Prediction of Slug Length in

Horizontal, Large-Diameter Pipes

Stuart L. Scott, * SPE, Ovadla Shoham, SPE, and .. ames P. Brill, SPE, U. of Tulsa

Summary. The prediction of slug characteristics for large-diameter pipes is studied with data collected from flowlines in the Prudhoe
Bay field in Alaska. A 3-mile [5-km]-long pipeline was fully instrumented with nuclear densitometers, insert turbine meters, flowmeters,
pressure and temperature sensors, and separator level indicators. During these tests, more than 19 million data points were collected
on 12-, 16-,20-, and 24-in. [30-,41-,51-, and 61-cm]-diameter pipes. These data were used to construct a data base that can be accessed
interactively or by FORTRAN applications programs. The data show such slug characteristics as slug length, bubble length, and holdups.
Data analysis revealed that the liquid slugs do not maintain a constant length and that the slugs tend to grow as they flow through the
pipeline. An existing slug-length correlation was modified with these new data, and a term was added to account for the observed slug growth.

Introduction
When a pipeline is operated in slug flow, the prediction of the liq-
uid flow rate that can be expected at the end of the pipeline is im-
portant in the design of separator facilities. During slug flow, the
liquid phase exists as aerated liquid slugs and as liquid films on
which the gas phase occurs as a bubble. Because most of the liquid
exists in the fast-moving slugs, an a priori knowledge of the aver-
age slug length is essential for proper design of separator facilities.
Correlations exist for the prediction of slug frequency and slug
length, but these correlations were developed in small-diameter
pipes. The correlations predict slug lengths an order of magnitude
less than slug lengths observed in large-diameter pipes. Extensive
data were collected for large-diameter pipes at Prudhoe Bay from
1978 to 1981. Some of these data from 16- and 24-in. [41- and
61-cm] -diameter pipes were used to develop correlations** to
predict slug lengths in large-diameter pipes. I These latter corre-
lations predict the slug lengths in large-diameter pipes much more
accurately than the earlier small-diameter pipe correlations. These
correlations can be improved, however, by analysis of additional
data.
The Prudhoe Bay data include tests'on 12-, 16-,20-, and 24-in.
[30-,41-,51-, and 61-cm]-diameter flowlines. Only a portion of
the 16- and 24-in. [41- and 61-cm] data has been included in the
development of the large-diameter correlations. These data lie in
a narrow range of flow rates and have limited applicability at other
flow rates. Therefore, a broadening of the data base used to devel-
op these correlations is necessary. Also, it is evident from the ex-
perimental data that slugs tend to grow as they flow through a
pipeline. No previous correlation accounts for such a slug-growth
phenomenon. This effect becomes increasingly significant with in-
creasing pipe diameter. A new correlation can be developed to in-
clude these improvements to estimate slug length better.
The intent of this paper is to present an improved correlation to
predict the average slug length and slug growth in large-diameter
pipes. First, slug flow is described to convey the importance of
the slug length in the characterization of slug flow. Next, the vari-
ous methods currently available to predict slug length are present-
ed. A description is then given of the Prudhoe Bay data. Finally,
the new slug-length and slug-growth correlation is presented.
Description of Slug Flow
Fig. 1 shows an idealized slug unit, which consists of four zones:
the mixing zone, the slug body, the film, and the bubble. The flow
mechanism is that of a fast-moving slug of high liquid holdup over-
riding a slow-moving film ahead of it. The slug scoops the slow-
moving liquid film and accelerates it to the velocity of the slug in
the mixing zone. Liquid is shed from the tail of the slug to a trail-
ing film, which moves at a velocity much less than the slug-body
velocity.
'Now at Phillips Petroleum Co.
"Norris, L.: "Correlation of Prudhoe Bay Liquid Slug Lengths and Holdups Including 1981
Large Diameter Flowline Tests," internal report, Exxon Production Research Co., Houston
(Oct. 1982).
Copyright 1989 Society of Petroleum Engineers
SPE Production Engineering, August 1989
Most of the pressure drop in slug flow occurs in the liquid slug.
The acceleration of the scooped film causes a large pressure drop
in the mixing zone. The pressure drop resulting from friction is
also much larger in the slug than in the bubble and film region.
Thus, the ovocall pressilre drop depends greatly on the slug length.
Slug-Length Prediction
The numerous methods that exist for the prediction of slug length
fall into two categories: correlations and mathematical models. Most
of the correlations were developed in small-diameter pipes and are
not usable for estimating slug length in large-diameter pipes. The
two correlations based on the large-diameter Prudhoe Bay data per-
form reasonably well but do not use all the data taken at Prudhoe
Bay. The mathematical models have 'difficulty in that the physics
governing slug length and slug growth is not fully understood.
Small-Diameter Correlations, Gregory and Scott2 presented a
slug-frequency correlation based on CO 2 and water flowing in
0.75-in. [2-cm] -diameter pipe. Use was also made of the data col-
lected by Hubbard 3 in 1.5-in. [4-cm] -diameter pipe. These two
data sets were correlated with the slug Froude number:
j, =0.0226(NFr.slug) 1.2, ............................. (I)
where NFr,slug =(12.0 v,L/gd)[(212.6/v rn )+vm]. .......... (2)
Greskovich and Shrier 4 presented a similar correlation based on
the mixture Froude number. They based this correlation on data
from 1.5-in [4-cm] -diameter pipe and performed some experiments
using 6-in. [15-cm] -diameter pipe. Both of these correlations per-
form adequately for small-diameter pipes, but when applied to the
Prudhoe Bay data, they failed to scale up accurately for larger-
diameter pipe.
Predictive Models. The pioneering work on modeling slug flow
was presented by Dukler and Hubbard. 5 The model defines the
different interactions found in slug flow and allows calculation of
velocities in the slug unit, lengths of the four zones, and pressure
drop. Unfortunately, the input parameters required by this model
include not only fluid properties, pipe diameter, and flow rates,
but also holdup in the liquid slug and slug frequency. The model
depends heavily on the slug frequency used. For example, the pres-
sure drop predicted is almost directly proportional to the slug fre-
quency. The model also assumes a steady-state representation of
the slug unit in which the slug length is constant and the amount
of liquid scooped at the head of the slug is equal to the amount of
liquid shed at the tail. Therefore, slug growth is not considered in
this model.
Taitel and Dukler 6 presented a.model to predict slug frequency
based on six dimensionless groups. The basis of their analysis is
the conditions required for slug formation. This analysis assumes
a steady-state slug that neither increases nor decreases in length
and treats slug formation as strictly an entrance phenomenon. The
model compared favorably with the small-diameter data of Dukler
and Hubbard 3 and Gregory and Scott 2 ; therefore, scale-up to
larger-diameter pipes is questionable. The model is quite compli-
335

