Beggs and Brill method

The Beggs and Brill method works for horizontal or vertical flow and
everything in between. It also takes into account the different horizontal
flow regimes. This method uses the general mechanical energy balance and
the average in-situ density to calculate the pressure gradient. The following
parameters are used in the calculations.

um2
N FR = (2-38)
gD

ul
λl =
um

L1 = 316λ0l .302 L2 = .0009252λl−2.4684 (2-39, 40)

L3 = .10λl−1.4516 L4 = .5λl−6.738 (2-41, 42)

Determining flow regimes

Segregated if
λl < .01 and NFR < L1 or λl >= .01 and NFR < L2

Transition if
λl >= .01 and L2 < NFR <= L3

Intermittent if
.01 <= λl <.4 and L3 < NFR <= L1 or λl >= .4 and L3 < NFR <= L4

Distributed if
λl < .4 and NFR >= L1 or λl >= .4 and NFR > L4

For segregated, intermittent and distributed flow regimes use the following:

aλbl
y l = y l 0ψ yl 0 = c
(2-43, 44)
N FR
with the constraint of that yl0 >= λl.

ψ = 1 + C [sin(1.8θ ) − .333 sin 3 (1.8θ )] C = (1 − λl ) ln (dλel N vlf N FR

g
) (2-45,46)
Where a, b, c, d, e, f and g depend on flow regimes and are given in the
following table

For transition flow, the liquid holdup is calculated using both the segregated
& intermittent equations and interpolating using the following:

yl = Ayl (Segregated ) + Byl (Intermittent ) (2-47)

L3 − N FR
A= B =1− A (2-48,49)
L3 − L2

_
_
⎛ dp ⎞ g ρ sin θ
ρ = yl ρ l + y g ρ g ⎜ ⎟ = (2-50,51)
⎝ dl ⎠ PE g c 144

The frictional pressure gradient is calculated using:

⎛ dp ⎞ 2 f tp ρ m um2
⎜ ⎟ = (2-52)
⎝ dl ⎠ F gc D

f tp
ρ m = ρ l λl + ρ g λ g f tp = f n (2-53,54)
fn
The no slip friction factor fn is based on smooth pipe (ε/D =0) and the
Reynolds number,

ρ m um D1488
N Re m = where μ m = μ l λl + μ g λ g (2-55,56)
μm
ftp the two phase friction factor is

f tp = f n e S (2-57)
where

ln( x )
S=
(
− 0.0523 + 3.182 ln( x ) − 0.8725[ln( x )] + 0.01853[ln( x )]
2 4
) (2-58)

and
λl
x= (2-59)
y l2

Since S is unbounded in the interval 1 < x < 1.2, for this interval

S = ln(2.2 x − 1.2) (2-60)

Using Beggs & Brill
qo = 2000 bpd qg = 1 mmcfpd Temp = 175 oF
μo = 2 cp μg = .0131 Pipe = 2.5”
ρo = 49.9 lb/ft3 ρg = 2.6 lb/ft3 Pressure = 800 psi

First find the flow regime, calculate NFR, λl, L1, L2, L3, and L4.

NFR = 18.4, λl = .35, L1=230, L2=.0124, L3= .456, L4= 590.

So .01 < λl < .4 and L3 < NFR < L1 so flow is intermittent.

Using the table to get a, b and c:

aλbl .845 * .350.5351

yl 0 = c
= = 0.454
N FR 29.60.0173
Find C and ψ, d, e, f and g from table:

C = (1 − λl ) ln (dλel N vlf N FR
g
) = (1 − .35) ln(2.96 * .350.305 * 10.28−0.4473 * 29.60.0978 ) = 0.0351
ψ = 1 + C [sin(1.8θ ) − .333 sin 3 (1.8θ )] = 1 + .0351[sin(1.8θ ) − .333 sin 3 (1.8θ )] = 1.01

Find yl
y l = y l 0ψ = .454 * 1.01 = .459

The in-situ average density is

_
ρ = y l ρ l + y g ρ g = .459 * 49.9 + (1 − .459) * 2.6 = 24.29lb / ft 3
Potential gradient is
_
⎛ dp ⎞ g ρ sin θ 24.29 * 1
⎜ ⎟ = = = .169 psi / ft
⎝ dl ⎠ PE g c 144 144

For friction gradient

First find the mixture density and viscosity

ρ m = ρ l λl + ρ g λ g = 49.9 * .35 + 2.6 * .65 = 19.1lb / ft 3

μ m = μ l λl + μ g λ g = 2 * .35 + .0131 * .65 = .709cp
The Reynolds Number

ρ m um D1488 19.1 * 13.39 * .203 * 1488

N Re m = = = 109184
μm .709

From Moody plot fn is .0045, solve for S

λl .35
x= 2
= = 1.66
y l .459

ln( x )
S=
(
− 0.0523 + 3.182 ln( x ) − 0.8725[ln( x )] + 0.01853[ln( x )]
2 4
)
ln(1.66)
S= = .379
(
− 0.0523 + 3.182 ln(1.66) − 0.8725[ln(1.66)] + 0.01853[ln(1.66)]
2 4
)
Solve for ftp

f tp = f n e S = .0045e .379 = .0066

Find the friction gradient

⎛ dp ⎞ 2 f tp ρ m um2 2 * .0066 * 19.1 * 10.94 2

⎜ ⎟ = = = 4.62lb / ft 3 = .032 psi / ft
⎝ dl ⎠ F gc D 32.17 * .203
1)Using the Beggs and Brill method find the length of pipe between the
points at 1000psi and 500 psi with the following data. Both vertical and
horizontal cases.

d = 1.995” γg = .65 oil 22o API qo = 400 stb/day

qw = 600 bpd μg = .013 cp σo = 30 dynes/cm σw = 70 dynes/cm
GLR = 500 scf/stb

@ average conditions
βο = 1.063 Rs = 92 scf/stb μo = 17 cp μw = .63
z = .91
Pipe Fittings in Horizontal flow

To find the pressure drop through pipe fitting such as elbows, tees and
valves an equivalent length is add to the flow line. This will account for the
additional turbulence and secondary flows which cause the additional
pressure drop.

These equivalent lengths have been determined experimentally for the most
of the fittings. These are found in the following tables. They are given in
pipe diameters, which are in feet.

So to find the equivalent length for a 45o elbow in 2 inch pipe, find the
equivalent length for the elbow in the table, 16, and multiply it by .166 feet,
which gives 2.66 feet. This is added to the length of the flow line, the
pressure drop for the system is then calculated using one of the methods for
horizontal flow.