Summary
In this study, two-phase-flow pressure-prediction correlations and
mechanistic models for pipelines commonly used in the petroleum industry are
evaluated against experimental data.
Downward two-phase flow occurs in hilly-terrain pipelines, in
steam-injection wells, and in offshore oil- and gas-production systems. During
pipeline design and simulation, experimental data are usually unavailable to
calibrate against correlations and models. Sometimes, it is difficult to
determine which correlation or model to use in predicting pressure gradient in
inclined downward flow because very few correlations and models were developed
specifically for downward pipe flow.
Experimental data used in this study are from published papers (Kokal and
Stanislav 1989a, 1989b). Experimental data were gathered from 1-, 2-, and 3-in.
pipes with seven inclination angles. Oil and air were used as testing fluids.
During the experiment, superficial-liquid velocities (SLVs) range from 1.2 to
10 ft/sec and superficial-gas velocities (SGVs) range from 0.76 to 85 ft/sec.
The experimental results were plotted as pressure gradient vs. SGV for each
SLV.
Beggs-Brill (BB), Dukler-Eaton-Flanigan (DEF), Dukler-Flanigan (DF), Dukler,
Eaton, and Eaton-Flanigan (EF) correlations and the Xiao mechanistic model are
evaluated in this study.
The results of this study can be used as guidelines in choosing
two-phase-flow pressure-prediction correlations and models in designing and
analyzing downward two-phase-flow pipelines.
© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
4 August 2008
- Meeting paper published:
11 October 2008
- Revised manuscript received:
29 January 2009
- Manuscript approved:
14 February 2009
- Published online:
18 March 2010
- Version of record:
18 March 2010
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