~=\
-~=l
@) GAS}-1=_=--- -=-~-:1~1~l
~-:- -®_-_-I - -
=-1 :--_-_-_-_-@--_-:I-UQUID:--I-:... --1":-
. I I I
I I
I II MIXING
ZONE 1 I
I 1 Lmj r-
Lr
FILM AND BUBBLE
ZONE L f
.l. SLUG---!
ZONE Ls I
I. SLUG UNIT Lu J ed are unique in that they are the most extensive large-diameter
Fig. 1-ldeallzed slug unit.
cated and requires a numerical solution (which is often'unstable)
to obtain the slug frequency.
Dulder et al. 7 proposed a model for predicting minimum stable
slug length, which is the length required to obtain a fully devel-
oped velocity profile at the slug tail. If the slug length is less than
this minimum, the slug will shed more liquid than it scoops and
thus will eventually dissipate. They reason that an average slug will
have a length between one and two minimum stable slug lengths.
The results presented support previous observations of stable dimen-
sionless slug length, LsD, on the order of 12 to 30 in small-
diameter pipes.2-5
Large-Diameter Correlations. When applied to the Prudhoe Bay
data, the slug-length and frequency prediction methods available
at that time were found to underestimate the slug lengths in large-
diameter pipes by an order of magnitude. Therefore, Brill et al. '
developed a correlation based on four data sets. Their 12- and 16-in.
[30- and 41-cm] tests and the 4- and 7-in. [10- and 18-cm] tests
by Brainerd and Hedquist* were conducted at Prudhoe Bay. Data
collected by Schmidt8 in 2-in. [5-cm] -diameter pipe and by
Hubbard 3 in 1.5-in. [4-cm] -diameter pipe were also used. Brill
et at. found the mean slug length to correlate with the mixture ve-
locity and the diameter of the pipe:
In(Is)= -2.663 +5.44I(tn d)O.5 +0.059(ln v m) . ......... (3)
Norris** modified the Brill et at. correlation and added the data
from one of the Prudhoe Bay experiments in 24-in. [61-cm]
-diameter pipe. Further, the correlation was weighted to favor the
large-diameter data. Although preserving the form of the Brill et
al. correlation, the Norris correlation excludes the mixture-velocity
term, which was found to be negligible. The resulting correlation is
In(I.) = -2.099 +4.859(1n d)O.5 . ...................•. (4)
This correlation, which is based on additional data, predicts slug
lengths more accurately than the Brill et al. correlation.
Limitations. The above-mentioned slug-length prediction methods
have a number of limitations. The slug-frequency correlations 2,4
and the predictive models 5- 7 do not scale up to larger-diameter
pipes. While the large-diameter correlations' predict the average
slug length more accurately, they use only a limited amount of the
available data. ** Furthermore, the data used fall into a small range
of flow rates, which could limit applicability to other systems.
Most important, none of the above-mentioned correlations con-
sider slug growth. The Prudhoe Bay data strongly indicate that slugs
grow in length as they travel through the pipeline. This growth seems
to be affected si~ificantly by the relative position of flow on a flow-
'Brainerd. H.A. and Hedquist, T.G.: "North Slope Two-Phase Flow Test, Phase 1-Test
of 4",7", and 9" Flow lines, Detailed Analysis Report," internal report, Arco Oil & Gas
Co., Plano, TX (June 1974).
• 'Norris, L.: "Correlation of Prudhoe Bay Liquid Slug Lengths and Holdups Including 1981
Large Diameter Flowline Tests," internal report, Exxon Production Research Co., Houston
(Oct. 1982).
336
pattern map. Also, the large-diameter correlations were developed
using the most "mature" slugs-i.e., the slug length seen at the
end of the pipeline. Because most of the data were based on a 3-mile
[5-km] -long pipeline, they will greatly overpredict the slug lengths
seen in shorter pipelines and, conversely, underpredict the slug
lengths in longer pipelines. These problems are addressed with the
new slug-length and slug-growth correlation after a brief descrip-
