter when the temperature is between 15 and 25 degree Celsius. As the water is denser than oil it is found at the bottom while oil is found on the top of the water. The lightest of the three is gas and hence gas is always found at the top in an oil & gas reservoir. Also at atmospheric conditions, natural gas is the lightest, thus it always rises upwards.
As per the formula below, the oil density can be determined by:
- The solution gas gravity
- The solution gas-oil ratio
- Oil formation volume factor (FVF)
- Specific gravity of crude oil
In acid gas disposal wells the injection pressure is predicted and accurate fluid density is required for the prediction.
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