gngugs e ut

James P. Brill, who joined the U. of Tulsa in 1966 as an assistant professor and is
now the F.M. Stevenson Professor of petroleum engineering, developed the U. of
Tulsa Fluid Flow Projects in 1973. He has worked at Chevron Oil Field Research
Co., Amoco Production Co., and as a two-phase-flow consultant. Brill holds a BS
degree from the U. of Minnesota and a PhD degree in petroleum engineering from
the U. of Texas. He is a member of the Distinguished Lecturer Committee and was
a 1982 Distinguished Lecturer, a member of the 1978-81 Engineering Manpower Committee,
1971 and 1976 SPE Annual Fall Meeting Education and Professionalism Technical Program Committee, and 1967-70
Education and Accreditation Committee.

Multiphase FOow in Wells

James P. Brill, SPE, U. of Tulsa
Summary. Multiphase flow can occur throughout thc production system. The fluids involved in multiphase
flow in the petroleum industry are
mixtures with complex phase behavior. Petroleum engineers
arc faced with the need to predict the relationships between flow rates, pressure drop. and piping geometry for
rcscrvoir fluids produced during the life of a field. This paper reviews the historical development of design
tools used to address these unique multiphase-flow features. State-of-the-art technology is also presented.

Introduction
Multiphase now can occur throughout the entire
production system involved in flowing fluids from oil
and gas reservoirs to processing facilities at the
surface. The production system in thi.s context
includes the re.servoir; the well completion: thc
tubulars that connect the reservoir to thc surface; all
surface facilities on land, seabed, or offshorc
platform: and any pipelines that carry produced
fluids to other pr(Rc.ssing facilities. The multiphase
flow encountcrcd in producing oil and gas can tE
any combination of a natural gas phase, a
hydrocarbon liquid phase, and a water phase.
A vast amount of technical information on
multiphasc flow in pipes is available in the literature.
Many of these sources arc relatcd to other industries
and involve different types of fluids. The reference list
for this paper clearly demonstrates the diversity of
interest in multiphase flow in pipes. In particular.
significant contributions have
made in the
nuclear industry, where a major concern is a possible
loss-of-coolant accident in a nuclear reactor. Thcsc
studies involve the transient simulation of two-phase,
single-component (water) fluid flow in piping
systems.
Multiphase flow in thc petroleum industry has
many unique features that create complications not
encountered by other industries. Thc fluids involved
are multicompnent mixtures whose phase behavior
is extremely complex. The range of pressures and
encountered in production systems is
extremely broad. Pressures can range from 15.(XX)
psia 11(1) MPa] to near atmospheric conditions.
Copyröht
Petrdeum Enginærs
Journal of Petroleum Technology, January 1987
Temperatures can range from 4000 F [2WOC] to
below the freezing tcmpcrature of water. Pipc
lengths can vary from a fcw fect to several hundred
milcs for surface pipe or pipclincs and from a tew
hundred fcct to more than
ft [61m m] for wclls. Piping
systems often involve significant variations in
geometry. such as inclination angle, diamctcr. pipe
roughness, and even sh4E, such as when fluids flow in
the annular space between casing and tubing in a
wellbore. Although most vertical piping systems involve
upflow, it is not uncommon to have multiphase
downward now in injection wells or downcomers
connecting offshore platforms to subsea pipelines.
Simulating multiphase flow in wells also requires thc
ability to predict fluid tcmperatures in a system that
undcrgoes complex hcat transfer phenomena between
the reservoir and thc surface. The entire wellbore is
surrounded by a hugc rock volume. much of which may
even be frozcn. as in the case of lxrmafrost in arctic
locations.
Engineers in thc [X'troleum industry are faced
with the requirement to predict the relationships
between flow rates. prcs.surc drop. and piping
geometry (length, diameter, angle. etc.) for the fluids
from a reservoir over the entire life of the field. The
objectivc of this
is to review the historical
development of design tools used to address the
uniquc multiphase-now features of thc
petroleum industry. including an evaluation of
the state of the art.
Historical Development
The development of tmls to assist engineers in
predicting multiphase-flow behavior in wells. and thus
15
 Any errors in the equation were automatically into
oo a single empirical mixture friction
factor, which was correlated with measured data.
