Production fluid, or well fluid, is the fluid mixture of oil, gas and water in formation fluid that flows to the surface of an oil well from a reservoir. Its consistency and composition varies.

Fluids may be described by a multitude of characteristics including:

  • Composition - the quantity of every molecular component within the fluid, eg methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, n-butane, etc
  • Water cut - the proportion of the fluid, which is water rather than hydrocarbons.
  • API gravity - the oilfield measurement of the weight of the hydrocarbons.
  • GOR - Gas to oil ratio describing how many standard cubic feet of gas can be obtained for every stock tank barrel of oil.
  • H2S - the concentration of this gas. Fluids with a high concentration of H2S are described as "sour".
  • Contaminants such as mercury which may require special material selection and handling
  • BS&W - Base sediment and water which settles out during storage

In addition physical properties may include:

  • Wellhead flowing pressure
  • Wellhead shut-in pressure
  • Wellhead flowing temperature


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