PET-332E

Production Engineering &

Surface Facilities

Multi-phase Flow in Pipes

Flow in the wellbore

Even when single phase gas or

liquid flow exists near the
bottom of a well, multiphase
flow can occur throughout most
of the wellbore. This is a result
of evolution of gas from oil or
condensation of liquid from gas
with reduction pressure and
temperature as the fluids flow up
the well.

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Multi-phase flow

Introduction of a second phase into a flow stream complicates the analysis

of the pressure gradient equation :

The pressure gradient is increased for the same mass flow rate, and the flow
may develop a pulsating nature.

Shear stress at the pipe wall are different for each phase as a result of their
different densities and viscosities.

The fluids may separate because of differences in densities and flow at

different velocities in the pipe.

A rough interface may exist between the liquid and gas phases.

Properties such as densities, velocity and viscosity, which are relatively simple
for individual fluids, become very difficult to determine.
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Multi-phase flow :: 2

Most distinguishing aspect of multiple phase flow is the variation in the

physical distribution of the phases in the flow conduit, a characteristics
known as flow pattern or flow regime. During multiphase flow through
pipes, the flow pattern that depends on the relative magnitudes of the forces
that act on the fluids. Buoyancy, turbulence, inertia, and surface tension forces
vary significantly with flow rates, pipe diameter, inclination angle, and fluid
properties of the phases.

Several different flow patterns can exist in a given well as a result of the large
pressure and temperature changes the fluids encounter. Especially important
is the significant variation in pressure gradient with flow pattern. Thus, the
ability to predict flow pattern as a function of the flow parameters is of
primary concern.

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Multi-phase flow :: 3

In single phase liquid, both gravitational and friction pressure gradients are
constant along the tubing and therefore the pressure traverse is linear with
depth.

In gas, it is very nearly linear even though the friction and hydrostatic
pressure gradients vary significantly with depth.

In multiphase mixtures, there is general trend of increasing pressure gradient

with depth. Friction and hydrostatic pressure losses vary with rate in a much
more complicated manner. Increasing rate may change the governing
pressure loss mechanism from predominantly gravitational to predominantly
friction. Unfortunately, we do not have analytical equations or simple
procedures for calculating the pressure traverse of multiphase mixtures.
Rather numerous correlations based on field and experimental observations
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Empirical multi-phase correlations

Empirical multi-phase correlations can be classified into one of the

three categories :

Category Characteristics

No slip, no flow pattern consideration. The gas and liquid

assumed to travel at the same velocity. The only correlation
a required is for the two-phase friction factor. No distinction is
made for different flow rates.

Slip is considered, no flow pattern considered. A correlation is

b required for both liquid holdup and friction factor.

Slip and flow pattern are considered. Besides the correlations

c required for liquid holdup and friction factor, existing flow
pattern must also be predicted.
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3
Empirical multi-phase correlations :: 2

Method Category
Poettmann and Carpenter a
Baxendell and Thomas a
Fancher and Brown a
Hagedorn and Brown b
Gray b
Asheim b
Duns and Ross c
Orkiszewski c
Aziz et al. c
Chierichi et al. c
Beggs and Brill c
Mukherjee and Brill c
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Empirical multi-phase correlations :: 3

Another classification can be made under three broad categories :

• Gradient curves
• Homogeneous mixture correlations
• Flow regime correlations,

Although none of the existing correlations are accurate for all

engineering purpose, it is generally believed that the list above indicates
an increasing order of reliability.
The list also indicates an increasing order of reliability.

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Homogeneous Flow Models

Pioneering work for the homoheneous mixture models is that of

Poettmann and Carpenter (P&C) (1952). P&C’s model based on an
empirical two-phase friction factor for friction pressure loss
computations. Liquid viscosity effect is omitted.

Assuming no-slip of the liquid phase, P&C proposed a simplified gas-

oil-water three-phase flow model:

Homogeneous Flow Models :: 2

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5
Homogeneous Flow Models :: 3

The average mixture density is given as

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Homogeneous Flow Models :: 4

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Homogeneous Flow Models :: 5

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Homogeneous Flow Models :: 5

In the original work two-phase friction factor is given as a graphical

correlation, Guo and Ghalambor (2002) developed the following
correlation:

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TPR for different geometries

Up to this point we have considered wells with tubing intake at or near

the perforations. For most flowing wells, the actual difference in
elevation between midperforations and tubing shoe is only 30 feet, or
length of one joint of tubing. In other situation, the distance could be
substantially large. To correct for the distance an approximation to the
pressure drop between the tubing shoe and mid-perforations the
following equation may be used

where
Gf : flowing pressure gradient
Hmp : mid-perforation depth
Hts : tubing intake depth
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Two-phase flow variables : Liquid Holdup

Liquid holdup HL, is defined as the fraction of an element of pipe that

is occupied by liquid at some instant :

The value of liquid holdup varies from zero for single-phase gas flow
to one for single-phase liquid flow.