tion of the Prudhoe Bay experiments.
Prudhoe Bay Experiments
Several experiments were conducted on large-diameter flowlines
in the Prudhoe Bay field between 1978 and 1981. The data collect-
slug-flow data currently available and that the experiments were
performed with actual crude at field conditions. Most of these ex-
periments were performed with 16- and 24-in. [41- and 61-cm]
-diameter, 3-mile [5-km] -long flowlines that were essentially
horizontal (see Brill et al.'). A computerized data-acquisition sys-
tem was used to monitor up to 82 measuring devices, and a total
of more than 19 million data points were taken.
Facility and Data Acquisition. The Prudhoe Bay experiments were
well-instrumented with a large number of measuring devices. In
addition to devices measuring pressure, temperature, and flow rates,
other devices were used to obtain more information about slug flow.
For example, nuclear densitometers were used to measure holdup
and to identify slugs; insert turbine meters were used in some tests
to obtain velocity information; and separator levels were measured
to observe their response to slug flow. Therefore, these data pro-
vide a unique opportunity to develop correlations and to verify
models in several possible areas.
Because a number of different experiments were performed un-
der various conditions, the Prudhoe Bay data can be divided into
two separate groups of experiments. The first group, the early group
or Group 1 experiments, contains the experiments performed
without the computerized data-acquisition system. Data from one
of these experiments were used to develop the Brill et at. slug-length
correlation. Group 2, the latter experiments, contains those experi-
ments performed with a computerized data-acquisition system.
These data are much more extensive and allow in-depth analysis
of individual device responses. The latter experiments can be fur-
ther divided into the 16-in. [41-cm] experiments that used a PDP
11 computer; 24-in. [61-cm] experiments that used a PDP II com-
puter; high-pressure experiments performed using a Modcomp com-
puter; and low-pressure experiments performed using a Modcomp
computer.
In the present study, the data taken with the computerized data-
acquisition systems have been organized into a data base. The sys-
tem allows easy access to the data from an interactive program or
from application programs through subroutine calls. Transactions
against this data base were used to develop the correlation present-
ed here.
Discussion of Data. The new data were analyzed to obtain slug
characteristics. The following procedure was used to obtain slug
lengths from the densitometer data. A particular slug was observed
at one densitometer. At some later time, the same slug was observed
at another densitometer farther down the pipeline. Calculating the
time required for the slug to travel the distance between the two
densitometers yielded the average slug-front velocity. This veloci-
ty was combined with the residence time of the slug at the den-
sitometer to yield the slug length. This procedure was used to obtain
the slug lengths shown in Table 1, where a summary of all the Prud-
hoe Bay slug-length data available at this time is given.
Fig. 2 shows the average slug lengths observed at the end ofthe
pipeline vs. pipe diameter. Also shown are the slug lengths pre-
dicted by the Brill et al. and the Norris correlations. From Fig.
2, the new data are shown to have excellent agreement with the
Norris correlation. The data generally fall below the predictions
by the Brill et al. correlation.
Fig. 3 shows densitometer responses with time for Test 2.1 of
the 24-in. [61-cm] low-pressure Modcomp experiment. This test
was performed at a relatively high superficial gas velocity. The first
SPE Production Engineering, August 1989
 TABLE 1-SUMMARY OF PRUDHOE BAY DATA

