UNIVERSITY OF BENGHAZI

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE
CALCULATE OF TWO-PHASE FLOW

MONSEF MOHAMED ELBARRANI …. 24697

ALI SALEM MOHAMED …. 22262
SALEM TAWFIK ELOSHAR …. 24235
MOHAMED HASSAN ELDRESSI .... 24630
Outline

Two phase flow

Introduction
Holdup
Liquid and gas holdup
No-slip liquid and gas holdup
Density
Velocity
Viscosity
General pressure gradient equation
Two-phase flow producer for outlet pressure calculation
Conclusion
Introduction

For oil wells, the main component of pressure loss is the gravity or hydrostatic term.

Calculation of the hydrostatic pressure loss requires knowledge of the proportion of the pipe occupied by liquid
(holdup) and the densities of the liquid and gas phases.

Accurate modeling of fluid PVT properties is essential to obtain in-situ gas/liquid proportions, phase densities, and
viscosities.

Calculation of holdup is complicated by the phenomenon of gas/liquid slip.

Gas, being less dense than liquid flows with a greater vertical velocity than liquid.

The difference in velocity between the gas and liquid is termed the slip velocity.  The effect of slip is to increase the
mixture density and hence the gravity pressure gradient.

In the next paragraphs, two-phase flow properties (holdup, densities, velocity, and viscosity) will be detailed. Then
the pressure gradient equation which is applicable to any fluid flowing in a pipe inclined at an angle φ is depicted.

As well as, the two-phase flow procedure to calculate the outlet pressure is detailed.
 Two-Phase Flow Properties:

Holdup

With reference to multiphase flow in pipes, the fraction of a particular fluid

present in an interval of a pipe.

In multiphase flow, each fluid moves at a different speed due to different

gravitational forces and other factors, with the heavier phase moving slower,
or being more held up, than the lighter phase.

The holdup of a particular fluid is not the same as the proportion of the total
flow rate due to that fluid, also known as its ”cut”.

To determine in-situ flow rates, it is necessary to measure the holdup

and velocity of each fluid.

The sum of the holdups of the fluids present is unity.

1- Liquid and Gas Holdup (HL & Hg):

HL is defined as the ratio of the volume of a pipe segment occupied by

the liquid to the volume of the pipe segment. The remainder of the pipe
segment is of course occupied by gas, which is referred to as Hg.

Hg = 1 – HL
2- No-Slip Liquid and Gas Holdup (λL & λg):

The No-Slip correlation assumes homogeneous flow with no slippage between the phases.

Fluid properties are taken as the average of the gas and liquid phases and friction factors
are calculated using the single phase Moody correlation. ?

λL is defined as the ratio of the volume of the liquid in a pipe segment divided by the
volume of the pipe segment which would exist if the gas and liquid traveled at the same
velocity (no-slippage). It can be calculated directly from the known gas and liquid
volumetric flow rates from :
Density

1- Liquid Density (ρL):

ρL may be calculated from the oil and water densities with the assumption of no
slippage between the oil and water phases as follows:

2- Two-Phase Density:

Calculation of the two-phase density requires knowledge of the liquid holdup.

Three equations for two-phase density are used by various investigators in two-
phase flow:
Velocity

1- Superficial Gas and Liquid Velocities (vsg & vsL):

2- Actual Gas and Liquid Velocities (vg & vL):

3- Two-Phase Velocity (vm):

4- Slip Velocity (vs):

Viscosity

1- Liquid Viscosity (μL):

μL may be calculated from the oil and water viscosities with the assumption of no slippage between the oil and
water phases as follows:

2- Two-Phase Viscosity:

Calculation of the two-phase viscosity requires knowledge of the liquid holdup. Two equations for two-phase
viscosity are used by various investigators in two-phase flow:

3- Liquid Surface Tension (σL):

Two-phase flow regimes (Horizontal Flow)
Two phase flow regimes for horizontal flow,These horizontal flow regimes
are defined as follows.

Stratified (Smooth and Wavy)Flow:

Stratified flow consist of two superposed layers of gas and liquid,

formed by segregation under the influence of gravity.

