PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's

Single Bubble Slug Churn Annular Mist

Phase flow flow flow flow flow
Liquid
flow

Flow regimes in two-phase vertical flow

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

(f) Psep Tsep

Mist flow

(e) Separator
Annular flow

Churn flow

(d) Slug flow

Bubble flow

(c)
Single Phase flow
(b)
Reservoir (pwf) PR TR (a)

Schematic view of phase changes in tubing

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

2
Z

∆z
1

θ
Return level

Flow Geometry in a segment of inclined tubing

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

 The general energy equation is the theoretical basis

for most of flow equations.

 Under steady state conditions, and for control volume.

WD WO

Energy of Energy of
fluid entering Heat Heat fluid leaving
taken added
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

 The energy equation is converted to a mechanical

energy balance (pressure gradient) using the fluid

thermodynamic relations (enthalpy, entropy, etc...)

and assuming no work is done on or by the fluid.

dp g r fm ρm Vm ρm Vm dVm
= m sinθ + +
dL gc 2 gc d gc dL
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Where:-
dp
= Pressure gradient, Psi/ft
dL
gc = dimensionless constant with magnitude, 32.174
g = the standard acceleration of gravity, 32.174 ft/sec2
ρm = ρL HL + ρg (1-HL) lbm /ft3
ρL = density of liquid, lbm /ft3
ρg = density of gas, lbm /ft3
HL = liquid hold-up, fraction of tubing occupied by liquid
θ = angel of inclination to the horizontal
fm = dimensionless Moody friction factor
Vm = VSL + VSg , ft/ sec
VSL = superficial liquid velocity, qL/A, ft/sec
VSg = superficial gas velocity, qg/A, ft/sec
d = tubing inner diameter, ft
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

(f) Psep Tsep (f) Psep Tsep

Mist flow

Separator (e) Separator

Annular flow

Vg VL
HL =
Churn flow

VL+ Vg
(d) Slug flow

rm = HL ρL + (1- HL) ρg Bubble flow

VL
(c)
Single Phase flow
(b)
PR TR (a)
Reservoir Reservoir (pwf) PR TR (a)

Schematic view of phase changes in tubing

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Pressure drop analysis

dp g r fm ρm Vm ρm Vm dVm
= m sinθ + +
dLtot gc 2 gc d gc dL

Elevation

Friction
Acceleration
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Pressure drop analysis

1. Elevation ( hydrostatic head loss)

g/gc rm sinθ Psi

is the static change in pressure due to the weight of the

fluid in the well

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Pressure drop analysis

2. Friction 2
fm ρm Vm Psi
2 gc d
• The frictional pressure drop is caused by the

dissipation of energy by viscous forces.

• It depends on:

fluid properties, flow regime, fluid velocity.

• It is the most important component.

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Pressure drop analysis

3. Acceleration
ρm Vm dVm Psi
gc dL
• The acceleration pressure drop is caused by the

change in momentum when the fluid is accelerating in

the well due to expansion .

• Generally, this term is less important except for very

high rate gas wells.

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Reynolds Number

NRc = Inertial forces dimensionless

Viscous forces
ρV2
=
µ V/D
ρVD
= (1488)
Where:- µ
ρ = fluid density, lbm /ft3
V = fluid velocity, ft/sec
D = pipe diameter, ft

µ = fluid viscosity, cp
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

 If NRC < 2000 flow is Laminar

fm = 64
NRC
If NRC > 2000 flow is Turbulent

Relative Roughness, ε = K
D
Where:-

K = absolute height of roughness inside the pipe

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Mixing of fluid in pipe flow
as a function of flow regime
Direction of Flow

Fluid 2 Fluid 2
Fluid 2

Extensive contamination
of fluid 1 by fluid 2
but fluid 2
still remain Limited
separate Mixture Mixing
Fluid 1 & 2 zone

Fluid 1

Fluid 1 Fluid 1

Cross Sections Turbulent Both Fluids Laminar Cross Sections

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Moody friction factor diagram

0.025
0.0225
0.020
0.0175 0.05
0.04
0.015

Relative Roughness, Ԑ = K/D

0.014 Fully Rough
Fully Well
Rough WellTurbulence
Turbulence
0.03
0.013 0.02
Friction Factor, f

0.012
0.011 0.015
0.010 0.01
0.009 0.008
0.008 0.006
0.007 0.004
0.0065
0.006 0.002
0.0055
0.005 0.001
0.0045 0.0008
0.0006
0.004 0.0004
0.0035 0.0002
0.003 0.0001
0.0025 0.00005
0.00225
0.002 2 3 456 8 2 3 456 8 2 3 456 8 2 3 456 8 2 3 456 8
0.00001
103 104 105 106 107 108

DVρ
Reynolds Number, NRe =
µ
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Two-Phase Gradient Models

dp  dp
dp dp   dp dp   dp dp 
           
dzdz  dzdz PEPE  dzdz KEKE  dzdz F F

dp
dp gg
   rrsin sin (and also 144)
dzdzPEPE ggc c
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

dp dp
dp dp dp
dp0 dp dp
     
dz dz
dz dzPEPE dz
dzKEKE dz
dzFF
Temperature Pressure

slug
flow

churn
flow Approximate
Depth

linear
temperature
Bubble profile
flow

Single-phase
Oil
p> pBP

oil
PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

5. Flow In Vertical Tubing's (cont’d)

Two-Phase Gradient Models

1- Flow regime is varying with depth.

2- Fluid properties, ρ, µ are ƒ (P & T.)

3- Friction Term is the most difficult .

4- Friction Between phases is not counted.

Empirical correlations have been developed,

based on extensive experiments