ooo o 0039 8 00 The most commonly used early correlations of this
00 00 were deve10#d by Poettmann and Carpenter,
00 Baxendell and Thomas. 2 and Fancher and Brown.
000 00, 0 All three studies ncglcctcd the last term in Eq. l.
08 o
which represents kinetic energy effects.
00. o
Generalized Empirical Correlations. As the early
00 00 0 prolific fields declined in productivity and much
0 smaller fields were found and developed. it
00 0 9 0 0000 became obvious that homogeneous models were
no longer sufficient to size tubing properly. At
000 lower flow rates, significant
00 0 exist tEtween the
00000 00 08• velocities of thc gas and liquid phases. a phenomenon
e 00 known as "slippage.
In addition. thc gas and liquid
0 00 0 no longer exist as homogeneous mixtures, but rather
000
form much different geometrical configurations. The
00000 configurations or flow patterns found in vertical
upward flow are shown in Fig. l. The occurrence of
O slippage between the gas and liquid phases and
complex flow patterns introduced complications that
required development of new concepts.
Two different approaches are commonly used to
BUBBLE SLUG CHURN ANNULAR
develop predictive tools for describing complex fluid-
mechanics problems. The empirical approach
FLOW FLOW
involves developing simplificd models containing
parameters that must bc evaluated with experimental
Fig. I—Flow patterns for upward vertical now.
data. Correlating variablcs typically are
dimensionless groups determined by pcrforming a
dimensional analysis of the phenomena involved. A
proExrly selecting optimum diameters to connect classic example of this for single-phase fluid flow is
reservoirs with surface facilities, has tOllowed a the Moody 4 diagram, in which friction factors are
very correlated as a function of Reynolds number and
logical history. Tracing this history requires a review relative roughness tor turbulent flows. The empirical
of three separate but interrelated topics. The first approach does not address why or how things
involves understanding the basic fluid mechanics haplEn, but can yield excellent results quickly,
required to predict the interactions between the gas depending on the proper selection of variables and
and liquid phases and the pressure drop. In general, the quality of data used for the correlation. Thc
this involves developing expressions for second approach involves developing physically
conservation of mass and linear momentum. bascd mcchanistic models that dcscribe all important
Applying pressure-drop equations requires the phenomena. This requires much more in-depth
ability to predict the physical properties of the gas understanding and longer-term research.
The first and perhaps only exhaustive
and liquid phases. Thus the second topic is phase
dimensional analysis of the multiphase-flow-in-pipe
behavior. Finally, prediction of phase behavior also problem was performed by Duns and Ros.5 They
requires the ability to predict flowing identified 13 important variables, resulting in 10
of the fluids in a well. indqxndent dimensionless groups that might
Temprature prediction involves applying the important in
principle of conservation of energy. The following describing multiphase-flow behavior. After obtaining
sections describe the historical development of cach extensivc ex1Erimental data, they concluded that four
of these tools, together with a brief dcscription of of thcsc dimensionless groups were important for
attempts to evaluate the numerous correlations and predicting flow pattern and degree of slippage at any
that have been deve101Ed. location in vertical pipe. The degree of slippage
determines the fraction of
Early Homoge1Eous Methods. From an international volume occupied by
perspctive, most of the wells discovered in the early liquid, a variable they called "liquid holdup." Most
fields were capable of flowing at extremely high flow subsequent
rates. The degree of turbulence in the wells was of empirical correlations
sufficiently high for multiphase fluids to exist as made use of Duns and Ros' dimensional analysis.
homogeneous mixtures. Thus the gas and liquid The first attempt to obtain a large quantity of high-
traveled at essentially the same velocity. Pressure- quality field-scale multiphase-flow data in vertical
gradient equations, such as Eq. l, were a logical first pipes was conducted by Hagedorn and Brown. 6
attempt to describe multiphase flow; steady-state Using several different liquids and three different
single-phase-flow equations were diameters of
by they flowed fluids up a I
replacing flow and physical property variables [427-m] -dccp vertical test well. At the time. the
with mixture variables.

