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Introduction to OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer for First-Time Users

Updated

Objective:

In this article, we will introduce the OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer user interface, review the types of calculations that can be performed, execute a series of basic calculations to understand the software’s capabilities, and explore the Report and Plot outputs.

Disclaimer: The user interface, calculations, and results displayed in this article are from OLI Studio Version 12.0.0. Other software versions may appear different or present slightly distinct results due to continual developments to the software and thermodynamic databanks.

Intro to the User Interface

The video below introduces the OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer user interface.

Overview of Possible Calculations

Calculation Class Calculation Methods Available
Single Point
  • Isothermal: Constant temperature & pressure
  • Isenthalpic: Constant enthalpy change
  • Bubble Point: Boiling point
  • Dew Point: When an aqueous liquid begins to appear
  • Vapor Amount: User-specified vapor quantity
  • Vapor Fraction: User-specified vapor quantity relative to total system quantity
  • Isochoric: User-specified total volume
  • Set pH: Titration to maintain user-specified pH
  • Precipitation Point: Solid’s solubility point
  • Composition Point: Fixed species value
  • Reconcile Alkalinity: Reconcile alkalinity of a solution, via “Calculate Alkalinity,” “Reconcile Alkalinity & pH,” or “Reconcile Alkalinity, pH, & TIC” calculation type
  • Autoclave: Simulate a constant-volume vessel to reach specified gas mole fraction or partial pressure
  • Custom: Flexible variable adjustments. Ex: user can determine the solubility of a gas in solution
Survey
  • Single Survey: Assess the system based on one independent variable, (e.g. Temperature, Pressure, Composition, pH, Vapor Fraction, and Vapor Amount)
  • Dual Survey: Assess the system based on two independent variables
  • Note: for both Single Surveys and Dual Surveys, users can change the default Isothermal calculation to another calculation type, such as Bubble Point, Precipitation Point, etc.
Water Analysis (Ionic Inputs)
  • While Single Point and Survey calculations require molecular inflows, the Water Analysis accepts ionic inputs and converts outputs to molecular representations for further calculations.
Hydrocarbons and Pseudocomponents
  • Enter assays or pseudocomponents to represent crude oils.
  • Create crude oil streams using a PVT curve or enter pseudocomponent data directly.
Mixers
  • Mix one or more streams together.
  • Single Point Mix: Multiply a stream’s total inflow up or down.
  • Volume: Fix one stream’s volume and change another’s.
  • Ratio: Adjust flows of multiple streams concurrently (i.e. Stream A at 100%, Stream B at 0%. Next, Stream A at 90%, Stream B at 10%. Etc.)
  • Multiplier: Fix one stream’s loading and change another’s multiplier factor.
  • Temperature: Mix streams at specified multiplier factors over a range of temperatures.
  • Pressure: Mix streams at specified multiplier factors over a range of pressures.
Chemical Stability Diagram
  • Build diagrams to understand the formation of stable solids based on ion concentration, pH, etc.

 

Optional Calculation Outputs

To enable optional outputs, select the Global Stream selected in the Navigator Panel, navigate to the Menu Bar > Tools > Options… > Calculation Options tab. Optional outputs include:

  • Diffusivities, Electrical Conductivity, Heat Capacity, Activities, Fugacities, K-Values, Gibbs Free Energy, Entropy, Thermal Conductivity, Surface Tension, Interfacial Tension, Total Dissolved Solids, Scaling Induction Time(s), Pre-scaling Tendencies

The user can enable these properties in the Specs… window of an individual calculation.

To view these outputs after running a calculation, navigate to the “Output” tab > right-click anywhere on the gray space > select “Sections.”

 

Water Analysis Conversions

Brine analysis data obtained from Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) measurements will often include concentrations for elements such as Boron (B), Phosphorus (P), Sulfur (S), and Silicon (Si). These elements do not exist in water as pure elements; instead, they exist as dissolved ions. If these elements are part of your analysis, you must convert them to their corresponding aqueous species before entering them into the Water Analysis object.

Here’s how to convert the concentrations of these elements to their respective aqueous species:

Boron (B)

  • Aqueous Species: Boric Acid
  • Formula to Enter: H3BO3
  • Conversion: B (mg/L) × 5.72 = H3BO3 (mg/L)

Silicon (Si)

  • Aqueous Species: Silica
  • Formula to Enter: SiO2
  • Conversion: Si (mg/L) × 2.14 = SiO2 (mg/L)

Phosphorus (P)

  • Aqueous Species: Dihydrogen Phosphate
  • Formula to Enter: H2PO4-1
  • Conversion: P (mg/L) × 3.13 = H2PO4 (mg/L)

Sulfur (S)

  • Aqueous Species: Sulfide or Sulfate (depending on the form)
  • Formulas to Enter: HS-1 or SO4-2
  • Conversion:
    • For Sulfide: S (mg/L) × 1.03 = HS-1 (mg/L)
    • For Sulfate: S (mg/L) × 3.0 = SO4-2 (mg/L)

Example Conversion

If your ICP measurement indicates:

  • Boron: 10 mg/L
  • Silicon: 15 mg/L
  • Phosphorus: 8 mg/L
  • Sulfur: 12 mg/L

You would convert these concentrations as follows:

  • Boron: 10 mg/L × 5.72 = 57.2 mg/L of H3BO3
  • Silicon: 15 mg/L × 2.14 = 32.1 mg/L of SiO2
  • Phosphorus: 8 mg/L × 3.13 = 25.04 mg/L of H2PO4-1
  • Sulfur:
    • For Sulfide: 12 mg/L × 1.03 = 12.36 mg/L of HS-1
    • For Sulfate: 12 mg/L × 3.0 = 36 mg/L of SO4-2

Running Example Calculations in Stream Analyzer

The following video provides a demonstration of running various calculations in OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer.

Video Timestamps

[0:24] Single Point Calculations

[04:59] Survey Calculations

[09:39] Water Analysis

[11:25] Add Reconciliation Calculation to Water Analysis

[15:21] PVT Analysis

[18:01] Enter Pseudocomponent data directly

[20:11] Mixer Calculations

[22:25] Mixer Calculation: Titration Example

[25:04] Further Examine Titration pH Value

[28:02] Chemical Stability Diagrams

[31:13] Chemical Stability Diagrams: 50% Increase in Lanthanum Acetate

[32:17] Chemical Stability Diagrams: High Temperature / High Pressure Conditions

Conclusions

In this article, we covered the basics of OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer, including an introduction to the user interface, the different types of calculations available, and the various outputs provided. By following these steps and examples, users can apply OLI Studio: Stream Analyzer for their own projects.

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