Multiphase Flow in Pipes

Production Engineering
Multiphase flow in Pipes
• Single phase flow is straight forward
• However, there are often multiple phases flowing
from the reservoir.
– Liquid: water and oil
– Gas: liberated hydrocarbon
• The phase behavior of these fluids are dependent on
pressure and temperature
• In particular, the density of the flowing mixtures can
change depending on pressure and temperature
• This is a highly complex problem
– No fundamental/rigorous solution
Multiphase Flow

• Pressure drop depends on fluid properties:

• Density
• Viscosity
• Compressibility
• Interfacial Tension
• Volume fraction of each phase
• Hydrocarbon and Water
• Gas and Water
Mechanical Energy Balance: Multiphase Flow

We can write the ME balance equation in terms of a

pressure gradient.

∆𝒑 𝒈 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝝆𝒎
= 𝝆𝒎 sin 𝜽 + 𝒗0𝒎 𝒇
∆𝑳 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 𝑫 𝒈𝒄

We assume no change in Kinetic Energy and no Work added or subtracted

from the system

gc is a conversion factor between pound mass and pound force

𝑙𝑏< 𝑓𝑡
𝑔5 = 32.2 ≡
𝑙𝑏? 𝑠𝑒𝑐 C
Mechanical Energy Balance: Multiphase Flow

We can write the ME balance equation in terms of a

pressure gradient.

∆𝒑 𝒈 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝝆𝒎
= 𝝆𝒎 sin 𝜽 + 𝒗0𝒎 𝒇
∆𝑳 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 𝑫 𝒈𝒄

More general statement:

∆𝒑 ∆𝒑 ∆𝒑
= +
∆𝑳𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 ∆𝑳𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 ∆𝑳𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Mechanical Energy Balance: Multiphase Flow

∆𝒑 𝒈 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝝆𝒎
= 𝝆𝒎 sin 𝜽 + 𝒗0𝒎 𝒇
∆𝑳 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 𝑫 𝒈𝒄

0m is the mixture velocity in a

𝝆𝒎 is the mixture density and 𝒗
segment of pipe (DL). These are critical parameters that
must be determined to calculate pressure drop.

Mixture properties:
• Density of phases at any location in the pipe
• Volume fraction of phases at any location in the pipe
• Commonly described as ‘Hold up’
 Liquid and Gas Hold UP
• The volume fraction of a phase is often called the “hold up” of that phase
• Gas Hold Up
• Liquid Hold UP
• Example: Vertical flow of gas and water from a well
• Due to density difference + gas expansion, the gas phase will travel through
the pipe faster than the water phase. This causes the flow of the liquid
phase to be “held up” relative to the gas phase
• The extent of this effect depends on the volume fraction of gas
• The extent of “hold up” is highly dependent on the developed flow regime
• The flow pattern is called a flow regime and is a function of pipe diameter,
density difference and volume fraction of gas

• In the following slides different flow regimes will be shown

Liquid and Gas Hold UP
• Predicting the hold up of liquid and gas at any
point in the pipe is a very complicated problem
that does not have a well defined rigorous
solution

• Numerous studies of gas-liquid flow in pipes

have been conducted over the years with many
different empirical correlations

• The first step is to determine the flow pattern at a

given point.

• Distributed Flow is a common regime

– Dispersed bubbles in a continuous liquid phase
Flow Regimes in Vertical Pipes

• Intermittent flow
– This is also
sometimes called
Slug Flow

• Gas bubbles form

large pockets

• large pockets can

become unstable
and collapse
creating oscillating
liquid motion
Flow Regimes in Vertical Pipes

• Segregated flow
– This is also
sometimes called
Annular Flow

• Gas flows up
through the middle
of the pipe and
liquid flows along
the perimeter of
the pipe
Flow Regime in Vertical Pipes

• The flow regime will

depend on the
superficial velocities of
a given phase in the
pipe

• Type of flow will also

depend on if the pipe is
vertical or horizontal
Flow Regime in Horizontal Pipes

• The flow regime will

depend on the
superficial velocities of
a given phase in the
pipe

• Type of flow will also

depend on if the pipe is
vertical or horizontal
Flow Regimes in Horizontal Pipes
Liquid Hold Up

• Liquid hold up is determined from correlation:

• Liquid hold up influences 𝝆𝒎

• Many correlations exist

• We will look at the Beggs and Brill Correlation

• How to determine liquid hold up will depend on the
given flow regime
• Flow regime will depend on the system parameters
• Phase velocities
• Pipe diameter
Pressure Gradient for Multiphase Flow
∆𝒑 𝒈 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝝆𝒎
= 𝝆𝒎 sin 𝜽 + 𝒗0𝒎 𝒇
∆𝑳 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 𝑫 𝒈𝒄

This requires an iterative approach:

∆𝒑
We want to know:
∆𝑳

0𝟐𝒎
But this depends on: 𝝆𝒎 and 𝒗

∆𝒑
Which also depend on:
∆𝑳
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
Li Iterative Method
Pi
• Start at a known pressure (Pi) at given location (Li)

DLi Dpi • Select a small increment of pipe DLi

• Estimate pressure at Pi+1
• Determine average temperature and pressure for pipe
Pi+1 segment DLi
LT • From correlations determine the necessary fluid and
gas properties using average values
• Calculate the pressure gradient DPi/DLi
• Determine new pressure at Pi+1
• Is the new Pi+1 similar to the estimated Pi+1?
• No, repeat with new Pi+1
• Yes, move to next segment of pipe

LT = ∑ ∆𝑳𝒊
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
Well Head, P1 Iterative Method
• Start at a known pressure (P1) at given location (L1)

DLi Dp1
This pressure is often taken at the wellhead
P1+1
LT This is an easy to measure value at a known
location
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
L1 Iterative Method
P1
• Select a small increment of pipe DL1
DL1 Dp1 • Estimate pressure at P1+1

The smaller the segmented the more precise the

P1+1
solution. However, small segments will require a
LT lot of calculations.

The final solution is independent of what P1+1 is

initially used. However, the solution will
converge faster if the estimate is near the true
value.
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
L1 Iterative Method
P1
• Determine average temperature and pressure for pipe
Dp1 segment DL1
DL1
• From correlations determine the necessary fluid and
gas properties using average properties
P1+1
Average temperature is based on the known
LT geothermal gradient

Average pressure is determined from the known P1

and estimated P1+1

Fluid and gas properties are based on phase behavior

data and correlations used for two phase flow,
such as, Beggs and Brill Correlation
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
L1 Iterative Method
P1
• Calculate the pressure gradient DP1/DL1
DL1 Dp1 • Determine new pressure at P1+1

P1+1
LT
∆𝒑 𝒈 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝝆𝒎
= 𝝆𝒎 sin 𝜽 + 𝒗0𝒎 𝒇
∆𝑳 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 𝑫 𝒈𝒄

From correlations:
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
L1 Iterative Method
P1
• Is the new P1+1 similar to the estimated P1+1?

DLi Dp1 • No, repeat with new P1+1

If the estimated P1+1 is wrong then the phase

P1+1 behavior parameters used to determine the
LT pressure gradient are also wrong

However, the new P1+1 will be closer the the correct

solution

So, repeat the process with this value as the new

estimated P1+1
 Workflow: Multiphase flow
Iterative Method
• Is the new Pi+1 similar to the estimated Pi+1?

L2 P2 • Yes, move to next segment of pipe

Dp2
DL2 You need to pick a criteria to judge similarity
LT
P2+1 Within a few percent difference is a reasonable
criteria

Move to next segment of pipe à P2 to P2+1

LT = ∑ ∆𝑳𝒊
Beggs and Brill Correlation
• Many possible correlation exist

• The following sides show the the Beggs and Brill method, which provides:
• Bulk density, 𝝆𝒎
• Flow regime, 𝒗0𝟐𝒎
• Friction factor, 𝒇

• The equations are cumbersome:

• Remember the workflow from previous slides
• Implementation of Beggs and Brill method is only “plug and chug”
• Don’t get lost in the equations!
 Phase Properties: Oil and Gas
Determine the phase properties: Density (r) and Viscosity (µ)

Gas Density:
𝑆𝐺R = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝑙𝑏
𝟐. 𝟕𝟗𝑺𝑮𝒈𝑷 𝜌[ = 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑎𝑠, _
𝑓𝑡
𝝆𝒈 =
𝒁 𝑻𝑹 P = Pressure, psia
Z = gas compressibility factor, dimensionless
TR = Temperature, oR

Oil Density:
𝑆𝐺R = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝑹𝒔 𝟎.𝟎𝟕𝟔𝟒 𝑺𝑮𝒈
𝟔𝟐.𝟒 𝑺𝑮𝒐 d 𝑆𝐺[ = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑎𝑠
𝟓.𝟔𝟏𝟒
𝝆𝒐 = 𝑩𝟎
𝐵R = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑖𝑙, 𝑏𝑏𝑙/𝑠𝑡𝑏
𝑠𝑐𝑓
𝑅t = 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 ,
𝑠𝑡𝑏

• Rs accounts for the effect of dissolved gas in the oil.