dp p mg sine vm
16
imprtance of liquid holdup was not rccognized
and they failed to measure this important variable.
They were forced to back-calculate liquid holdup
using an assumed pressure-gradient model. The
resultant empirical correlation developed for
predicting these pseudoholdups can give
physically unrealistic values that suggest that
liquid flows faster than gas. Although the
Hagedorn and Brown correlation was not flow-
pattern
numerous modifications
to this correlation have been made to
improve pressurc-drop predictions.
Incrcascs in exploration and production activity
offshore during the 1960's resulted in the drilling of a
large number of wells with large deviations in
inclination angle from the vertical. It soon became
obvious that flow-pattern and liquid-holdup prediction
methods developed for vertical flow often failed in
directional wells. The Beggs and Brill 7 and the
Mukherjcc and Brill 8 generalized correlations were
developed to improve pressure-drop predictions in
directional wells and hilly-terrain pipelines.
Concurrent with the development of the early
generalized empirical correlations, many researchcrs
were also investigating specific phenomena related to
multiphase flow, such as gas-bubble rise velocity and
mechanisms for flow-pattern transitions. A group of
generalized empirical correlations that also made use
of early mechanistic models were developed by
Orkiszcw.ski,9 Chierici et al., 10 Aziz et al., II and
Asheim. 12 Most of these studies made extensive use
of thc work of Griffith and Wallis 13 and Nicklin
Mechanistic Models. Gencralizcd cmpirical
correlations simply do not address thc complex
physical phenomena occurring during multiphase
flow in pilES. Consequcntly, an impassc has bccn
reached in which, regardless of thc modifications
that are made in empirical corrclation.s or the
amount of data used to develop the corrclations, it is
unlikely that design calculations can improve.
Application of empirical correlations to a broad
rangc of data typically results in errors in the range
of ± 20% in pressure-drop prediction.
Recently. significant improvements have been made
in our ability to observe, study, and mathematically
model thc physical mechanisms governing multiphase-
flow behavior in pipe. The mechanistic model approach
incorporates all imprtant variables.
Couplcd with appropriate laboratory and field data,
this approach will yield prediction mcthods that
rcpre.scnt significant improvements over
generalized empirical correlations.
The first step in developing mechanistic models must
involve the prediction of flow patterns. Only then can
improved models be developed to predict, for each flow
pattern, liquid holdup, interfacial shear stresses, and,
consequently, pressure drop. Major breakthroughs in
modeling flow patterns for wells have been published by
Taitcl et al. If' and Barnea el al 16-18 These
comprehensive flow-pattern prediction m(x.lcls can then
be used to generate simple maps that graphically
demonstrate the relative importance of variablcs. Fig. 2
shows two such maps generated for
Journal of Pctmlcum Technology. January 1987
100.0
c
BUBBLE
10.0
BUBBLE
OR
1
SLUG
1.0
z
SLUG OR CHURN
0.1
0
0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0
sg
Fig. 2—Taitet et al. flow pattem maps for air and water
at atmospheric conditions.
vertical upward flow in two different diameters using
the Taitel et al. model. This model clarified thc
discrepancy of thc bubblc/slug flow-pattern
transition that existed among various investigators
by confirming that thc cxi.stcncc of bubble flow is
diameter dependent. Once a reliable flow-pattern
model is available. improved models can be
developed tar describing the fundamental
mechanisms in each of the specific flow patterns.
By far thc most important flow patterns for
multipha.sc flow in wells are the slug and churn
flow patterns. Thesc intermittent-flow patterns will
occur during thc vast majority of multiphase flow
in wells. Comprehensive slug flow models have
been developed by Fernandez et al.
Rembrand, 20 and Taitcl.
, 19 Orell and
Bubble flow probably exists over only very
short lengths of pipe in an oil well. The
mechanisms of bubble flow have been studied
extensively by Zuber and Findlay. 22 Wallis, 2.3
and Harmathy.
Perhaps the most difficult flow pattern to study,
and onc that is probably most commonly
encountered in gas wells producing water and/or
condensate, is thc annular flow pattern. The
prediction of liquid entrainment and interfacial
phcnomcna is extremely complex and is thc subject
of numerous studies currently under way.
Only two attempts have becn madc to develop
comprehensive pressure-drop models for wells that
or modify existing mechanistic mcxicl.s.
Caetano 25 investigated vertical multiphase flow in
concentric and fully eccentric annuli. This
configuration is commonly encountered in high-
productivity wells and in wells produced with sucker
rod pumps. For these cases, the multiphase mixture
flows up the annular space between the casing and
tubing or between thc tubing and sucker rods. Hasan
and Kabir 26 developed similar modcl.s for multiphase
flow in vertical oil wells. No studies havc been
Journal of Petroleum Technology, January 1987 17