Number of Vsg VsL [s

Test Observations (fUsee) (fUsee) Ys .iL (ft)

Group 1 Experiments (15.9 in., 625 psia, 133°F) x=15,000 ft

6 20 9.35 2.94 0.73 0.17 511.8
8 119 7.78 3.42 0.73 0.18 443.0
13 84 8.62 3.97 0.57 0.17 444.0
14 43 9.62 3.92 0.53 0.17 601.0

PDP11 Experiments (15.9 in., 670 psia, 133°F) X= 14,634 ft 14,641 ft 14,789 ft
1 14 (9.62) (2.51) 0.75 0.26 343.9 360.4 372.6

X= 10,936 ft 11,136ft 14,810 ft

2 318 (10.1) (2.39) 0.63 0.23 448.6 451.9 501.6

Modeomp Experiments (23.1 in., 380 psia, 138°F) x=5,161 ft 6,365 ft 14,935 ft
2.1 33 24.8 2.40 0.30 0.12 190.0 245.0 579.0
2.2 18 27.0 2.43 0.28 0.12 180.0 218.0 549.0
3.1 118 27.9 2.89 0.24 0.11 167.0 198.0 466.0
4.1 105 29.4 3.04 0.22 0.10 151.0 188.0 405.0
6.1 34 29.3 3.12 0.27 0.11 301.0 384.0 995.0
6.3 120 30.2 3.42 0.21 0.10 214.0 297.0 864.0

