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Prediction of Pressure Gradients For Multiphase Flow in Tubing
Prediction of Pressure Gradients For Multiphase Flow in Tubing
Prediction of Pressure Gradients For Multiphase Flow in Tubing
Flow in Tubing
GEORGE H. FANCHER, JR.*
JUNIOR MEMBER AIME THE U. OF TEXAS
KERMIT E. BROWN AUSTIN, TEX.
MEMBER AIME
MARCH, 1963 59
for high-rate flowing wells. Similarly, Tek 11 pre- traverse data to allow accurate prediction of the
sented a procedure for calculating pressure gradients pressure traverse in 2-in. tubing for any liquid flow
in two-phase flow by employing a two-phase Reynolds rate, and for any gas-liquid ratio in the range of
number and friction-factor function in Poettmann's these tests.
correlation. EXPERIMENT AL TESTING
Undoubtedly, the most significant correlation EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE
since Poettmann and Carpenter's is the one proposed
by Ros.12 This is a general; but complicated, The details of the experimental set-up and testing
procedure which is based on a pressure balance procedure has been previously outlined in a paper
between any two points in the flow string. The by Brown and J essen. 13 , 14 The test well was capa-
relationships between all variables w,~re investigated ble of making 1,000 BID of total liquid (95 per cent
by dimensional analysis from which ir:elevant groups salt water). The physical properties of the oil,
were eliminated. The resulting relationship consists water and gas are shown in Table l.
of a dimensionless pressure gradient expressed The production rate was controlled by a bottom-
in terms of a friction term and a liquid hold-up hole choke located at 6,077 ft. Once a particular
term (depending on slip only) for various flow flow rate had been set by a predetermined bottom-
patterns. However, this correlation is only for hole choke size, this particular liquid flow rate was
two-phase flow but may be linearly interpolated on maintained over a range of gas volume rates. This
technique made possible the production of each
r- -
,-----
---+- PROOUCTION
~
:NJECTION GAS----+-~
.",",._. ,JI
,.25 ""
OTIS SLEEVE VALVE#IQ-218Z' 1
r
[
. " , . , PRESSUR' , . . . .",rTfR _
(600P51)
r;.-'MA1HAK PRESS TRANS -#1-249"
MARCH, 1963
61
phases are in a high degree of turbulence. However, was assumed to be linear and the average flowing
for highly viscous fluids, a calculation of the temperature was used. In several tests, the flowing
Reynolds number may show one fluid to be in the surface temperature was obtained from the corre-
viscous flow region. It is known that, if either lation between flowing surface temperature flow
fluid is in the viscous flow region, then viscosity rate and gas-liquid ratio. (Fig. 4) Also, the compres-
cannot be neglected. Poettmann has pointed out sibility factor of the gas was assumed equal to one.
that their correlation is not valid for those regions This should not be neglected for high pressures and
of flow where either fluid is in the viscous flow gases with numerous impurities. In these tests, a
region.! Also, the slippage of the gas by the liquid dry gas (specific gravity = 0.57) and pressures less
was not separated from wall friction in their corre- than 600 psig were encountered. Two comparisons
lation. were made using the program procedure and the
However, this irreversible energy loss is inher- original method, with no assumptions. The maximum
ently incorporated in their friction-factor correlation deviation between the two procedures was ± 0.80
because it was obtained empirically from field data per cent.
in which slippage undoubtedly occurred.
In programming Poettmann and Carpenter's method PROPOSED CORRELATION
for the 1604 Control Data Corp. computer, it was When Poettmann and Carpenter's correlation was
necessary to make several assumptions and ap- applied to the field data, deviations were noted in
proximations. Equations were written for the so- several ranges of flow rates and gas-liquid ratios
fi-
_.r TUB'NG .... ESSURE
GAGE
MANUAL
RECEIVER
~------------------------
FIG. 3 - SURFACE TESTING EQUIPMENT.
I
.. ~
_.10 --- -- . I----
--r-=::-----
100 . , . :-.:::::: I i
'Xl
eo.,. i-----':: 1 ·.0
I ,
'20
>00 810
~~.ID
,
t- r----
r-- ;::::lt--
t-- -~ -. 20
o~-.-
--=
-- ·
. '0
100 810
I-- .