 Phase Properties: Liquid Phases
Determine the phase properties for the liquid, which includes water and
hydrocarbon

Liquid Density: Water Density

𝟔𝟐.𝟒 𝑺𝑮𝒘
𝝆𝑳 = 𝝆𝒐 𝟏 − 𝑾𝑪 + 𝑾𝑪
𝑩𝒘

WC = Water Cut
𝑺𝑮𝒘 = 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝒍𝒃
𝝆𝑳 = 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝟑
𝒇𝒕
𝑩𝒘 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
 Phase Properties: Bulk Phases
Bulk density (or mixture density) is used for determining the
pressure gradient

Bulk Density: Liquid Hold up

𝝆𝒎 = 𝝆𝑳 𝑯𝑳 + 𝝆𝒈 (𝟏 − 𝑯𝑳 )

WC = water cut
𝑺𝑮𝒘 = 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝒍𝒃
𝝆𝑳 = 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅, 𝟑
𝒇𝒕
𝑩𝒘 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
HL = liquid hold up, dimensionless
 Phase Properties: Viscosity
Determine the phase properties: Viscosity (µ)

Liquid Viscosity:

𝝁𝑳 = 𝝁𝒐 𝟏 − 𝑾𝑪 + 𝝁𝒘 (𝑾𝑪)

Bulk (or mixture) Viscosity:

𝝁𝒎 = 𝝁𝑳𝑯𝑳 𝝁𝒈𝟏…𝑯𝑳 WC = water cut

𝝁𝒐 = 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒊𝒍, 𝒄𝒑
𝝁𝒈 = 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒂𝒔, 𝒄𝒑
𝝁𝒘 = 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒄𝒑
HL = liquid hold up, dimensionless
 Phase Properties: Surface Tension
Determine the surface tension for the liquid phase

Liquid surface tension:

𝝈𝑳 = 𝝈𝒐 𝟏 − 𝑾𝑪 + 𝝈𝒘(𝑾𝑪)

WC = water cut
𝝈𝑳 = 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅, 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒆𝒔/𝒄𝒎
𝝈𝒐 = 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒊𝒍, 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒆𝒔/𝒄𝒎
𝝈𝒘 = 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒆𝒔/𝒄𝒎
HL = liquid hold up, dimensionless
Hold-up

The definition of liquid hold-up is simple. However, as we will see, how

to determine this value depends on the specifics of the flow regime

Liquid Hold-up:

𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅

𝑯𝑳 =
𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕

𝟏 = 𝑯𝑳 + 𝑯𝒈 Pipe Element
Dh
Gas hold up
 Phase Velocities
Superficial Liquid Velocity:
𝟓. 𝟔𝟏𝟓 𝒒𝑳
𝑽𝑺𝑳 = 𝑩𝟎 𝟏 − 𝑾𝑪 + 𝑩𝒘 𝑾𝑪
𝟖𝟔𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝑨𝒑 𝒃𝒃𝒍
𝑩𝒐 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒊𝒍, 𝒔𝒕𝒃
𝑩𝒈 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒔
𝑩𝒘 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝑾𝑪 = 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒖𝒕
Superficial Gas Velocity: P = Pressure, psia
z = gas compressibility factor, dimensionless
𝒒𝒈 𝟏𝟒. 𝟕 𝑻𝑲 𝒛
𝑽𝑺𝑮 = Tk = Temperature, Kelvin
𝟖𝟔𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝑨𝒑 𝑷 𝟓𝟐𝟎 𝟏 𝒇𝒕
𝒗𝑺𝑮 = 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒂𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚,
𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝒇𝒕
𝒗𝑺𝑳 = 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚,
𝒔𝒆𝒄
qL = flow rate liquid, bbl/d
Two-Phase (mixture): qg = flow rate gas, scf/d
𝑽𝒎 = 𝑽𝑺𝑳 + 𝑽𝑺𝑮 Ap = Flow area, ft2
Gm = total flux weight, lbm/ft2/sec
Calculate Hold up Parameters
𝐿_ = 0.1𝐶Œ…•.—••˜
𝑉ŽŒ
𝐶Œ =
𝑉< 𝐿— = 0.5 𝐶Œ…˜.ž_™