densitometer, D2, is located 6,365 ft [1940 m] from the pipeline
entrance; D6 is located at 14,935 ft [4552 m], giving a separation
distance of 8,570 ft [2612 m]. Waves are seen on the liquid film
preceding the slugs. The wavy region ahead of the fourth slug at
Densitometer D2 is about 4,800 ft [1463 m] long. Notice that the
fourth slug seen at Densitometer D6 has formed from these waves
somewhere between D2 and D6. Also notice that the second slug
seen at Densitometer D6 has grown in length, apparently because
of coalescence with the waves seen in front of it at D2.
Fig. 4 shows densitometer responses with time for Test 2 of the
16-in. [41-cm] PDP 11 experiment. This test was performed at a
relatively low superficial gas velocity. The first densitometer, D9,
is located 10,936 ft '[3333 m] from the pipeline entrance; D6 is lo-
cated at 14,810 ft [4514 m], giving a separation distance of 3,874
ft [1181 m]. A very dynamic process is also observed here, with
slugs dissipating, coalescing, and growing. Notice that the first slug
has grown in both length and holdup. The next two slugs have
coalesced into one large slug, and the third slug from the end has
almost totally dissipated.
Previously, it was assumed that, after a slug forms, its length
remains constant downstream. However, the Prudhoe Bay data
strongly indicate that this is not true. The slugs are seen to form,
grow, dissipate, and coalesce in the entire length of the 3-mile
[5-km] pipeline. The data also indicate that slug formation is not
entirely an entrance phenomenon and does not occur at a fixed lo-
cation in a horizontal pipe. At certain flow rates, slugs were ob-
served to form over a 2-mile [3.2-km] region of the pipeline.
Some general observations were made during data analysis: (1)
the length and other characteristics of the liquid slugs seemed un-
affected by passing through expansion loops and short risers; (2)
the aeration and, to a lesser degree, slug length were seen to in-
crease with increasing Vsg; (3) slug length showed some sensitivi-
ty to imposed pressure variations at the inlet and outlet; and (4)
the longest slugs were observed to occur during the transient slug-
flow periods caused by changes in the inlet flow rates.
Fig. 5 shows the observed slug growth with distance for the high-
gas-rate tests; Fig. 6 shows the observed slug growth with distance
for the low-gas-rate tests. Notice that the slug growth in Fig. 5 is
much more rapid than that observed in Fig. 6. Therefore, there
appear to be two different types of slug growth controlled by several
different mechanisms.

Characterization of Slug Growth. The Prudhoe Bay data indi-

cate two distinct types of slug growth. The first is characterized
by rapid growth with waves present on the film preceding the slugs.
This type is associated with slug formation and is called develop-
ing slug growth. The second type is characterized by slow, long-
distance, flat growth with no waves between slugs and no slug for-

t:cu:::uJJ
~ 6294 6419 6544 6669 6794

10
PIPE DIAMETER ( IN,)
~:~6575 6700 6825
TIME (SEC.)
6950 7075

Fig. 2-Comparlson of experimental data with slug-length

correlations. Fig. 3-Densitometer responses for high-v sg test.

SPE Production Engineering, August 1989 337

 ~:~
~02i1927l2;2l21702
;
..-
~
~1000
:I:
I-
(!)

