An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of density and viscosity on zero net liquid flow (ZNLF) in vertical pipes. Predicting liquid holdup under ZNLF conditions is necessary in several types of petroleum industry operations. These include predicting bottomhole pressures in pumping oil wells and the design of compact gas-liquid cylindrical cyclone (GLCC©)1 separators. Models are proposed to predict flow pattern transitions under ZNLF conditions and comparisons are made with commonly used vertical flow pattern transition criteria. Data was collected using a 3-in.-diam, 14-ft-section of transparent vertical pipe. Several different fluids, of differing density and viscosity, were utilized with air flowing at approximately 25 psig. Results are presented showing the liquid holdup and the flow distribution coefficient as a function of density, viscosity, and superficial gas velocity. [S0195-0738(00)00402-7]
Issue Section:
Technical Papers
1.
Podio, A. L., Tarrillion, M. J., and Roberts, E. T., 1980, “Laboratory Work Improves Calculations” Oil & Gas Journal, Aug., pp. 137–146.
2.
Hasan, A. R., and Kabir, C. S., 1985, “Determining Bottomhole Pressures in Pumping Wells” SPEJ, Dec., pp. 823–838.
3.
Hasan, A. R., and Kabir, C. S., 1988, “A Study of Multiphase Flow Behavior in Vertical Wells,” SPE Prod. Eng., May, pp. 263–272.
4.
McCoy, J. N., Podio, A. L., and Huddleston, K. L., 1988, “Acoustic Determination of Producing Bottomhole Pressure,” SPE Prod. Eng., Sept., pp. 616–621.
5.
Kabir
, C. S.
, and Hasan
, A. R.
, 1994
, “Two-Phase Flow Correlations as Applied of Producing Bottomhole, Pressures
,” ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
, 116
, pp. 121
–127
.6.
Arpandi, I., Joshi, A. R., Shoham, O., Shirazi, S., and Kouba, G. E., 1995, “Hydrodynamics of Two-Phase Flow in Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Separators” Paper SPE 30683 prepared for presentation at the SPE Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, Dallas, TX, October 22–25.
7.
Duncan, R. W., and Scott, S. L., 1998, “Vertical Zero-Net Liquid Flow: Effects of High Pressure on Holdup,” paper presented at the BHRG Multiphase ’98 Conference, Banff, Canada, Vol. 31, 43–60.
8.
Gomez, L. E., Mohan, R. S., Shoham, O., Marrelli, J. D., and Kouba, G. E., 1999, “State-of-the Art Simulator for Field Application of Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone,” SPE Paper 56581 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX October 3–6.
9.
Turner
, R. G.
, Hubbard
, M. G.
, and Dukler
, A. E.
, 1969
, “Analysis and Prediction of Minimum Flow Rate for the Continuos Removal of Liquid from Gas Wells
,” J. Pet. Technol.
, 21
, pp. 1475
–1482
.10.
Scott, S. L., and Kouba, G. E., 1990, “Advances in Slug Flow Characterization for Horizontal and Slightly Inclined Pipelines,” paper SPE 20628 presented at the 65th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in New Orleans, LA, September 23–26.
11.
Harmathy
, T. Z.
, 1960
, “Velocity of Large Drops and Bubbles in Media of Infinite or Restricted Extent
,” AIChE J.
, 6
, p. 281
281
.12.
Taitel
, Y.
, and Barnea
, D.
, 1990
, “Two-Phase Slug Flow
,” Adv. Heat Transfer
, 20
, pp. 83
–132
.13.
Chokshi, R. N., 1994, “Prediction of Pressure Drop in Vertical Two-Phase Flow Through Large Diameter Tubing” Ph.D. dissertation, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.
14.
Nicklin
, D. J.
, Wilkes
, J. O.
, and Davidson
, J. F.
, 1962
, “Two-Phase Flow in Vertical Tubes
,” Trans. Inst. Chem. Eng.
, 40
, pp. 61
–68
.15.
Shoham, O., 1996, Two-Phase Flow Modeling, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.
16.
Taitel
, Y.
, Barnea
, D.
, and Duckler
, A. E.
, 1980
, “Modeling Flow Pattern Transitions for Steady State Upward Gas-Liquid Flow in Vertical Tubes
,” AIChE J.
, 26
, pp. 345
–354
.17.
Govier, G. W., and Aziz, K., 1972, The Flow of Complex Mixtures in Pipes, Van Nostrand Reinhold Publishing Co., New York, NY.
18.
Kabir, C. S., and Hasan, A. R., 1986, “A Study of Multiphase Flow Behavior in Vertical Oil Wells: Part2-Field Application,” paper SPE 15139 presented at the 56th California Regional Meeting, Oakland, CA, April 2–4.
19.
Alves, L. N., Caetano, E. F., Minami, K., and Shoham, O., 1991, “Modeling Annular Flow Behavior for Gas Wells,” SPE Prod. Eng., Nov., pp. 435–440.
20.
Wallis, G. B., 1969, One-Dimensional Two-Phase Flow, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.
21.
Hinze
, J. O.
, 1955
, “Fundamentals of the Hydrodynamic Mechanism of Splitting in Dispersion Processes
,” AIChE J.
, 1
, p. 289
289
.22.
Ansari, A. M., Sylvester, N. D., Sarica, C., Shoham, O., and Brill, J. P., 1994, “A Comprehensive Mechanistic Model for Upward Two-Phase Flow in Welbores,” SPE Prod. Facil., May, pp. 143–152.
23.
White
, E. T.
, and Beardmore
, R. H.
, 1961
, “The Velocity of Rise of Single Cylindrical Air Bubbles Through Liquids Contained in Vertical Tubes
,” Chem. Eng. Sci.
, 17
, pp. 351
–361
.24.
An, H., 2000, “Effects of Density and Viscosity in Vertical Zero Net Liquid Flow,” M.S. thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Copyright © 2000
by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.
