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

See also

• Produced water

External links

• Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary: produced fluid