1{5JLNJlJ
12060 121BS 12310 1243S 12560
TIME (SEC,)
Fig. 4-Densitometer responses for low-v III test.
mation. This type is referred to as long-term growth. Fig. 7 sum-
marizes the two proposed types of slug growth and the physical
mechanisms in operation during each. All flows are believed to go
through a period of developing slug growth before entering the long-
term growth. The Prudhoe Bay data indicate that higher gas rates
prolong the developing slug-growth region. Recent work 9 gener-
alized this observation. It appears that the developing slug-growth
region is extended when the flow is near the transition boundary
between slug and stratified or annular flow. Also, the largest slugs
are produced near these boundaries. To correlate slug growth, the
mechanisms controlling the two different types are now discussed.
The developing type of growth is fairly rapid and occurs for an
extended period only when the flow is near the transition bounda-
ry between slug and stratified or annular flow. The main mecha-
nism resulting in this rapid growth is the overriding of waves by
faster-moving slugs. Turbine-velocity-meter data substantiate that
the slugs are moving faster than the waves. For the test shown in
Fig. 3, fluid velocities of 29 and 17 ft/sec [8.8 and 5.2 m/s] were
measured at Densitometer D5 in the slug and in the waves, respec-
tively. At this location, therefore, the wave region is being con-
sumed at the rate of 12 ftlsec [3.7 mls]. This overriding of the waves
rapidly transfers liquid from the wavy bubble-film region to the
slugs. This results in more rapid slug growth than in long-term
growth because the holdup otthe wavy bubble-film region is much
higher than that of the smooth-bubble region.
As noted before, long-term growth is very slow. One of the most
important mechanisms observed is the dissipation and coalescence
of slugs. As Dukler et al. 7 recently indicated, there appears to be
a minimum stable slug length below which a slug will eventually
Z750
lLJ
..J
(!)
::>
u! 500
lLJ
~
a:::
lLJ250
~
°0~-47.0~0::":0::--~80::l:oo=-"""":':I2~1J"=00~~16::-:1J~00""""'2Q~OOO·
PIPE LENGTH (FT.)
, Fig. 5-Slug growth for high-v III tests.
dissipate. They cited 12 to 30 for the minimum stable dimension-
less slug length, LsD, in horizontal flow. The Prudhoe Bay data,
on the other hand, show slugs disappearing below LsD = 170. The
data also strongly indicate that slugs dissipate because of their po-
sition relative to the surrounding slugs. The "weaker" slugs dissi-
pate sl?wly with their liquid accumulating in the "stronger" slug
followmg them. It appears that, if the pipeline were long enough,
the slugs would eventually be spaced evenly. ;
. The prediction of the transition between the two growth types
IS important in characterizing slug growth. The transition occurs
at the point XI where all the waves preceding the slugs have been
consumed. Data at Prudhoe Bay were collected for only a few differ-
ent rates; therefore, the point of transition between the two growth
types can only be approximated at this time. The data do indicate
that the input superficial gas velocity may have the strongest influ-
ence. Recent work9 .indicates, however, that pipe length and rela-
tive gaslliquid flow rates dictate X t near the transition boundary
between slug and stratified flow.
New Slug-Length and Slug-Growth Correlation
In developing a slug-length and slug-growth correlation, we decided
to look first at how slug length at the end of the pipeline varied

1250 LONG
DEVELOPING TERM
..- REGION REGION

6",- -:-~ _*--J~~

~
Lt...l
:I:
I- ---+--1
(!)
I I
27
lLJ I I
..J MECHANISMS I I

~
(!)
::>
0 I : I
SLUG FORMATION 1 I I
u!50 I I

~
lLJ OVERRIDING OF
~ ~ WAVE REGION BY
i
a:::
lLJ
SLUGS I
~ DISSIPATION
COALESCENCE
+
] .!
Fig. 7-Characterlzatlon of slug growth.
4000 8000 12,000 16,000 20,000
PIPE LENGTH (FT.)

Fig. 6-Slug growth for low-v Oil tests.

338 SPE Production Engineering, August 1989

 1.5,..----------------,
o LOW GAS RATE EXPERIMENT, ISIN.
• HIGH GAS RATE EXPERIMENT. 24 IN.
:z: - SLUG GROWTH CORRELATION
to- 1.2
~
0::
(!)
(!)
3°·9
(J)
(J)
(J)

~0.6
Z
o
~
~0.3
Ci

10 5000 25000
PIPE DIAMETER (IN,)

Fig. a-Comparison of experimental data with new slug- Fig. 9-Comparison of experimental data with new slug-
length-ys.-dlameter correlation. growth correlation.