In addition to mass-transfer effects, it is necessary

DEW POINT to have reliable predictions for the dcnsity, viscosity,
BUBBLE POINT OR and surface tension of each phase. Empirical
DISSOLVED correlations are available for thcse proEErties, but
OR RETROGRADE SINGLE laboratory data should be used if available.
3500 GAS- PHASE Unfortunately, these data are seldom measured or
GAS CONDENSATE GAS are available at only a few tempratures, or perhaps
RESERVOIRS RESERVOIRS RESERWIRS only one. has negligible
CRITIut. Prediction of frictional pressure losses for
BUBBLE POINT multiphase flow involving gas,
oil, and water remains
POINT DEW
an unsolved problem. The oil and water phases are
- 2500 POINT normally combined into a single liquid phase, even
o though the liquid phases are immiscible. Slippage
between thc oil and water phases is assumed to

1500

o
500
100 200 300
TEMPERATURE,OF
Fig. 3—Preuure/temperature phase diagram of a reser-
voir fluid.

published on similar models for flow in directional

or inclined wells.

Fluid Physical Prolmties. All for

calculating pressure drop for the multiphase flow of
multicomponent fluids require methods to predict
mass transfer
the gas and liquid phases and
physical properties of each phase. Two
of mass-
transfer models have been used frequently in the
ÆEtroleum industry,
on the
of
the fluid mixture and the range of reservoir
encountered. These
are referred
to as the "black oil" model and the ' •comEmitional"
model approaches. Fig. 3 shows a typical
pressure/temperature diagram of a reservoir fluid.
The simplified black oil model is typically used for
bubble-point or dissolvcd-gas-typc rescrvoir fluids.
On the other hand, compositional models are better
suited for predicting behavior of
or
retrograde ga.s-condensate reservoirs.
Compositional
models are more complex than black oil
and
are best suited for modeling ma.ss transfer when fluids
exhibit retrograde condensation behavior. Regardless
of the phase behavior model used, it is vitally
important that a reliable prediction be made on the
fractions of total fluid existing in the gas and liquid
phases.
negligible. In most cases, this assumption causes
an insignificant error in prediction of liquid density.
Prediction of the apparent viscosity of an oil/water
mixture, however, is not a trivial problem. Oil/water
mixtures typically
as non-Newtonian fluids
and often exist in the form of emulsions, with the
continuous phase having a dominant effect on the
rheological behavior. Fortunately, friction losses are
relatively minor in wellbores, and in most cases the
selection of a liquid viscosity
effect on pressure drop.
Teml*rature Prediction. Fluid physical
are all temperature-delxndcnt. Consequently, accurate
prediction of pressure drop and other flow variables
requires the ability to calculate temperature behavior in
wells simultaneously with pressure behavior. This is
also necessary to predict the presence of other potential
problems, such as wax formation, hydrates, and other
pssible detrimental effects, such as melting of prmafrost
in arctic regions.
All the early pressure-drop calculation procedures
used the black oil model for predicting fluid physical
properties. Because physical properties for
bubblepoint or dissolved-gas reservoirs vary
uniformly with temÆErature, it was not uncommon
simply to assume a linear temlxrature gradient in
This required assuming a flowing
wellhead temperature, which may not be
representative, and totally ignored the complex heat-
transfer mechanisms that exist in wells. Vigorous
calculation of temÆEratures requires application of
18
conservation-of-energy principles, resulting in a heat
balance equation:
dh dQ g sino vm dvm
Brill and Beggs27 described a computing
algorithm that
coupling pressure-drop calculations
with the heat-balance equation using a finite-
difference numerical approximation. An approach
like this normally is required for simulating wells
producing from dewpoint or retrograde gas-
condensate reservoirs. Ramey28 developd an
analytical approximation to Eq. 2 that accounted for
the transient heat-conduction effects from heating
the rocks surrounding a
Shiu and Beggs 29
deve101Ed a semiempirical correlation for one of
the parameters in the Ramey equation that
simplified the computation
Both of these analytical
approximations neglect Joule-Thompson effects,
which could be important in high-flow-rate gas wells.
Evaluation Studies. The number and diversity of
correlations and models available for predicting
multiphase-flow behavior in wells are
overwhelming to most engineers. It is not always
possible or affordable to
simulation studies with several of
the methods available. Numerous evaluation studies
have t*.en IErformed in which the various methods are
applied to selected sets of data and conclusions drawn
pertaining to the relative accuracies. Serious
Joumal of Petroleum Technology, January 1987
 TO
put s •u •t

are being pursued.

