Experimental and Modeling Studies for Gas-liquid Two-phase Flow at High Pressure Conditions

Abstract

Experimental and model studies were performed on two-phase flow behavior at high-pressure conditions. The experiments were conducted using nitrogen and water in a test loop of 106.4 mm diameter pipe with inclination angles of 0°, 1°, and 3°at 2060 kPa. The liquid holdup data of 81 runs for each inclination angle were analyzed to identify the flow pattern.The mechanistic model developed for low pressures was modified for high-pressure conditions. The model first detects the flow pattern, and then calculates liquid holdup and pressure drop based on the flow pattern. For dispersed-bubble flow, the critical bubble size mechanisms were also applicable at high pressures to predict a flow region in the flow pattern map, and the slip model of liquid holdup showed better matches with the experimental data than the non-slip model. For stratified flow, the flow region in the flow pattern map extended to higher liquid flow rates than at low pressures. Sequential application of the Taitel _ Dukler and Bendiksen _ Espedal criteria could correctly identify the stratified and non-stratified flow transition, and the Lockhart _ Martinelli correlation based on the shear stresses could evaluate the liquid holdup much better than the common correlation based on the material balance. Elongated-bubble flow changed directly into dispersed-bubble flow as the liquid flow rate increases. Excellent performance of the model was demonstrated by error analyses of liquid holdup and pressure drop calculations.

Multiphase Flow Modeling for Gas Hydrates in Flow Assurance

“…Tulsa (Meng, 1999) 153 Manabe 2001 Natural gas-crude oil 2 Univ. Tulsa (Manabe, 2001) 247 Mata et al 2002 Air-oil (ϭ 0.480 cP) 2 Intevep, Venezuela (Mata et al, 2002) 8 0 Abduvayt et al 2003 Nitrogen-water 2, 4 Waseda Univ., Japan (Abduvayt et al, 2003) 443 Gokcal et al 2005 Air-oil (ϭ 0.181-0.587 cP) 2 Univ. Tulsa (Gokcal, 2005) 183 Brito et al 2012 Air-oil (ϭ39-166 cP) 2 Univ.…”

Numerical Simulation in Steam Injection Process by a Mechanistic Approach

“…The following Table 5 presents the comparison among the values of Fpr, relative performance factor, recommended by Ansari et al (1994) for the VapMec model and the correlations of BegBrPa (Brill & Beggs, 1978), MukBr (Brill & Beggs, 1978) and LuSer (Moura, 1991 Tables 5 and 6, enables the conclusion that the VapMec model presented the best performance, when compared with the remaining models for vertical and horizontal steam flow, through the relative performance factor. Moreover, the LuSer model remained in second place.…”

“…The model for the bubble pattern is based on Ansari et al (1994), Hasan (1995), Kaya (2001) and Shoham (2006). The elevation and friction pressure gradient is given by ( )…”

“…The model for the stratified pattern is based on Shoham (2006), Abduvayt et al (2003) and Gomez (2000). The elevation and friction pressure gradient is given by…”

“…The empirical approach for two-phase models has been applied for at least 40 years and it is possible to cite the contributions of Satter (1965), Willhite (1967), Beggs & Brill (1978), Galate (1985), Lopes (1986) and Moura (1991). However mechanist approaches have emerged in recent decades with the mechanist models formulated by Ansari (1994), Hasan (1995), Gómez (2000) and Kaya (2001) that have arrived at more precise and trustable results. This improvement is due primarily to the fact of having incorporated the important parameters and the mechanics of the flow.…”