𝐿• = 316𝐶Œ“._“C 𝑉<C
𝑁 ¡ =
𝑔5 𝐷
𝐿C = 0.0009252𝐶Œ…C.—˜™—
¤ 𝜌Œ
𝑁Œ¢ = 1.938𝑉ŽŒ
𝑳𝟏 , 𝑳𝟐 , 𝑳𝟑 , 𝑳𝟒 = 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝜎Œ
𝑪𝑳 = 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒑 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓
𝑵𝑭𝑹 = 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, dimensionless
NLV = liquid velocity number, dimensionless
𝑽𝒎 = 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒂𝒔 & 𝒍𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒙𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆
 Flow Regimes

1) Segregated:
𝑪𝑳<0.01 and 𝑵𝑭𝑹< 𝑳𝟏 or 𝑪𝑳 ≥ 0.01 and 𝑵𝑭𝑹< 𝑳𝟐

2) Transition :
𝑪𝑳 ≥0.01 and 𝑳𝟐 ≤ 𝑵𝑭𝑹 ≤ 𝑳𝟑

3) Intermittent :
𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 ≤ 𝑪𝑳 < 𝟎. 𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝟑 < 𝑵𝑭𝑹 ≤ 𝑳𝟏
or
𝑪𝑳 ≥ 𝟎. 𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝟑 < 𝑵𝑭𝑹 ≤ 𝑳𝟒
4) Distributed:
𝑪𝑳 < 𝟎. 𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝑭𝑹 ≥ 𝑳𝟏
or
𝑪𝑳 ≥ 𝟎. 𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝑭𝑹 > 𝑳𝟒
Liquid Hold-up

• Segregated
«¬-.¤®¤¯
𝐻Œ(“) = 0.98 -.-®¯®
°±² This is the hold-up determined
• Intermittent for horizontal pipe
«¬-.´µ´¶ (HL(0), O degrees)
𝐻Œ(“) = 0.845 -.-¶·µ
°±²
• Distributed
«¬-.´®¸¤
𝐻Œ(“) = 1.065 -.-¯-¹
°±²
Hold-up: Inclined Pipe

Hold-up changes depending on the inclination of the pipe

𝐻Œ(∅) = 𝐻Œ(“) 𝜓

For any actual angle ∅ of the pipe from horizontal:

𝜓 = 1 + 𝐶[sin 1.8∅ − 0.33 𝑠𝑖𝑛_ 1.8∅ ]

For vertical Ælow ∅ = 90 :

𝜓 = 1 + 0.3𝐶

Note: This is not CL from slide 30!

Hold-up: Inclined Pipe (C)

C is just another empirical formula that depends on the specific

flow regime.
𝒇 𝒈
𝑪 = 𝟏 − 𝑪𝑳 ln(𝒅É 𝑪𝒆𝑳 𝑵𝑳𝑽 𝑵𝑭𝑹 )

Where d, e, f and g are determined for each flow condition from the table:
Horizontal flow pattern d’ e f g
Segregated uphill 0.011 -3.768 3.539 -1.614
Intermittent Uphill 2.96 0.305 -0.4473 0.0978
Distributed uphill No correction c=0, 𝜓=1, 𝐻Œ ≠ 𝑓(∅)
All flow patterns downhill 4.70 -0.3692 0.1244 -0.5056

With the restriction that C≥ 𝟎

Friction Factor
Reynold’s number two phase flow:
𝜌< 𝑉< 𝐷
𝑅𝑒 = 1488
𝜇Œ 𝐶Œ + 𝜇[ (1 − 𝐶Œ )

Colebrook – White equation for friction factor

1 𝜀 2.51
= −2 log( + )
𝑓 3.7 𝐷 𝑅𝑒 𝑓
Corrected two phase friction factor
𝜀 = 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠
𝑓É = 𝑓 ∗ 𝑒Ž
Where
ÐÑ Ò «¬
S= And 𝑦 =
…“.“•C_d_.•™C ÐÑ Ò…“.™žC• ÐÑ Ò¸ d“.“•™•_ ÐÑ Ò¤ Ó¬¸

When 1 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1.2, 𝑆 = ln(2.2𝑦 − 1.2)

Pressure Drop Over Segment

∆𝑷 𝒈 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝝆𝒎
= 𝝆𝒎 sin 𝜽 + 𝒗0𝒎 𝒇
∆𝑳 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 𝑫 𝒈𝒄

Pipe Element
For all that effort we only get the values in RED! Dh

For a single segment of pipe!