Fig. 4—Severe "ug formation In a plpetine/rlser•pipe

system.

limitations of these studies arise because of the

limited size and accuracy of the data and the limited
range of imprtant variables that exist in availablc data
banks. In addition, many evaluation studies compare
statistical results of a proposed correlation with
other correlations when applied to the same data
used to develop the proposed correlation.
Conclusions drawn are obviously biased. Impartial
evaluation studies include those by Lawson and Brill,
30 Espanol et al. 31 Gregory et al. ,
,

32 Reinicki and Remer, 33

and Kabir and Hassan. 34 The only legitimate
conclusion that can be drawn from this collection of
evaluation studies is that no best method is currently
available to the engineer. It thus tEcomes necessary to
have several methods available for comparativc
purpses, and one should not tk surprised if a
that works best for one type of fluid does not
work nearly as well for other fluids. Finally, it is
absolutely necessary to recognize that errors in
pressure-drop prediction can easily be caused by
errors in prediction of fluid physical properties rather
than inadequate prediction of phenomena such as
flow patterns, slippage, or liquid holdup.
Applications
Numerous applications have made use of the
developments presented in thc previous
section. Essentially every technical
to the
production of oil and gas in the litcrature involves
one of these applications. A thorough discussion of
all applications is beyond the scolE of this paper.
Some of the more imprtant applications are
described
An exhaustive literature search on
these topics would fill pages, so only
selected references are given.
Total
Systems Analysis. The concept of
using correlations to predict multiphase-flow
behavior through
well completions, restrictions, and
the reservoir for analysis of flow
in thc entire
system has been recognized for morc than
20 years. 3536 This approach, often called nodal
analysis, was the subiect of another Distinguished
Author Series paper. '37 The objective of
analysis is to optimize design calculations for oil
and gas wells. This
evaluation of the interactions
of individual components in the production system.
Artificial Lift. The design of all artificial lift
involves use of multiphase flow in pipe
Joumal of Petroleum Technology, January 1987
These operating problems have resulted in
Fig. 5—Example of venical multiphase flow pressure
gra-dient curves.
calculations. Spacing of gas lift valves and
determination of optimum injection gas volumes
require use of steady-state multiphase-flow
pressure-loss predictions. The same is true of
determining the type, location, size. and power
requirements of downhole pumps. Analysis of well
tests in many pumping wells requires converting
casinghead prcssures to bottomhole pressures for a
system in which gas percolates through a static
liquid column in thc annulus. Dctailcd descriptions
of thc application of multiphase flow in artificial lift
design can bc found in Refs. 38 and 39.
Severe Slugging in Pipeline/Riser-Pipe Systems. A
unique phenomenon involving vertical multiphase
flow can occur in riser pipes at offshore platforms
when the incoming fluids enter the riser pipe from a
downward-sloping piCEline. Schmidt et al. 40
observed the occurrence of this phenomenon over a
limited range of gas and liquid flow ratcs in which
stratified flow would normally occur in thc pipcline.
Thesc flow rates would exist in oversized pipclincs
or late in the life of an offshore oil field. Severe
slugging is a cyclical process in which the riser pipe
Ikri(xiically fills with liquid,
stops the
flow of gas up the riser pipe, and creates a slug of
liquid in
the riser pipe and the upstream The
process of liquid slug generation is
shown in Fig. 4. This is an undesirable phenomenon that
can cause problems related to piÆE stresses and
separator
19
numerous studies to describe flow during severe
slugging. 21.4043 A large-scale test facility was
constructed in Norway to investigate the problem in
The production of oil and gas always involves upward
larger-diameter pilE and at higher pressures. 44
multiphase flow in pipes. Prediction of flow tEhavior
Attempts to alleviate severe slugging by choking or
in wells is progressing from a highly empirical stage
gas-lifting the riser

Pressure-Gradient Curves. Sizing of tubing and

design of continuous gas lift installations are
frequently accomplished through the use of
pressure-gradient curves. Indeed, entire books of
gradient curves have been developed to permit
this practice. 38 Fig. 5 shows the resultant gradient
curves for a specific set of flowing conditions. Use
of gradient curves involves serious limiting
assumptions, including vertical flow, fluid
properties based on slEcified fluid
gravities, and selection of
one
multiphase-flow correlation. These limitations,
coupled with the increased availability of
technical software for personal computers,
should result in a sharp decline in the use of
gradient curves in the future.

