Solubility of Natural Gas in Various Crude Oils and Preparation of Pure Methane from Natural Gas

Citation

Kircher, Charles Edmund Jr. (1933) Solubility of Natural Gas in Various Crude Oils and Preparation of Pure Methane from Natural Gas. Master's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/FWDP-HK80. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05122017-093006165

Abstract

The work reported in this paper is a continuation of experiments begun and carried out by B.H. Sage, and described in his thesis for the Masters degree C.I.T. 1931. The object of the research was to determine as quantitatively as possible the solubility of natural gas in various crude oils, as it was known that by dissolving natural gas in crude oil, the physical properties of the oil could be changed in such a way as to make possible greater recovery of the crude oil from the underground formation. As pointed out by Mr. Sage, the solubility figures presented in his thesis had to be arrived at by a method of approximation as he was then not experimentally able to measure the change in liquid volume resulting from dissolved gas. In order to make possible more accurate calculation of gas solubility, apparatus was designed and installed for directly measuring the change in volume of the crude oil which occurred as a result of dissolved gas. Other changes were made in the equipment as first set up by Mr. Sage, which were designed to increase accuracy and speed in carrying out the experiments. These changes will be discussed in the main body of this report.

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