SPE Journal
Volume 16,
Number 1,
March 2011,
pp. 148-154
Summary
A novel model has been developed for the prediction of frictional pressure
gradient in unstable turbulent oil/water dispersion flow in horizontal pipes.
This model uses the friction-factor approach, based on the law of the wall, to
predict the pressure gradient. Modification of both the von Karman coefficient
κ′ and the parameter Β′ have been carried out in the law of the
wall to include the effect of the dispersed phase--namely, the dispersed-phase
volume fraction and the characteristic-droplet-size diameters. The developed
model applies to both dilute and dense flows, covering the entire range of
water cuts. Model predictions have been compared with a comprehensive
experimental database collected from literature, resulting in an absolute
average error of 9.6%. Also, the comparisons demonstrate that the developed
model properly represents the physical phenomena exhibited in unstable
turbulent oil/water dispersions. These include drag reduction, increase in
frictional pressure gradient with increasing dispersed-phase volume fraction,
and the peak in the frictional pressure gradient at the oil/water
phase-inversion region.
© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
31 March 2009
- Revised manuscript received:
21 April 2010
- Manuscript approved:
6 May 2010
- Published online:
16 September 2010
- Version of record:
15 March 2011
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