Production Logging. The modern concept

of production logging involves lowering
various measurement
into a pr(xiucing or injecting
wellbore to obtain measurements that will EErmit
evaluation of well perforrnance. Typical
measurements include temperatures, radioactive
tracer surveys, noise logs, spinner flowmeters,
percent water measurements, and fluid density
measurements. Although production logging is an
accepted practice,
interpretation of measurements often fails because
of
indequate understanding of multiphase-flow
phenomena. Hill and Oolman45 confirmed that
multiphase-flow behavior in inclined wells often
results in misleading tool responses.

Cyclic Prcmsses. Low-productivity oil wells are

often produced in unsteady-state, cyclic that
rcsult in a
flow rate of gas and liquid.
Included in this category would be wells produced
by
intermittent gas lift, wells that are undergoing a
casing-heading phenomenon, and wells that are
produced by plunger lift. The dynamic simulation of
all cyclic production methods requires writing
differential equations for the governing phenomena
and solving them simultaneously. This is an
extremely complex process that makes use of many
of
the mechanistic models
for steady-state
flow, together with specialized empirical parameters
developed from experimental data. Intermittent gas
lift has
modeled by White et al. 46 Brill et
al. 47 Doerr,48 and Schmidt et al. 49 , The heading
phenomenon has been modeled by Torre et al. , 56
and the mechanisms of plunger lift were formulated
Leas
by I and Rosina.

Conclusions
to one in which governing phenomena . G.L., Ciucci, G.M., and Sciou•hi. G.: "Two-phase
Vertical Flow in Oil Wells—Prediction of Pressure Drop,"
can be mcxieled with basic principles. JPT
NometEIature (Aug. 1974) 927-37; Trans., AIME, 2S7.
internal II. Aziz, K.. Govier, G. W. , and Fogarasi. M.: "Pressure Drop in
diameter, ft [m]
friction factor Wells
acceleration of gravity, ft/sec2 Oil
[m/s2] h = enthalpy, Btu/lbm [J/kg] 12. Asheim, H. : "MONA, An Accurate Two-Phasc Well Flow M(xiel

mechanical equivalent of Gas," J. Cdn. Pet. Tech. (July-S". 1972)

13. Griffith, P. and Wallis, G.B.: "Two Phase Slug Flow," J. Heat Based on
heat, 778 ft-lbf/Btu Phase Slippage." SPEPE (May 1986) 221-30. Trans. (Aug. 1961) 307-20; Trans.,
ASME.
pipe length, ft [m] 14. Nicklin, D.J. and Davidson. J.F.: "Thc Onset of Instability in

L • — distance from pipe•entrance, ft [m] pressure,

psi [kPa]
Two-
Phase Slug Flow," Proc. , Inst. Mech. Engr. Sympsium on
Two-Phase Flow, Lorxion (1%2) PaÆrr 4.
15. Taitel, Y. , Bamea, D. , and Dukler, A.E.: • •Mc&ling Flow Pattem
heat transferred from fluid to
Transitions for Stady Upward Gas-Liquid Flow in Vertical Tutrs, ' ' AIChE
surroundings, Btu/lbm [J/kg]
J. (May 1980) 345-54.
OF [OCI
ft/sec [m/s]
v = pipe inclination angle from horizontal,
degrees
p = density, lbm/ft3 [kg/m31

