Generalized correlation for friction loss in drag reducing polymer solutions

Darby, Ron; Chang, Hsun‐Fu David

doi:10.1002/aic.690300216

Cited by 47 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(21 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This large deviation between the experimental and predicted values (up to 75%), depending on Reynolds number, may lead to job failure. Various researchers (7,17,18) have studied this diameter effect using polymeric fluids and their findings are in agreement with the present work.…”

Section: Large-scale Flow Datasupporting

confidence: 93%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Investigation of the Complex Flow Behaviour of Surfactant-Based Fluids in Straight Tubing

Kamel

Shah

2010

Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary In spite of their wide use in hydraulic fracturing and gravel-pack operations, the complex flow behaviour of surfactant-based (SB) fluids in straight tubing is rarely investigated. Accurate prediction of friction-pressure is essential for proper treatment design. Previous correlations from small tubing data and using simple power-law fluid model parameters alone do not scaleup to large tubing sizes for field application. The properties of one of the most popular surfactants, Aromox APA-T, are thoroughly investigated. It is a highly-active surfactant used as the gelling agent in aqueous and brine solutions. Commonly used surfactant concentrations (1.5%, 2%, 3% and 4% by volume) are studied. Rheological and viscoelastic measurements are conducted using the Bohlin rheometer. Flow tests are conducted using 1.27-cm, 3.81-cm, 6.03-cm and 7.30-cm tubing. The results show SB fluid exhibiting a non-Newtonian pseudo-plastic behaviour. Fluid concentration and pipe shear have a significant effect on fluid elasticity. The conventional Fanning friction factor vs. Reynolds number correlation is improved by including a new dimensionless group that accounts for both fluid elasticity and pipe diameter. A new definition of Deborah number is introduced. Thus, a new correlation for predicting friction factors of SB fluid in straight tubing is developed. The scaleup problem is thus alleviated with the present analysis and this provides more accurate friction-pressure estimates.

show abstract

Section: Large-scale Flow Datasupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The Fanning friction factor of SB fluids, according to Darby and Chang (17), can be expressed as: and D e . Model parameters were then determined for each fluid from the least-squares curve fit technique.…”

Section: Theoretical Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the Complex Flow Behaviour of Surfactant-Based Fluids in Straight Tubing

Kamel

Shah

2010

Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…21 Polymer solution friction factors were normalized to solvent friction factors by multiplication with a characteristic fluid time constant where NDe' Deborah number, was defined as…”

Section: Friction Factor-reynolds Numbermentioning

confidence: 99%

Turbulent Flow of Stimulation Fluids: An Evaluation of Friction Loss Scale-Up Methods

Lord

1987

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Uncertainty exists in our industry over selection of the most appropriate means to satisfy the simplest of scale-up requirements. The requirement in question being conversion of isothermal pressure loss measurements made with "simple" fluids in smooth laboratory pipes to appropriate values for field-size tubing and casing.These fluids are classified as "simple" because they comprise the time-independent, homogeneous, linear polymer-inwater solutions that form the nucleus of most stimulation fluid formulations. It is only after determination of an appropriate scale-up method that our industry can make real progress toward solution of more difficult problems dealing with the effects of non-isothermal conditions, pipe roughness, nonhomogeneity, and time and/or energy dependency. Addressing these more difficult problems will permit development of more reliable correlations to be used in making bottomhole treating pressure estimates for real-time analysis.The current uncertainty associated with scaleup is fostered by availability of a wide variety of methods, each of which appears to be unique in its formulation. In this paper, we provide comparisons among various scale-up procedures in use and/or available to industry. These comparisons are made using laboratory data collected from turbulent flow experiments conducted in nominal 3/4 to 2-in. [1.905 to 5. 08-cm] Schedule 40 pipe using 0. 36 to 0. 95 weight percent hydroxypropyl guar in water solution. Complicating this analysis is the fact that a nontrivial scale-up method does not exist, i.e., it is necessary to determine unique, method-dependent parameters for each fluid formulation using turbulent flow pressure loss measurements obtained with the fluid in question.Each scale-up procedure evaluated is shown to produce a diameter invariant correlation of the type necessary to facilitate scale-up.Using these various diameter invariant References and illustrations at end of paper.133 correlations (all developed from the same data base), conflicting predictions for large diameter friction loss are produced.At a fixed fluid velocity and with increasing pipe diameter, percent friction reduction below that of water was predicted by the various methods to either increase, decrease, or remain the same.The significance of these variations in terms of their impact on stimulation operations is discussed.

show abstract

“…There exist some semi-empirical models based on fluid and flow parameters such as the Deborah or Weissenberg numbers (e.g. those by Katsibas et al [1], Darby et al [2,3], and Mironov and Shishov [4] that are intended to be predictive of general drag-reduction issues and could therefore also predict in principle the diameter effect. This type of models, however, ± even though providing some physical insight into the fundamentals of the phenomenon ± are still generally not providing fully conclusive answers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An improved diameter scaling correlation for turbulent flow of drag-reducing polymer solutions

Gasljevic¹,

Aguilar²,

Matthys³

1999

Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Generalized correlation for friction loss in drag reducing polymer solutions

Cited by 47 publications

References 21 publications

Investigation of the Complex Flow Behaviour of Surfactant-Based Fluids in Straight Tubing

Investigation of the Complex Flow Behaviour of Surfactant-Based Fluids in Straight Tubing

Turbulent Flow of Stimulation Fluids: An Evaluation of Friction Loss Scale-Up Methods

An improved diameter scaling correlation for turbulent flow of drag-reducing polymer solutions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About