as a function of pipe diameter. This would correct the Brill et at. In X

and Norris correlations to conform to the expanded data base. The
second step is to describe the slug growth on the basis of observa-
tions from the Prudhoe Bay data. Finally, all these results are com-
bined into a comprehensive slug-length and -growth correlation.
Predicting slug length as a function of pipe diameter requires only
slight modification of the Norris correlation. The new equation is
In(L sr ) = -25.4144+28.4948(1n d)o.l ................. (5)
Eq. 5 gave the best fit through the data, as shown in Fig. 8. This
fit was obtained by a weighting procedure similar to that used by
Norris. Weighting factors of 2,2, 2, 1, 10, and 10 were used for
the 1.5-, 2-, 3-, 7-, 16-, and 24-in. [4-,5-,8-, 18-,41-, and 61-cm]
data, respectively. This weights the correlation in favor of the larger-
diameter data and lessens the effect of the 7-in. [18-cm] single test
run, which is shown as a single dot on the figure. Some of the new
data were taken at different flow rates than the previously used Prud-
hoe Bay data, and little effect on slug length was seen. This veri-
fied Norris' observation that slug length depended mainly on pipe
diameter.
This new correlation allows some insight into the LsD = 12 to 30
rule of thumb mentioned by others 3 ,5,7 to estimate the stable slug
length. The correlation given by Eq. 5 also predicts LsD = 12 to
30 for 1.5- to 2.0-in. [4- to 5-cm] -diameter pipes and 300 to 350
for 16- to 24-in. [41- to 61-cm] -diameter pipes. Fig. 8 indicates
that LsD is not constant but varies from 5 to 350. It is therefore
recommended that Eq. 5 be used as a rule of thumb to predict aver-
age slug length given a particular pipe diameter.
The new correlation developed in this study also reflects the
growth of slugs as they move down the pipeline. This correlation
predicts the average slug length as a function of pipe diameter, su-
perficial velocities, and length of pipeline in slug flow. The corre-
lation is given in terms of a dimensionless growth, GD , the ratio
between the slug length at a point of interest to the slug length at
some reference point. Because most of the data were taken near
the end of the pipeline, this was chosen as the reference point. The
slug length at the end of the pipeline, L sr , is given by Eq. 5. The
combined correlation accounts for both types of slug growth-Le.,
developing and long-term growth. It also attempts to predict the
point of transition between the two growth types, XI' The resulting
equations are
Ls = LsrGD ....................................... (6)
and GD=(A +GDlx ) - - -A, ........................ (7)
t In x
t
where A =5.29 when XSXt and A ~2.35 when x>x t •
An expression for X t was obtained from a limited amount of data
and the simplifying assumption that the length of the developing
region results entirely from the increased velocity "stretching out"
the development of slugs over a greater distance. The expression
obtained for x t is
x t ld=22.3v sg . . ................................... (8)
Assumptions were also made to obtain an expression for the slight
increase in slug length caused by increased superficial gas veloci-
ty. This increase in length is a result of increased aeration in the
liquid slug. A limited amount of data yields
GD Ix =0.30geo. 0405vsg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • (9)
1
Fig. 9 shows the fit of the new correlation with the observed slug-
growth data. The new correlation agrees well with the data and
reflects the nature of slug growth expected from both the develop-
ing and long-term mechanisms.
Correlation Limitations
As with any correlation, this one is generally most accurate for con-
ditions similar to those under which the data were taken. There-
fore, the following limitations have been established for the results
of this study.
First, Eq. 5 should be used with large-diameter pipes because
the correlating data have been weighted in favor of the large-
diameter data. Eq. 5 is only a slight modification of the Brill et
at. and the Norris expressions. Both of these methods have had
reasonable success in predicting the maximum expected average
slug length for long, large-diameter, slightly terrain-affected
flowlines at field conditions. Therefore, Eq. 5 should be a gener-
ally applicable rule of thumb.
Second, because slug growth is still not fully understood, the slug-
growth correlation should be restricted to the following flow con-
ditions: d>6, 5<v sg <50, I<V sL<5, and 1,000<xp<
100,000. In addition, flow-pattern maps should be consulted to de-
~rmine that slug flow will indeed exist. If slug flow exists,
Ls > 32d in all cases.