Subscripts

L = liquid
m = two-phase mixture
S = superficial
Referenc
es
F.H. and Carpenter, P.G.: "The Multiphase Flow
of
Gas, Oil and Water Through Vertical Flow Strings with
Application
to the Design of Gas Lift Installations," Drill. and Prod.
Prac..
API (1952) 257-317.
2. Baxcndell, P.B. and Thomas, R. : "The Calculation of
Pressure
Gradients in High-Rate Flowing Wells,"
1961) 1020-28;
Trans., AIME,
222.
3. Fancher, G.H. Jr. and Brown, K.E.: "Prediction of
Prcssure
Gradients for Multiphase Flow in Tubing," SPEJ (March
1963)
59-69; Trans.. AIME, 231.
4. Mcx.)dy, L.F.: "Friction Factors for
Flow," Trans. , ASME
(Nov. 1944) 66, No. 8, 671-84.
Duns, H. Jr. and Ros. N.C.J.: "Vertical Flow of Gas and
5. Liquid
Mixtures in Wells," Proc., Sixth World Petroleum
Congress,
Frankfurt (1%3) II, 451-65.
6. Hage(hrn, A.R. and Brown, K.E.: "The Effect of Liquid
Viswsity
in Venical Two-Phase Flow." JPT (Feb. 1964) 203-10:
Trans..
AIME, 231.
Beggs, H.D. and Brill, J.P.: "A study of Two-Phase Flow
7. in
Pipes." (May 1973) d)7-t7•, Trans.. AIME,
JPT 2SS.
Mukherjee, H. and Brill, J.P.: "Pressure Drop
8. Correlations for
Inclined Two-Phase Flow," J. Energy Resources Tech. (Dec.
1985)
549-54; Trans. , ASME.
9. Orkiszewski, J.
Pipe," JPT (June 1967) 829-38; Trans.. AIME. 240.
10 Chierici, : "Predicting Two-Phase Pressurc Droß in Vcrtical
20 Jmirnal of Petroleum Technology, January 1987
16. Barnea, D.. Shoham, O.. and Taitel, Y. 38. Brown. K.E.: ne Technology of Artificial L..ifi Methods, Petrole-
: ' •Flow Pattern Transition um Publishing Co., Tulsa, 0K (190 28, 38, 3b, 4.
for Vertical mwnward Two-Phase Flow, " Chem. Eng. Sci. (1982) 39. Artificial Lifi, Reprint Scries, SPE. Richardson. TX (1975) 12.
37, 741-46. 40. Schmidt. Z., Brill, J.P., and Beggs. H.D.: "Exprimental Study
17. Barnea. D. , Shoham. O. , and Taitel, Y. of Severe Slugging in a Two-Phase Flow
Piß
for mwnward Inclined Two-Phase Flow; Horizontal to Vertical.
System." SPE.J (Oct. 1980) 407-14.
735-40.
Chem. Eng. Sci. (1982) 37, : "Flow Pattern Transition 41, Schmidt. Z., Doty, D.R.. and Dutta-Roy, K.: "Severe Slugging
in Offstnre
Transition for Upward Flow," Chem. Eng. Sci. (1985) 4, 131-36. Rier-PiE* Systerns," SPFJ (Feb. 1985) 27-38.
189.. Barnea,FernandezD..Ret.C.al, .Semiat,:"GasLiquidR..andFlowDuklerin.Inclin«iA.E.: 42. for SevereA.:"Slugging,evereSlugging" Characteristics. Part I: Flow Regime
presentai at Selected Topics in Two-
Phase Flow, Trondheim. March 12-13. 1981.
(Nov. 1983) 29, No. 6, 981-89. Flow Pattem 43. Pots, B.F.M., Bromilow, I.G., and Konijn. M.J.W.F.: "Severe
20. Orell, A. and Rembrand. R. : "A Model for Gas-Liquid Slug Flow Slug Flow in
Flow-Line/Riser Systems," ßrr SPE 13723
Model for Gas-Liquid Slug Flow in Vertical Tubes." AIChE J. presented at the 1985 SPE Middle East Oil
2. 196-206.

Conference
21. Taitel, Y.: "Stability of Severe Slugging," Ind. J. Multiphase Flow and Exhibition. Bahrain. March
in a Vertical Tube." Ind. Eng. Chem. Fund. (May 1986) 25, No. 44. Norris, H.L. III et al. 1 1-14.
Simulation and Design
22. Zut*r. N. and Findlay. J.A.: "Average Volumetric Concentration of Multiphase PiFline Systems." paper SPE 14283 presented at
in Flow Systems," Trans. , ASME (Nov. 1965) 453-68. the 1985 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, I..as
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Book Co. Inc.. New York City (1969). 45. Hill, A.D. and Oolman, T. Logging
Vegas, Sept. 22-25. Behavior
24.3. Harmathy.Wallis.G.BT.Z.:-:One Dimensional Two-Phase Flow. McGraw-Hill in Two-Phase Inclined Flow," JPT (Oct. 1982) 2432-40.
:
25. Caetano, F.E.: "Upward Vertical Two-Phase Flow Through an 46. White. G. W. et al.: • •An Analytical Concept of the Static and
of Infinite or Restricted•'Velcrity Extent."ofLarge AIChEDrops andJ.(1960)Bubbles6, 281.inMedia 301-08; Trans.. AIME. 228
Dynamic Paramete s of Intermittent Gas Lift, " JPT(March 1963)
26. Ha.san A.R. and Kabir, C.S.: ' 'A Study of .Multiphase Flow 47. Brill, J.P., Doerr, T.C., and Brown. K.E.: "An Analytical
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Bchavior in Veqical Oil Wells: I. Theoretical Treatment." Conduits," JPT (March 1967) 419-32; Trans., AIME, 240.
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SPEOakland,15137Aprilpresented2-4. at thc 1986 SPE California Regional Meeting, 48. Dcrrr, T.C.:
27. Brill. J.P. and Beggs. H.D.: Two-Phase Flow in Pipes. fourth 49. Schmidt, Z. er al.: ' 'Hydrodynamic Model for Intermittent Gas
Gas-Lift Systems," PhD dissertation,Studyof ULiquid.ofTexasLoss. AustinIntermittent(1972)
edition. J.P. Brill. Tulsa, 0K (1978).
28. Ramey. H.J. Jr.: ' •Welbre Heat Transmission," J"

