Unified Model for Gas-Liquid Pipe Flow Via Slug Dynamics: Part 1 — Model Development

Zhang, Hongquan; Wang, Qian; Sarica, Cem; Brill, J.P.

doi:10.1115/etce2002/prod-29114

“…Additionally, this model can be easily tuned to different conditions by correcting the apparent viscosity or including an accelerational term as proposed by Nossen and Lawrence (2012). This model can be easily coupled with any unified model such as Zhang et al (2003) based on the mixture Reynolds (Eq. (7)).…”

Section: Figure 2 Schematic Of High Viscosity Facility Of Tuffpmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Simplified Slug Flow Model for Highly Viscous Oil-Gas Flow in Horizontal Pipes

Brito

¹

,

Pereyra

²

,

Sarica

³

et al. 2013

Day 3 Wed, October 02, 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Typically pressure drop prediction of gas-liquid flow in pipes is carried out by mechanistic models. A proper prediction of the pressure drop requires prior identification of the flow pattern. Previous studies indicate (Gokcal, 2003 and 2008) that the most likely flow pattern for highly viscous oil is slug flow, which consists of a liquid slug region, followed by a bubble or film region. For highly viscous oils, a simplification of slug flow models is proposed based on experimental observations. This simplification is based on the fact that the pressure drop in the slug region is much larger than the pressure drop in the film region. The developed model shows fair agreement when it is compared against the data with oil viscosities from 40 to 580 cP. This model is applicable for two-phase flow Reynolds number up to 2000, which are common values in heavy oil production systems and does not require iterative solution.

show abstract

“…A modeling approach similar to TUFFP's unified hydrodynamic model (Zhang et al, 2003) for gasliquid pipe flow can be used for the gas-liquid-liquid three-phase modeling. The TUFFP unified model is based on the dynamics of slug flow.…”

Section: Modeling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Next Generation Multiphase Pipe Flow Prediction Tools

Sarica¹,

Zhang²

2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The developments of oil and gas fields in deep waters (5000 ft and more) will become more common in the future. It is inevitable that production systems will operate under multiphase flow conditions (simultaneous flow of gas-oiland water possibly along with sand, hydrates, and waxes). Multiphase flow prediction tools are essential for every phase of hydrocarbon recovery from design to operation. Recovery from deep-waters poses special challenges and requires accurate multiphase flow predictive tools for several applications, including the design and diagnostics of the production systems, separation of phases in horizontal wells, and multiphase separation (topside, seabed or bottom-hole). It is crucial for any multiphase separation technique, either at topside, seabed or bottom-hole, to know inlet conditions such as flow rates, flow patterns, and volume fractions of gas, oil and water coming into the separation devices. Therefore, the development of a new generation of multiphase flow predictive tools is needed.The overall objective of the proposed study is to develop a unified model for gas-oil-water three-phase flow in wells, flow lines, and pipelines to predict flow characteristics such as flow patterns, phase distributions, and pressure gradient encountered during petroleum production at different flow conditions (pipe diameter and inclination, fluid properties and flow rates).In the current multiphase modeling approach, flow pattern and flow behavior (pressure gradient and phase fractions) prediction modeling are separated. Thus, different models based on different physics are employed, causing inaccuracies and discontinuities. Moreover, oil and water are treated as a pseudo single phase, ignoring the distinct characteristics of both oil and water, and often resulting in inaccurate design that leads to operational problems. In this study, a new model is being developed through a theoretical and experimental study employing a revolutionary approach. The basic continuity and momentum equations is established for each phase, and used for both flow pattern and flow behavior predictions. The required closure relationships are being developed, and will be verified with experimental results. Gas-oil-water experimental studies are currently underway for the horizontal pipes.Industry-driven consortia provide a cost-efficient vehicle for developing, transferring, and deploying new technologies into the private sector. The Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) is one of the earliest cooperative industry-university research consortia. TUFFP's mission is to conduct basic and applied multiphase flow research addressing the current and future needs of hydrocarbon production and transportation. TUFFP participants and The University of Tulsa are supporting this study through 55% cost sharing.

show abstract

“…A modeling approach similar to TUFFP's unified hydrodynamic model (Zhang et al, 2003b) for gasliquid pipe flow can be used for the gas-liquid-liquid three-phase modeling. The TUFFP unified model is based on the dynamics of slug flow.…”

Section: Modeling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Next Generation Multiphase Pipe Flow Prediction Tools

Sarica¹,

Zhang²

2006

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The developments of oil and gas fields in deep waters (5000 ft and more) will become more common in the future. It is inevitable that production systems will operate under multiphase flow conditions (simultaneous flow of gas-oiland water possibly along with sand, hydrates, and waxes). Multiphase flow prediction tools are essential for every phase of hydrocarbon recovery from design to operation. Recovery from deep-waters poses special challenges and requires accurate multiphase flow predictive tools for several applications, including the design and diagnostics of the production systems, separation of phases in horizontal wells, and multiphase separation (topside, seabed or bottom-hole). It is crucial for any multiphase separation technique, either at topside, seabed or bottom-hole, to know inlet conditions such as flow rates, flow patterns, and volume fractions of gas, oil and water coming into the separation devices. Therefore, the development of a new generation of multiphase flow predictive tools is needed.The overall objective of the proposed study is to develop a unified model for gas-oil-water three-phase flow in wells, flow lines, and pipelines to predict flow characteristics such as flow patterns, phase distributions, and pressure gradient encountered during petroleum production at different flow conditions (pipe diameter and inclination, fluid properties and flow rates).In the current multiphase modeling approach, flow pattern and flow behavior (pressure gradient and phase fractions) prediction modeling are separated. Thus, different models based on different physics are employed, causing inaccuracies and discontinuities. Moreover, oil and water are treated as a pseudo single phase, ignoring the distinct characteristics of both oil and water, and often resulting in inaccurate design that leads to operational problems. In this study, a new model is being developed through a theoretical and experimental study employing a revolutionary approach. The basic continuity and momentum equations is established for each phase, and used for both flow pattern and flow behavior predictions. The required closure relationships are being developed, and will be verified with experimental results. Gas-oil-water experimental studies are currently underway for the horizontal pipes.Industry-driven consortia provide a cost-efficient vehicle for developing, transferring, and deploying new technologies into the private sector. The Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) is one of the earliest cooperative industry-university research consortia. TUFFP's mission is to conduct basic and applied multiphase flow research addressing the current and future needs of hydrocarbon production and transportation. TUFFP participants and The University of Tulsa are supporting this study through 55% cost sharing. iv v List of Figures Executive SummaryThe developments of fields in deep waters (5000 ft and more) will become more common in the future. It is inevitable that production systems will operate under multiphase flow condi...

show abstract

Unified Model for Gas-Liquid Pipe Flow Via Slug Dynamics: Part 1 — Model Development

Cited by 34 publications

References 0 publications

A Simplified Slug Flow Model for Highly Viscous Oil-Gas Flow in Horizontal Pipes

A Simplified Slug Flow Model for Highly Viscous Oil-Gas Flow in Horizontal Pipes

Development of Next Generation Multiphase Pipe Flow Prediction Tools

Development of Next Generation Multiphase Pipe Flow Prediction Tools

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About