~. .
·
I ,
t-_·
tI ~ ~. -
t
1----+ t-. -.---
,
,
>-
t
0 i i I .
I
100 )()()
"00 XlO
."'" '100 1000 2'00 nco zooo Z70D 2900 3100 »00 >000 "00 ""'"
.1 00
...
I
03
. . .. ...... . .
... .. ..... ~.
.01
. . .. . ...... 0°00 0 0
• I
10 40
1,4737.IO"MQ/O
FIG. 5 - BACK-CALCULATED FRICTION
FACTOR.
,,0..-----,---------------,
10 50
1.4737110"110/0
..:
'"u
0
FRICTION FACTOR
CAl.CULATiON FROM
FIE'LD IlIEI'A FOR
..~
!l
1500<GIl < 3000
01
e:
COl
OOIL-~~~~~L_~~~~~~~~~~~ ,OC'~S--~~~~~IO~---~--~-~~J60
~ m 00
0pV'1.47371 10"M0/0 1.4737 liD" MOlD
MARCH, 1963 63
deviations were less than ± 10 per cent in all ranges
dp =_1_ (2) of gas-liquid ratios for flow rates greater than 414
dH 144 B/D. In general, for flow rates less than 414 B/D,
considerable deviation was found, regardless of
Therefore, as the gas-liquid ratio increases and the gas -liquid ratio. In particular, for flow rates
the liquid rate decreases, pressure gradients calcu- less than 312 B/D, average deviations were greater
lated from Eq. 2 are influenced more and more by than - 20 per cent. For gas-liquid ratios greater
the second term of Eq. 2. than 1 Mscf/bbl and for flow rates less than 192
Correlations were developed for the producing B/D, the average deviations were greater than - 80
gas-liquid ratio (Figs. 6 through 9). Correlations per cent (Figs. 27, 28, 31 and 32).
have been previously developed for in situ gas- These results are to be expected from Poettmann
liquid ratios. However, it was found that excellent and Carpenter's correlation since, as mentioned
agreement was obtained by using the producing previously, all irreversible energy losses are in-
gas-liquid ratio as a parameter. corporated in a friction-factor term, for the range
of their data, and fail to hold for the low density
DISCUSSION 0 F RESULTS ranges. This correlation shows that the original
In discussing the results of this investigation, Poettmann and Carpenter correlation can be used
the reliability and range of application of both cor- to give greater accuracy in the low density ranges
' .
.01
.OOSL--~-~~~~~I:':-O--~~-~--~-'::!IOO
.oaI L -~-'-~~......l10---~-~---:50·
3
1.4737,10"'MQ
1.4737,10-'MQlO 01'0,.
FIG. 9 -- FRICTION-FACTOR CORRELA- FIG. 11 -- FRICTION-FACTOR CORRELA-
TION. TION INCLUDING THE LIQUID VISCOSITY.
~r-------------------------------,
.10,..------------------,
FRICTION FACTOR
CALCULA)EO FRICTION FACTOR
01 FROM FIELO OATA CALCULATED
FOR
~If
FROM FIElD DilTA
0< GIL < 1500
~ro.
O!
01 •
"
0 ••
.
01
.006
003'L------~--~10---~~~~100~--~~----- 10 100
1.4737,10-' MO 1.4737,10-'MO
0,.,,0-·· 01'''·
FIG. 10 -- FRICTION-FACTOR CORRELA- FIG. 12 -- FRICTION-FACTOR CORRELA-
TION INCLUDING THE LIQUID VISCOSITY. TION INCLUDING THE LIQUID VISCOSITY.
~
\ o - 792 BID
1------------
6 FIELD DATA
~~ G/l-e90 SCF/BBl
"2
.