SPE Production Engineering, August 1989 339

Conclusions
A new correlation is presented that allows calculation of slug length
in horizontal, large-diameter pipes. This correlation also takes into
account the growth of slugs as they flow through a pipeline. Two
different types of growth have been defined and several mecha-
nisms proposed to explain this growth. Although more data are need-
ed to expand the range of applicability, this correlation should
provide a better estimation of slug length than currently exists.
Nomenclature
d = pipe ID, in. [cm]
Is = slug frequency, slugs/sec
g = gravitational constant, ft/sec 2 [m/s2]
GD = dimensionless slug growth
Is = average slug length, ft [m]
LsD = dimensionless slug length, (Lsld), where d is in feet
Lsr = reference slug length at end of 15,OOO-ft [4572-m] test
pipeline, ft [m]
Npr,slug = slug Froude number
Vm = mixture velocity, ft/sec [m/s]
Vsg = superficial gas velocity, ft/sec [m/s]
vsL = superficial liquid velocity, ft/sec [m/s]
x = distance from point of initiation of slug flow, ft [m]
xp = length of pipeline in slug flow, ft [m]
XI = point oftransition from developing to long-term slug
flow, ft [m]
Yf = average liquid holdup ofliquid fIlm, gas bubble region
Ys = average liquid holdup of slug body
Acknowledgments
We thank ARCO, Exxon, and Sohio, major owners representing
the Prudhoe Bay Unit, for permission to use the Prudhoe Bay data.
We also thank Exxon Production Research Co. for use of the work
of L. Norris. Finally, we thank the member companies of the U.
340
of Tulsa Fluid Flow Projects, the U. of Tulsa, and the Mid-Continent
Section of SPE for supporting this research.
References
I. Brill, J.P. et al.: "Analysis of Two-Phase Tests in Large-Diameter Flow
Lines in Prudhoe Bay Field," SPEl (June 1981) 363-78.
2. Gregory, G.A. and Scott, D.S.: "Correlation of Liquid Slug Velocity
and Frequency in Horizontal Concurrent Gas-Liquid Slug Flow," AIChE
1. (Nov. 1969) 15, No.6, 933-35.
3. Hubbard, M.G.: "An Analysis of Horizontal Gas-Liquid Slug Flow,"
PhD dissertation, U. of Houston, Houston (1965).
4. Greskovich, E.1. and Shrier, A.L.: "Slug Frequency in Horizontal Gas-
Liquid Slug Flow," Ind. & Eng. Chern. Proc. Design Dev. (1972) 11,
No. 2,317-18.
5. Dukler, A.E. and Hubbard, M.G.: "A Model for Gas-Liquid Slug Flow
in Horizontal and Near Horizontal Tubes," Ind. & Eng. Chern. (Nov.
1975) 14, No.4, 337-47.
6. Taitel, Y. and Dukler, A.E.: "A Model for Slug Frequency During
Gas-Liquid Flow in Horizontal and Near Horizontal Pipes," Inti. 1.
Multiphase Flow (1977) 3, 585-96.
7. Dukler, A.E. et at.: "A Physical Model for Predicting the Minimum
Stable Slug Length," Chern. Eng. Sci. (1985) 40, No.8, 1379-85.
8. Schmidt, Z.: "Experimental Study of Two-Phase Slug Flow in a
Pipeline-Riser Pipe System, " PhD dissertation, U. of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
(1977).
9. Scott, S.L.: "Modeling Slug Growth in Pipelines," PhD dissertation,
U. of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK (1987).
51 Metric Conversion Factors
ft x 3.048* E-Ol m
OF (OF-32)/1.8 °C
in. x 2.54* E+OO cm
psi x 6.894757 E+OO kPa
'* Conversion factor is exact. SPEPE
Original SPE manuscript received for review April 2. 1986. Paper accepted for publication
NoV. 23, 1987. Revised manuscript received Sept. 19. 1988. Paper (SPE 15103) first present-
ed at the 1986 SPE California Regional Meeting held in Oakland, April 2-4:
SPE Production Engineering, August 1989