A value for liquid holdup can not be calculated analytically. It must be

determined from empirical correlations and is a function of variables
such as gas and liquid properties, flow pattern, pipe diameter and pipe
inclination.
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8
Two-phase flow variables : No-slip Liquid Holdup

No-slip liquid holdup λL, is defined as the ratio of the volume of liquid
in a pipe element that would exist if the gas and liquid traveled at the
same velocity divided by the volume of the pipe element :

where qL is the sum of the in-situ oil and water flow rates and qg is the
in-situ gas flow rate. Similarly

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Two-phase flow variables : oil/water density

The density of an oil/water mixture may be calculated from the oil and
water densities and flow rates if no slippage between the oil and water
phases is assumed :

where

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9
Two-phase flow variables : gas/liquid density

Calculation of the density of a gas/liquid mixture requires knowledge of the

liquid holdup. Three equations for two-phase density have been used by
various investigators of two-phase flow :

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Two-phase flow variables : velocity

Many two-phase flow correlations are based on variable called

superficial velocity. The superficial velocity of a fluid phase is defined as
the velocity that phase would exhibit if it flowed through the total cross
sectional area of the pipe alone :

The actual area through which the gas flows is reduced by the presence
of the liquid to AHg. Therefore, the actual gas velocity is calculated
from :

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Two-phase flow variables : viscosity

The concept of two-phase viscosity is rather unclear and is defined

differently by various investigators :

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Two-phase flow variables : surface tension

When liquid phase contains both water and oil, the same weighting
factors as used for calculating density and viscosity are used :

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Flow patterns (vertical)

Predicting the flow pattern that occurs at a given location in a well is

extremely important. The empirical correlation or mechanistic model
used to predict flow behavior varies with flow pattern.

For upward multiphase flow of gas and liquid, most investigators

recognize the existence of four flow patterns :

• Bubble flow
• Slug flow
• Churn flow
• Annular flow

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Vertical flow patterns

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Bubble flow

Bubble flow is characterized by a uniformly distributed gas phase and discrete

bubbles in a continuous liquid phase. Based on the presence or absence of
slippage between the two phases, bubble flow is further classified into bubbly
and dispersed bubble flows.

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Slug flow

Slug flow is characterized by a series of slug units. Each unit is composed of

a gas pocket called a Taylor bubble, a plug of liquid called a slug, and a film
of liquid around the Taylor bubble flowing downward relative to the Taylor
bubble.

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Churn (transition) flow

Churn flow is a chaotic flow of gas and liquid in which the shape of
both the Taylor bubbles and the liquid slugs are distorted. Neither
phase appears to be continuous.

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Annular (mist) flow

Annular flow is characterized by the axial continuity of the gas phase in a

central core with the liquid flowing upward, both as a thin film along the
pipe wall and as dispersed droplets in the core.

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Horizontal flow patterns

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Gradient curves

Gradient curves among other two types of multi-phase flow correlations

have the salient feature of being graphical, and thus are independent of the
need for any computing device. Recently developed gradient curves based on
the flow regime correlations, and do not depend on field data as originally
proposed by Gilbert. Published gradient curves are based on field data are
generally limited to small and medium oil rates, but they generally cover wide
ranges of gas/liquid ratios.

The gradient curves we will use are taken from the original work by
Gilbert(1954). The curves were developed using light mainly Californian oils
(25 to 45 °API).

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Gradient curves :: 2

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Gradient curves :: 3

Gilbert noted that in his work, the main parameters in vertical

multiphase pipe flow are

• Pipe diameter
• Oil rate
• Gas/liquid ratio

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Gradient curves :: 4

Other parameters that might have an effect on pressure gradient

include

• Liquid surface tension

• Viscosity
• Oil, gas and water densities
• Flowing temperature
• Gas/liquid solubility
• Water cut

were not taken as the correlation parameters.

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Gradient curves :: 5

Gilbert’s gradient curves

• Should not be used if an emulsion formed in the tubing

• Based on the pipe diameters given in nominal size, representing

the outer diameter. Depending on the tubing specifications, the
difference between nominal (outer) diameter and actual (inner)
diameter varies according to the tubing weight, expressed in
lb/ft.

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Gradient curves :: 6

Gilbert’s gradient curves have the following properties :

1. The vertical axis represents distance traveled vertically from a given

point where the pressure is known. From a given point with known
pressure it is possible to determine the pressure at any other point
by moving along the gradient curve.
2. The gradient dP/dH decreases with increasing gas/liquid ratio
(GLR) until a minimum gradient is reached. Thereafter the trend
reverses and dP/dH increases with increasing GLR.
3. For convenience, the high GLR gradient curves are shifted down on
the depth scale for clarity.
4. If production is water-free, then gas/liquid ratio GLR equals to
gas/oil ratio GOR.
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Constructing tubing performance relation (TPR)

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Point of natural flow

Based on only a few pieces of data, it is possible to calculate and plot both
inflow and tubing performance relations. For the typical case when the
tubing shoe (inlet) reaches the perforation depth, wellbore flowing pressure
and tubing intake pressure are considered at the same depth. When at a
specific rate these two pressures are equal, the flow system is in
equilibrium and flow is stable.

The intersection of the IPR and TPR curves determines the rate of stable
flow that can be expected from the particular well. The equilibrium rate and
pressure constitute what is called the natural flow point. The equilibrium
rate is called the natural flow rate.

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Point of natural flow :: 2

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Example #4
Davis #3 ha been tested at a rate of 202 STB/day during a three day
period. Stabilized wellbore flowing pressure measured 3248 psia. Test
results from other wells in the same field showed that an average value
of 0.8 for flow exponent will be a good approximation. Average
reservoir pressure is 4000 psia. The resulting IPR equation then, is

Determine the point of natural flow for the following well parameters :
Pwh= 200 psia
GLR= 600 scf/STB
L= 8000 ft
d= 3.5 in. nominal
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Solution #4

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Parameters effecting on point of natural flow

Natural flow rate and pressure usually change with reservoir depletion,
depending on the variation in IPR and TPR resulting from changes in
reservoir pressure and flow characteristics. Usually the change of natural flow
is toward a lower rate if all well parameters remain unchanged. To offset the
natural decline in rate, it is possible to change equipment or operating criteria
to maintain the desired rate of production. Those changes might be

• Lowering the wellhead pressure by choke manipulation

• Lowering the separator pressure
• Introducing artificial lift
• Stimulate wells

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Effect of wellhead pressure on natural flow

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Effect of GOR on natural flow

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Effect of changing IPR on natural flow

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Effect of a pump on well performance

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