Dr.

MOHAMMED ABDUL AMEER ALHUMAIRI

UNIVERSITY of MISAN
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING – PETROLEUM DEPARTMENT

Multi – Phase Flow Through Pipes

e- mail
dr.alhumairi@uomisan.edu.iq
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 MULTIPHASE FLOW INTRODUCTION
What is multi-phase flows?
Multi -phase is simply any fluid flow system consisting of :
 Two or more distinct phases flowing in mixture.
 Have some level of phase separation at a scale well above the molecular level.

Classification of MULTI-PHASE flows

Multi-phase flow regimes can be grouped into four categories:
1- Gas – Liquid or Liquid –Liquid flows
2- Gas – Solid flows.
3- Liquid – Solids flows.
4- Three – Phases flows.
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 MULTIPHASE FLOW INTRODUCTION
CLASSIFICATION of MULTI- PHASE : GAS – LIQUID or LIQUID – LIQUID FLOWS.

The sequence shown in figure is that which would normally be seen as the ratio of gas to
liquid flow rates is increased.

Bubbly Flow: In the bubbly regime there is a gas phase

distribution of bubbles of various sizes throughout the
liquid.
Slug Flow: the gas flow rate is increased to the point
when many bubbles accumulate to produce slugs of
gas.
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 MULTIPHASE FLOW INTRODUCTION

Churn Flow: the larger gas bubbles become unstable and collapse, resulting in a highly
turbulent flow pattern with both phase dispersed
Annular Flow: Further increase in the gas flow rate causes a degree of separation of
the phases, the liquid flowing mainly on the wall of the tube and the gas in the core

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 MULTIPHASE FLOW INTRODUCTION
Single-Phase Liquid Flow
Single-phase liquid flow exists in an oil well only when the
wellhead pressure is above the bubble-point pressure of the oil,
which is usually not a reality. To start from single-phase liquid for
establishing the concept of fluid flow in oil wells where multiphase
flow usually dominates. Consider a fluid flowing from point 1 to
point 2 in a tubing string of length L and height z.
The first law of thermodynamics:

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 MULTIPHASE FLOW INTRODUCTION
∗
2 𝐿
𝑔 𝜌 2 ∗ ℱ 𝐹 ∗ 𝜌 ∗ 𝑢
∆𝑃 = 𝑃1 − 𝑃2 = 𝜌∆𝑧 + ∆𝑢2 +
𝑔𝑐 2𝑔𝑐 𝑔𝑐 ∗ 𝐷
Where:
ΔP=pressure drop, lbf/ft2
P1 = pressure at point 1, lbf/ft2
P2 = pressure at point 2, lbf/ft2
g =gravitational acceleration, 32.17 ft/s2
gc =unit conversion factor, 32.17 lbm-ft/lbf -s2
 =fluid density lbm/ft3
Δz = elevation increase, ft
u = fluid velocity, ft/s
fF = Fanning friction factor
L =tubing length, ft
D = tubing inner diameter,
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 MULTIPHASE FLOW INTRODUCTION
The first, second, and third term in the right-hand side of the equation represent
pressure drops due to changes in elevation, kinetic energy, and friction, respectively.
The Fanning friction factor ( ƒF ) can be evaluated based on Reynolds Number and
relative roughness. Reynolds Number (NRe) is defined as the ratio of inertial force to
viscous force.
The Reynolds number is expressed in consistent units as(For laminar flow where NRe < 2,000)(For
turbulent flow where NRe > 2,100):
1.48∗𝑞∗𝜌
𝑁𝑅𝑒 =
𝑑∗𝜇
where :
NRe =Reynolds number.
q =fluid flow rate, bbl/day.
 =fluid density lbm=ft3.
d = tubing inner diameter, in.
8 µ = fluid viscosity, cp. 12/27/2021
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ƒF=
𝑁𝑅𝑒

Where ƒF=Fanning friction factor

𝑓𝑀
ƒF=
4

Chen’s correlation
𝛿
𝜀=
𝑑
𝜀 =Relative roughness.
𝛿= absolute roughness