ft. Torre. A.J. eral. "Casing Heading in Flowing Oil Wells." papr
427-35. Trans.. AIME. 22S. Lifting of Viscaxs Oils, " JPT(March 19u) 475-85; Trans. , AIMED
(April 1%2) 277.

29. Shiu. K.C.. and Beggs. H.D.: "Predicting Temßratures in Flowing

Oil Wells." J. Energy Resources Tech. (March 1980) 102, No. 51. Lea, J.F.: "Dynamic Analysis of Plunger Lift
SPE 13801 presented at the 1985 SPE Prcxiuction Operations
l; Trans. , ASME. Symposium, Oklahoma City, March 10-12.

Used to Predict Pressure Losscs for Multiphase Flow in Vcrtical

30. Lnwson. J.D. and Brill, J.P.:

JPT
of Existing Multipha.se Flow (Nov. 1982) 2617-29.
Oilwell Tubing," JPT(Aug. 1974) 903-13•, Trans. , AIME. 25. 52. Rosina. L.R.: • 'A Study of Plunger Lift Dynamics," MS thesis,
• • A Statisticalfor Evaluation of Meth(kls
U. of Tulsa, Tulsa, 0K (1983).
Calwlation of Pressure
Drop in Vertical Wells." SPE 2553 prcscntcd at the 1969 SPE
31. Espanol. J.H., Holmes. C.S.. and Brown. K.E.: "A Comparison
SI MetricOAPI Conversion Factors
141.5/(131.5+
32. Gregory. G.A.. Fogarasi, M.. and Aziz, K:.• •Analysis of Vertical — g/cm 3
bbl x 1.589 873
TwoAnnual-PhaseMcctingFlow. Calculations:Denver.Sept.Crude28-0ctOil..-Gas Flow in Well 3
33. Rcinicke, K.M- and Remer. J.J.:
Tubing." J. Cdn. Pet. Tech. (Jan.-March 1980) 86-91. Prcdictcd (OF-32)/1.8
Pressure Drops in Tubing for High-Watcr-Cut Gas
• •Comparison of Measured and in. x 2.54* = .cm
Wells," pafEt SPE 13279 prcscntcd at the 1984 SPE Annual psi x 6.894 757 E+W = kPa
34. Kabir, C.S. and Hasan, A.R.:
Technical Confcrence and Exhibition, Houston. Sept. 16-19. scf/bbl x 1.801 175 E 01 — std rn3/m3
Behavior in Vertical Oil Wells: •Pan'AStudyII—FicldofMultiphaseApplicationFlow."
SPE 15139 presented at the 1986 SPE California Rcgional Meting, • Converston factor is exact.
JET
Oakland. April 2-4. This anweo are gental. dexri>

35. Nind. T.E.W.: Principles of Oil Well Production. McGraw-Hill l' SPE 16242. Diüingulhd
Book Co. Inc., New York City (19«). We tmt wmmahze the Mate 01 an in aru of
developnents readers who are not In the tope by
36. Brill. J.P. et al. : "Practical Use of Recent Research in Multiphase area. theu

Written by iMividua18

Vetlical and Horizontal Flow." JPT(ApriI 1966) 502-12; Trans. , reletencæ to more exmns in key

mrk and present

AIME, 237. Purpou: To inform only to illu*ate

*neral of rxent advagwo in various

37. Brown, K.E. and Lea. J.F.: "Nodal Systenis Analysis of Oil and A

areas of ßtrdeum ewneefirw availaNe from SPE's .A'&r Ser-

Gas Wclls.•• JPT (Oct. 1985) 1751-63. '983, Or&r D.e.

Journal of Petroleum Technology. January 1987 21