What are ‘Flow Correlation’?

 These are set of formulas, the primary purpose of

a flow correlation is to predict the liquid holdup
and the frictional pressure gradient

 There are various correlations each for a

particular type of pipeline or well

 Example -OLGA-S, Hagedorn and Brown, Gregory,

TUFFP, etc.

 These correlations are the fundamentals on which

all flow simulations work
 Suggested correlations

Single phase system Vertical Oil Wells

• OLGAS
• NOSLIP (Moody) • Hagedorn and Brown
• Gray
• TUFFP

Highly deviated oil well Gas/condensate well

• OLGAS • OLGAS
• Hagedorn and Brown • Hagedorn and Brown
• Duns and Ros • Gray
• TUFFP • TUFFP

Oil pipelines Gas/condensate pipelines

• OLGAS • OLGAS
• Oliemans • Baker Jardine
• TUFFP • TUFFP
 Correlations
Brief
• Assumes homogeneous flow with no slip between the
phases.
• Fluid properties are taken as the average of the gas and
NOSLIP
liquid phases
• Friction factors are calculated using the single phase
MOODY correlation.
• Applicable for all inclination angles, pipe diameters and
fluid properties
OLGAS • Considers four flow regimes: stratified, annular, slug and
dispersed bubble flow; and uses a unique minimum slip
criteria to predict flow regime transitions.
• For two phase flow in gas-condensate pipelines
• Uses Taitel Dukler momentum balance to predict liquid
holdup
Baker Jardine
• Accounts for the increased interfacial shear resulting
from the liquid surface roughness
 Correlations
Correlations Brief
• Developed for vertical flow of gas and liquid mixtures in
wells

• Used for high gas-liquid ratios (usually in mist flow

Duns and Ros regime)
• Developed for each of three flow regions, (I) bubble, plug
and part of froth flow regimes, (II) remainder of froth flow
and slug flow regimes, (III) mist flow regime. Each flow
region has a different holdup correlation.
• Developed for vertical flow in gas and condensate
systems which are predominantly gas phase
• Flow is treated as single phase, and dropped out water
Gray or condensate is assumed to adhere to the pipe wall
• Valid for velocity below 50 ft/s, the tube size is below
3.5”, the condensate ratio is below 50 bbl/mmscf, and the
water ratio is below 5 bbl/mmscf.
 Correlations

Correlations Brief

• Developed for two-phase flow in horizontal and inclined

pipes
Beggs and Brill • Horizontal holdup is calculated by correlations, and this
holdup is corrected for the angle of inclination
• Applicable for all angles till 90 degree
• Determines flow pattern transitions, pressure gradient,
liquid holdup and slug characteristics
TUFFP
• Valid for all inclination angles, pipe diameters and fluid
properties
• The flow pattern as predicted by Orkiszewski is reported
• The Duns and Ros flow pattern prediction can also be
Hagedorn and
reported
Brown
• Neither of these flow pattern prediction methods affects
any of the calculations