For a single iteration!

WE DESPERATELY NEED A COMPUTER!!!

 Workflow: Multiphase flow
Li Iterative Method
Pi
• Start at a known pressure (Pi) at given location (Li)

DLi Dpi • Select a small increment of pipe DLi

• Estimate pressure at Pi+1
• Determine average temperature and pressure for pipe
Pi+1 segment DLi
LT • From correlations determine the necessary fluid and
gas properties using average properties
• Calculate the pressure gradient DPi/DLi
• Determine new pressure at Pi+1
• Is the new Pi+1 similar to the estimated Pi+1?
• No, repeat with new Pi+1
• Yes, move to next segment of pipe

LT = ∑ ∆𝑳𝒊
Questions?
Tutorial: Multiphase Vertical Flow
𝑮𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏
𝒇𝒕
𝑽𝒔𝒈 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟗 𝑵𝑳𝑽 = 𝟔. 𝟎𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝒇𝒕
𝑽𝑺𝑳 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟓 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝝁𝒐 = 𝟏𝟖 𝒄𝒑
𝒅 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟒𝟗 𝒇𝒕 𝝁𝒈 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟖 𝒄𝒑
𝒑 = 𝟕𝟐𝟎 𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒂 ∅ = 𝟗𝟎 𝒅𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒔 (𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍)
𝒍𝒃
𝝆𝑳 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟔
𝒇𝒕𝟑
𝒍𝒃
𝝆𝒈 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟒
𝒇𝒕𝟑

Calculate the flowing pressure gradient for a segment of pipe at the provided conditions

Use the Beggs and Brill Correlation

Pressure Traverses

• Various pressure traverses exist depending on the correlation used

• Different traverses for vertical and horizontal flows
Pressure
Gradient Based
on Gas/Liquid
Ratio

• This chart is for vertical

flow

• As the gas-to-liquid
(GLR) ratio increases the
pressure gradient
decreases
Pressure
Gradient Based
on Gas/Liquid
Ratio

• This chart is for horizontal

flow

• As the gas-to-liquid (GLR)

ratio increases the
pressure gradient
decreases
Water Cut to GLR

Gas-liquid ratio (GLR) is the ratio of produced gas volume to total

produced liquids (oil and water) volume.

Most gradient curves display GLR rather than GOR (gas-oil ratio).

𝑮𝑳𝑹 = 𝟏 − 𝒇𝒘 𝑮𝑶𝑹

GLR, scf/bbl
Fw, water cut
Note: often water cut and GOR are GOR, scf/bbl
commonly measured
Example: Using
Provided Graphs

A) If FTHP is 200 psi, Gas

oil ratio is 400 scf/stb,
water cut =0, rate is 1000
Bbls./d, what is the
pressure at the bottom of
vertical tubing 5000 feet
long?

B) Same well, what would be

FTHP if the flowing
bottom hole pressure
was 2000 psi?
Example: Using
Provided Graphs

A) If FTHP is 200 psi,

Gas oil ratio is 400
scf/stb, water cut
=0, rate is 1000
Bbls./d, what is
pressure at bottom
of vertical tubing
5000 feet long?

𝑮𝑳𝑹 = 𝟏 − 𝟎 𝟒𝟎𝟎 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎

Pressure at the bottom = 1000 psig

Example: Using
Provided Graphs

B) Same well, what

would be FTHP if
the flowing bottom
hole pressure was
2000 psi?

Flowing tubing head

pressure = 700 psig
Tubing (Outflow) Performance Curves

• From the flowing gradients, a plot of flowing bottom hole

pressure vs flow rate gives a tubing performance curve for
given conditions of water cut, GLR (gas to liquid ratio),
FBHP (flowing bottom hole pressure), depth of tubing,
specific gravities of fluids, tubing diameter. A family of
curves can be drawn for different conditions. The
intersection of these curves with the IPR curve will give
the flow rate at these conditions

• IPR = Inflow Performance Curves (learn next week)

Tubing Performance / IPR Curves
General Comments

• GLR increase improves vertical flow (within limits) and

impedes horizontal flow

• Always design flowline in conjunction with well design

• High accuracy with gradient curves is not usually

achievable

• Computer simulation is the most common approach

Software
Questions: Multiphase Flow?