Results are presented from two-phase flow wax deposition tests using a state-of-the-art, high pressure, multiphase flow test facility. Wax deposition was found to be flow pattern dependent and occurs only along the pipe wall in contact with the waxy crude oil. The deposition buildup trend at low mixture velocities is similar to that observed in laminar single-phase flow tests. The buildup trend at high mixture velocities is similar to that observed in turbulent single-phase flow tests. Thinner and harder deposits at the bottom than at the top of the pipe were observed in horizontal intermittent flow tests. Thicker and harder deposits were observed at low liquid superficial velocity than at high liquid superficial velocity annular flow tests. No wax deposition was observed along the upper portion of the pipe in stratified flow tests. A semi-empirical kinetic model tailored for the wax deposition tests predicted wax thickness with an acceptable accuracy, especially at high oil superficial velocity. Deposition rate reduction due to shear stripping and rate enhancement due to entrapment of oil and other mechanisms not accounted for by the classical Fick’s mass diffusion theory were incorporated through the use of dimensionless variables and empirical constants derived from the wax deposition data. The kinetic model, although semi-empirical, provides an insight for future model development.

Transporting heavy crude oil by pipeline requires special facilities because the viscosity is so high at normal field temperatures. In some cases the oil is heated with special heaters along the way, while in others the oil may be diluted by as much as 30 percent with kerosene. Commercial drag reducers have not been found to be effective because the single-phase flow is usually laminar to only slightly turbulent. In this work we show the effective viscosity of heavy oils in pipeline flow can be reduced by a factor of 3–4. It is hypothesized that a liquid crystal microstructure can be formed so that thick oil layers slip on thin water layers in the stress field generated by pipeline flow. Experiments in a 1 1/4-in. flow loop with Kern River crude oil and a Venezuela crude oil BCF13 are consistent with this hypothesis. The effect has also been demonstrated under field conditions in a 6-in. flow loop using a mixture of North Sea and Mississippi heavy crude oils containing 10 percent brine.

The continuity and momentum equations for fully developed and spatially developing slug flows are established by considering the entire film zone as the control volume. They are used for the calculations of pressure gradient, slug frequency, liquid holdup in the film, flow pattern transition, slug dissipation, and slug tracking. Comparison with available experimental results shows that these equations correctly describe the slug dynamics in gas-liquid pipe flow. [S0195-0738(00)00701-9]

For multiple-oil-zone reservoirs, steamflooding two zones at the same time is advantageous. Three methods for dual injection through a common wellbore were tested at Texaco's Kern River field in Bakersfield, CA. Because dual injection results in an excessive amount of heat transfer between injection streams, it was imperative to predict steam quality or water temperature at the sandface for each injection stream. To evaluate the merits of each method adequately, a computer model was developed to predict downhole temperatures, steam qualities, and pressures for each injection stream. Field tests of the three injection configurations provided measurements necessary for validation of the model. This paper describes the computer model, the field test, and the results from the three dual-injection scenarios.

Hilly-terrain pipelines consist of interconnected horizontal, uphill and downhill sections. Slug flow experiences a transition from one state to another as the pipe inclination angle changes. Normally, slugs dissipate if the upward inclination becomes smaller or the downward inclination becomes larger, and slug generation occurs vice versa. Appropriate prediction of the slug characteristics is crucial for the design of pipeline and downstream facilities. In this study, slug dissipation and generation in a valley pipeline configuration (horizontal-downhill-uphill-horizontal) were modeled by use of the method proposed by Zhang et al. The method was developed from the unsteady continuity and momentum equations for two-phase slug flow by considering the entire film zone as the control volume. Computed results are compared with experimental measurements at different air-mineral oil flow rate combinations. Good agreement is observed for the change of slug body length to slug unit length ratio.