Intermittent (Slug and Elongated bubble)Flow:

The intermittent flow regime is usually divided into two sub-regimes :

plug or elongated bubble flow and slug flow.
The elongated bubble flow regime can be considered as a limiting case
of slug flow, where the liquid slug is free of entrained gas bubbles.
Gas-liquid intermittent flow exists in the whole range of pipe inclinations
and over a wide range of gas and liquid flow rates.
Two-phase flow regimes (Horizontal Flow)

Annular-mist flow : during annular flow, the liquid phase flows largely as an
annular film on the wall withe gas flowing as a central core.
Some of the liquid is entrained as droplets in this gas core (mist flow)

Dispersed bubble flow : at high liquid rates and low gas rates, the gas is dispersed
as bubbles in a continuous liquid phase.
The bubble density is higher toward the top of the pipeline, but there are bubbles
throughout the cross section.
Dispersed flow occur only at high flow rates and high pressure.
This type pf flow, which entails high pressure loss is rarely encountered in flow lines.
Two-phase flow regimes (Vertical Up-ward Flow)

Flow regimes frequently encountered in upward vertical two-phase

flow,These regimes are defined as follows.

Bubble Flow: The gas phase is distributed in the liquid phase as variable-
size, deformable bubbles moving upward with zigzag motion. The wall of the
pipe is always contacted by the liquid phase.

Slug Flow: Most of the gas is in the form of large bullet-shaped bubbles that
have a diameter almost reaching the pipe diameter. These bubbles are
referred to as “Taylor bubbles,” move uniformly upward, and are separated by
slugs of continuous liquid that bridge the pipe and contain small gas bubbles.
The gas bubble velocity is greater than that of the liquid.
Two-phase flow regimes (Vertical Up-ward Flow)

Churn Flow: If a change from a continuous liquid phase to a continuous gas

phase occurs, the continuity of the liquid in the slug between successive
Taylor bubbles is destroyed repeatedly by a high local gas concentration in
the slug.
This oscillatory flow of the liquid is typical of churn flow. It may not occur in
small-diameter pipes. The gas bubbles may join and liquid may be entrained
in the bubbles.
Annular-Mist Flow: Annular flow is characterized by the continuity of the gas
phase in the pipe core. The liquid phase moves upward partly as a wavy film
and partly in the form of drops entrained in the gas core.

Reliable models for downward multiphase flow are currently unavailable and
the design codes are deficient in this area.
Two-phase flow regimes (Inclined Flow)

Pipe inclination angles have a very strong influence on flow

pattern transitions.

Generally, the flow regime in a near-horizontal pipe remains

segregated for downward inclinations and changes to an
intermittent flow regime for upward inclinations.

An intermittent flow regime remains intermittent when tilted upward

and tends to segregated flow pattern when inclined downward.

The inclination should not significantly affect the distributed flow

regime.
 General pressure gradient equation

The pressure gradient equation which is applicable to any fluid flowing in a pipe inclined at an angle φ
from horizontal was derived previously. This equation is usually adapted for two-phase flow by assuming
that the two-phase flow regime and two-phase properties can be considered homogeneous over a finite
volume of the pipe.

Many correlations have been developed for predicting two-phase flow pressure gradients which differ in
the manner used to calculate the three terms of pressure gradients equation (elevation change, friction,
and acceleration terms):

a. No slip, no flow regime considerations: the mixture density is calculated based on the no slip holdup.
No distinction is made for different flow regimes.

b. Slip considered, no flow regime consideration: The same correlations for liquid holdup and friction
factor are used for all flow regimes.

c. Slip considered, flow regime considered: Usually a different liquid holdup and friction factor prediction
methods are required in each flow regimes.
Two-Phase Flow Procedure for Outlet
Pressure Calculation:
1.Starting with the known inlet pressure and flow rates.
2.Select a length increment, ΔL, and estimate the pressure drop
in this increment, ΔP.
3.Calculate the average pressure and, for non-isothermal cases,
the average temperature in the increment.
4.Determine the gas and liquid properties (based on black-oil or
compositional model) at average pressure and temperature
conditions.
5.Calculate the pressure gradient, dP/dL, in the increment at
average conditions of pressure, temperature, and pipe
inclination, using the appropriate pressure gradient correlation.
6.Calculate the pressure drop in the selected length increment,
ΔP=ΔL(-dP/dL).
7.Compare the estimated and calculated values of ΔP. If they are
not sufficiently close, estimate a new value and return to step 3.
8.Repeat the steps 2 to 7 for the next pipe length increment.
Conclusion
Multi-phase flow correlations are used to predict the liquid holdup
and frictional pressure gradient.
Correlations in common use consider liquid/gas interactions – the oil
and water are lumped together as one equivalent fluid.
They are therefore more correctly termed two-phase flow
correlations.
Depending on the particular correlation, flow regimes are identified
and specialized holdup and friction gradient calculations are applied
for each flow regime.
There is no universal rule for selecting the best flow correlation for a
given application.
It is recommended that a Correlation Comparison always be carried
out.
By inspecting the predicted flow regimes and pressure results, the
User can select the correlation that best models the physical
situation.
Reference

Two-Phase Pipeline Part I

Oilfield Glossary