• POETTlIANH 8 CARPENTER
I\, I
6
2
1::
-L
Ii:
~ ~
CALCULATED FROM FRICTION
FACTOR CORRELAnON
-
12
_\ 6. FIELD DATA
POETTMANN 8 CARPENTER
~
_\
"0
. '\ 0 CALCULATED
"<e"
FRICTION
\
24
24 -- -
0
aN 00 600 eoo
PMSSlIIE. PSI
\ I o
•
\
o - 936 1110
GIL • 525 SCF/BEL \ o ·696 BID
• l"ELD DATA
\
,
GIL - 643 SCF/BEL
1\ a POETT....N • CARPENTER 8
\
I
6 FIELD DATA
,
12 o CALCULATED fROM FRICTION -
"2
\
a POE TTMAHN 8 CARPlNTER
FACTOR CCIIR£LATION.
I. t" 2
1\
o CALQJLATED FROM FRAC110H
FACTOf' CORRELATlON.
-
20
\ 6
~ .. as {COUftTES"I' OF SHELL}
\ . 0
~
•
0
_zoo 400 100 eoo
4
0
PRESSURE,PSI
200 ~ )Q
\
o
• \
•
\ Q .799 BID
GIL '400 SCF/BBL
~
~
Q • 696 BID
\,
GIL' 1195 SCF/BBL
'" FIELD DlU --
~
t::. FIELD DATA
a POETTMAHN • CARPENTER POETTMAHN • CARPENTER
12 -
~
o CALCULATED ftROM .... CTI(III 12 o CAL..QI..AT'tD FROM FRtCTlON -
.'."'
"2
\\
0 FACTOR CClfWtELATIOH
FACTOR CORRELATION.
I. 16
t:'
II)
~.
I!I
\ ~
.£
Ii:
i!i
\\
20
\~
4
~
o 200 400 500 800 0
200 400 00 BOO
I'IIDSUIIl. " ' ~PSI
MARCH. 1963
65
However, it was impossible to establish the effect For any mass flow rate, the friction term de-
of viscosity on the pressure traverse because the creases as the gas-liquid ratio increases. Due to
well was producing 95 per cent salt water. this fact, separate friction-factor correlations were
developed for three ranges of gas-liquid ratios -
GAS-LIQUID RATIO
o to 1.5 Mscf/bbl, 1.5 to 3.0 Mscf/bbl, and greater
The results indicate that the gas-liquid ratio is than 3.0 Mscf/bbl. Using the gas-liquid ratio as an
a very important parameter. In particular, it must be additional parameter, accurate pressure traverses
considered for flow rates less than 300 BID, re- were predicted for all flow rates and gas-liquid ratios.
gardless of the gas-liquid ratio.
o
8
\1\.
, o • 600 BID
GIL' 178 SCFI BBL
I I:. FIELD DATA
"
t:. FIELD DATA
o POETTMANN Eli CARPENTER
a POETTN ANN S CARPENTER 12
2 - o CALCULATED FROM FRICTION
Q CALCULATED FROM FlICTtON
. I\.
·0 FACTOR CORRELATION
FACTOR CCARELATION.
16
.
>-
16
~,
4
"- ~
!
24f------+_
o
o I .~ I
\ ~
0, - 336 BID
GI L - 2 180 SCF/BBL
400
4
I
• f\
0-600B/D
GIL' I 0~6 SCFI BBL
I 800 \"1\ A FIELD OITA -
\ ~ \
A FIELD DATA o POETT..... a CARPENT£1t
c POETTMANN a CAfl=lENTER o CALCULATED FROM
12 - 1200 FRICTION FACTOR CCJItRE-
16
~
t
. \
o CALC\,l...ATEO ~OM
fACTOR CORRELATION
FRICTION
1600 1\ 1\ LATtON
\
"'\ " 1\
X
I-
o.
