This paper is aimed to an experimental study on the flow patterns formed by heavy crude oil (initial viscosity and density 488 mPa s, at and water inside vertical and horizontal 2.84-cm-i.d. pipes. The oil-water interfacial tension was 29 dyn/cm. Effort is concentrated into flow pattern characterization, which was visually defined. The similarities with gas-liquid flow patterns are explored and the results are expressed in flow maps. In contrast with other studies, the annular flow pattern (“core annular flow”) was observed in both horizontal and vertical test sections. These flow pattern tends to occur in heavy oil-water flows at low water input fractions. Because of the practical importance of core flow in providing an effective means for heavy oil production and transportation, this paper discusses criteria that favor its occurrence in pipes.
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September 2004
Technical Papers
Flow Patterns in Heavy Crude Oil-Water Flow
Antonio C. Bannwart,
Antonio C. Bannwart
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, State University of Campinas–UNICAMP, Cx. P. 6122, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Oscar M. H. Rodriguez,
Oscar M. H. Rodriguez
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Energy
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Carlos H. M. de Carvalho,
Carlos H. M. de Carvalho
PETROBRAS-CENPES
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Isabela S. Wang,
Isabela S. Wang
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering
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Rosa M. O. Vara
Rosa M. O. Vara
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering
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Antonio C. Bannwart
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, State University of Campinas–UNICAMP, Cx. P. 6122, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Oscar M. H. Rodriguez
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Energy
Carlos H. M. de Carvalho
PETROBRAS-CENPES
Isabela S. Wang
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering
Rosa M. O. Vara
UNICAMP, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dept. of Petroleum Engineering
Contributed by the Petroleum Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, and presented at the ETCE 2001, Houston, Texas, February 5–7 2001. Manuscript received by the Petroleum Division March 6, 2001; revised manuscript received February 16, 2003. Associate Editor: C. Sarica.
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Sep 2004, 126(3): 184-189 (6 pages)
Published Online: October 19, 2004
Article history
Received:
March 6, 2001
Revised:
February 16, 2003
Online:
October 19, 2004
Citation
Bannwart, A. C., Rodriguez, O. M. H., de Carvalho, C. H. M., Wang , I. S., and Vara, R. M. O. (October 19, 2004). "Flow Patterns in Heavy Crude Oil-Water Flow ." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. September 2004; 126(3): 184–189. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1789520
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