CHOKE

PERFORMAN
CE

Baxendell

Baxendells correlation linking

the rate of multiphase flow
through a choke and the
upstream pressure and
fundamentally an update of the
Gilbert correlation is:

Gilbert

Gilbert developed a generalized

correlation based on data from
flowing oil wells. The rate of
multiphase flow through a
choke and the upstream
pressure can be correlated by
the following relationship

Ros

The rate of multiphase flow

through a choke and the upstream
pressure are, according to Ros on
the basis of Gilberts and other
prior work, correlated by the
following relationship:

 Achong
Achong updated Gilberts
relationship on the basis of data
from oil wells. The rate of
multiphase flow through a choke
and the upstream pressure are:

Multiphase Flow
Ashford-Pierce: Developed a
correlation specifically describing
multiphase flow through safety
valves and tested it against field
data. Their correlation has the
form:

This relationship applies both at and above the critical pressure ratio,
Ashford and Pierce further define the critical pressure ratio, , as

Assuming critical flow in the choke throat, the

downstream pressure and fluid velocity can be
calculated, and with the latter plus the
produced fluid ratios, the mass flowrate of each
phase is obtainable.

 References
Achong, I., "Revised Bean Performance Formula for Lake
Maracaibo Wells", internal co. report, Shell Oil Co., Houston, TX,
Oct 1961
Ashford, F.E. and Pierce, P.E., "Determining Multiphase Pressure
Drops and Flow Capacities in Down-Hole Safety Valves", SPE
Paper No. 5161, J. Pet. Tech., Sep 1975, 1145
Baxendell, P.B., "Bean Performance Lake Maracaibo Wells",
internal co. report, Shell Oil Co., Houston, TX, Oct 1967
Gilbert, W.E., "Flowing and Gas-Lift Well Performance", Drill. &
Prod. Practice, 1954, 126
Omana, R., Houssiere, C. Jr., Brown, K.E., Brill, J.P., and
Thompson, R.E., "Multiphase Flow Through Chokes", SPE Paper
No. 2682, paper presented at Annual Fall Meeting of the SPE of
AIME, Denver, CO, Sep 28 Oct 1, 1969
Ros, N.C.J., "An Analysis of Critical Simultaneous Gas-Liquid
Flow Through a Restriction and Its Application to
Flowmetering", Appl. Sci. Res. (9), 1960, 374

Choke Sizing

Liquid Mass Flow

Rawlins-Schellhardt

Szilas

Omana et al.

Omana et al. carried out field

experiments with natural gas and water
flowing through restrictions. Carrying
out a dimensional analysis, Omana
derived the following correlation