20
l!! 2000
240 0
\~
1\1
24
\':
o 200 400 600 o 100 200 300
I
400 500 600 100 800
PRESSURE. PSI PRESSURE. PSI
o 0
\ ~
12
-- \ , o - ~04 BID
GIL· 790 SCF/BBL
o
I
o
FIELD DATA
POETTMA~ "
CALCULATED fROM
CARPENT£A
fRICTIQN-
4
12
\\
\ 1\
o - 312
GIL -2 21~ SCFI BBL
I
BIO
A FIELD DATA
a POETTMANN a CAfFENT£R
-
~ \ \
o CALCULATED !=HOM FRICTlON
1> FACTOR OORRElATICIriI
·0
RtCTOR COMELATION·
16 t: 16 ..... ~ )( ROS (COURTESY OF SHELL) -
l
"\\
-i
0
Ii:
l!! ~
4
FIG. 21 -
PRESSURE.PSI
200 400
o
PRESSURE. PSI
FIG. 24 -
200
• "
400
'\
COMPARISON OF PRESSURE TRAVERSES.
600
4~--~~~~-- ______~________L-______~________~
Q. 192 BID 0~=4~~=====+======~====~======
GIL' 1035 SCF/BBL
a POETTWAHN a CARPENTER
12
0 o CALCULATED FROM FRICTION b. FiELD DATA
FACTOR CORRELATION
......
o POETTMANN a CARPENTER
16 )C ROS (COURTESY OF SHEt..L) 12 f - - - - - + - \ \
£ o CALCULATED FROM FRICTION
0~~==4======+======~====~====~
~--~~~-------+----~-~~------~------~
Q. 144 BID
GIL' 795 SCF/BBL
20~O~_ _~~-+\-~~-+-\,---~~--.---+------ ~
20
24'------+\-_\_
2<
Q. 144 BID
G/L'1541 SCF/BBL
O' 114 BID
GIL' 1000 SCF/BBL
,
12 c: POETTMANN a CARPENTER
0
o CALCULATED FROM FRICTION. 12 f-------\A-
FACTOR CORRELATION o CALCULATED FROM FRICTION
" ~ -------+_lM_
--+---+--
16
~
\ ,.. ROS (eOURTES Y OF SHELL)
20
0 \ I
\ 201---"'------~-+
\ I i
: I 1
24 \--. t
I
2< --~-t------+--
I
MARCH, 1963 67
ratio. However, heading always occurred at flow 2. In general, the proposed correlation is valid
rates below 192 BID. for all flow rates and gas-liquid ratios in the range
This heading phenomenon would make the design of these tests with an accuracy of ± 10 per cent.
of a gas-lift installation somewhat more difficult. 3. The gas-liquid ratio is definitely a significant
A safe design would be to use the maximum pres- parameter in the friction-factor correlation.
sure traverse occurring, whereas the use of the av- 4. Severe heading was noted in several ranges of
erage traver se might result in a stymied condition gas-liquid ratios for flow rates less than 192 BID;
in attempting to reach the operating gas-lift valve. however, it was impossible to determine any cor-
relation between heading, flow rate and gas-liquid
REVERSE CURVATURE
ratio.
At very high gas-liquid ratios, a reversal in cur- 5. A reversal in curvature occurs in pressure
vature in the pressure traverse (9) was expected. traverses for flow rates in the low pressure region
However, the reversal in curvature appears to be and low density regions.
not only a function of the gas-liquid ratio, but also 6. It is believed that these data will allow ad-
of the flow rate and pressure. In general, as the ditional correlations to be checked.
flow rate decreases and the gas-liquid ratio increases,
a reversal in curvature occurs at a particular gas- RECOMMENDA nONS
liquid ratio for flow rates less than 400 BID (Figs. This work shou'rd be extended to cover the fol-
8 ~
6. FIELD DATA
12
16
·0
~
----i o POETTMANN
o CALCULATED
fACTOR
a
FROM
CARPENTER
CORRELATION
FRICTION
16
--
·0
~-
a POETTMANN
o CALCULATED
FACTOR
a
FROM
CARPENTER
CORRELATION
FRICTION
~ ~
20 20f--"'--\--*--'.--
+-~t--
24f--- 24 f------t--+I\c-
WOR • 19/1
'f • 11,!:t F
4~-~~--~~~------+--~~---t-----,
~5! ---
- - - G I L -'00 SCf/BBL
6 ----~~~---~~~------------~----------~
..
>'
%
~-------~~--~~~----
I!I
MARCH, 1963 69