This study experimentally investigates the drag reduction characteristics of the most commonly used polymer fluids in coiled tubing applications. The flow loop employed consists of straight and coiled tubing sections. The curvature ratio (, where and are the radii of the tubing and the reel drum, respectively) investigated is from 0.01 to 0.076, which covers the typical curvature ratio range encountered in the oil and gas industry applications. Fluids tested include xanthan gum, guar gum, and hydroxypropyl guar at various polymer concentrations. It is found that the drag reduction in coiled tubing is significantly lower than that in straight tubing, probably due to the effect of secondary flow in curved geometry. The onset of drag reduction is also found to be delayed as the curvature ratio was increased. A correlation for the maximum drag reduction (MDR) asymptote in coiled tubing is developed. When the curvature ratio is set to zero, the new correlation reduces to the well-known Virk’s MDR asymptote for dilute polymer solutions in straight pipes. A new drag reduction envelope is proposed for the analysis of drag reduction behavior of polymeric fluids in coiled tubing. Application of the new drag reduction envelope is also discussed.
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e-mail: subhash@ou.edu
e-mail: YunxuZhou@yahoo.com
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January 2009
Research Papers
Maximum Drag Reduction Asymptote of Polymeric Fluid Flow in Coiled Tubing
Subhash N. Shah,
Subhash N. Shah
Stephenson Chair Professor
Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Well Construction Technology Center,
e-mail: subhash@ou.edu
The University of Oklahoma
, Norman, OK 73019
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Yunxu Zhou
Yunxu Zhou
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Well Construction Technology Center,
e-mail: YunxuZhou@yahoo.com
The University of Oklahoma
, Norman, OK 73019
Search for other works by this author on:
Subhash N. Shah
Stephenson Chair Professor
Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Well Construction Technology Center,
The University of Oklahoma
, Norman, OK 73019e-mail: subhash@ou.edu
Yunxu Zhou
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Well Construction Technology Center,
The University of Oklahoma
, Norman, OK 73019e-mail: YunxuZhou@yahoo.com
J. Fluids Eng. Jan 2009, 131(1): 011201 (9 pages)
Published Online: November 26, 2008
Article history
Received:
February 15, 2007
Revised:
October 11, 2008
Published:
November 26, 2008
Citation
Shah, S. N., and Zhou, Y. (November 26, 2008). "Maximum Drag Reduction Asymptote of Polymeric Fluid Flow in Coiled Tubing." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. January 2009; 131(1): 011201. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3026578
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