Chapter 3 Flow

in Tubing and
Flow Lines
Dr Abdul Rahim Risal
Topic outcomes

• Understand the outflow performance of the production system.

• Understand the basic energy equations and concepts.
• Able to utilize pressure gradient equations for single-phase and 2-phase flow in a pipeline to estimate the
pressure drop.
• Able to relate the pressure drop to the vertical lift performance of a producing well.
• Able to identify the factor affecting the vertical lift performance.

3
Production system

4
Outflow performance
• The outflow performance can be defined as the flow from the wellbore to the separator.
• Outflow performance depends on the pressure losses across the completion.
• Based on the theory of nodal analysis assuming that the node selected is the bottom hole, the solution of
Pwf is the same for inflow and outflow.
• From an outflow point of view, the node pressure can be calculated by:

Psep + ∆Pfl + ∆P choke + ∆P tubing + ∆Psssv + ∆Prst = Pwf

• All these pressure drops are functions of producing rate.

5
Outflow performance
• In the case of single phase fluid, the pressure drop can be calculated easily.
• But rarely the case of single phase fluid is encounter.
• Most of the producing oil well operates under multiphase conditions.
• The presence of liquid and gas complicates the pressure loss calculations.
• As the average pressure across the system changes, the phase in the fluid changes.
• The changes inclusive of fluid density, velocity, phase volume, and fluid properties.
• Pressure losses in wells and pipelines for multiphase fluid flow can be roughly estimated using the
pressure traverse curve.

6
Outflow performance
• Pressure losses is always represented by pressure gradient and can be calculated if all the energy changes
that take place in the fluids can be predicted.
• General energy equation

mV12 mgZ1 mV 2
2 mgZ2
U1 + p1 V1 + + + q + Ws′ = U2 + p1 V2 + +
2g c gc 2g c gc

U = internal energy
pV = energy expansion or compression
mV2
= kinetic energy
2gc
mgZ1
= potential energy
gc
q = heat energy added to fluid
Ws′ = work done on the fluid by the surroundings

7
Pressure gradient equation
• Energy equation can be simplified to pressure gradient equation

dP g fρv 2 ρvdv
= ρsinθ + +
dL g c 2g c d g c dL

• This pressure drop equation is applicable for both single phase fluid and multiphase fluid.
• Generally, the equation consists of 3 components

dP dP dP dP
= + +
dL dL el
dL f
dL acc
dP
=component due to the potential energy or elevation change.
dL el
dP
= component due to friction losses.
dL f
dP
= component due to kinetic energy change.
dL acc

8
Single phase flow equation
dP g f𝜌v 2 ρvdv
= ρsinθ + +
dL g c 2g c d g c dL

• The elevation change or hydrostatic component is zero for horizontal flow and it applies for compressible,
incompressible, steady-state, or transient flow.
• The friction loss component applies for any type of flow at any pipe angle. It always causes pressure drop
in the direction. For laminar flow, friction losses is linearly proportional to the fluid velocity while for
turbulent flow friction losses is proportional to Vn where 1.7 ≤ n ≤ 2.
• The kinetic energy change or acceleration component is zero for constant area, incompressible flow.
• For a vertical well, single-phase liquid flow, the only component exists is the friction loss component.

9
2-phase flow equation
dP g fρm vm2 ρm vm dv
= 𝜌 sinθ + +
dL g c 𝑚 2g c d g c dL

• Introduction of second phase complicates the analysis of pressure gradient.

• The pressure gradient increase is increased for the same mass flow rate.
• The fluids may separate because of differences in densities and flow velocities.
• Before modifying the pressure gradient equation certain variables unique to 2-phase gas-liquid mixture
must be defined

10
2-phase flow equation

11
Variables for 2-phase flow
• Slip liquid hold-up
• No-slip liquid hold-up
• Slip/no-slip Density
• Velocity

12
Variables for 2-phase flow
• Slip liquid hold-up is defined as the fraction of an element of pipe that is occupied by liquid at some instant

volume of liquid in a pipe

HL =
volume of the pipe

• It is necessary to be able to determine the liquid hold-up to calculate mixture density, gas- liquid velocity,
and effective mixture viscosity.
• Assuming the length of pipe is constant

AL
HL =
AP

With : AL = area occupied by liquid, AP = cross-sectional area of pipe

Hg = 1 − HL

13
Variables for 2-phase flow
• No-slip liquid hold-up is defined as the ratio of the volume of liquid in a pipe element (that would exist if the
gas and liquid traveled at the same velocity) and the volume of the pipe element.

qL
λL =
qL + qg

qL = sum of oil and water rate

qg = gas rate

• It is necessary to be able to determine the liquid hold-up to calculate mixture density, gas- liquid velocity,
and effective mixture viscosity.
• No-slip gas hold-up

λg = 1 − λL

14
Variables for 2-phase flow
• Density of gas-liquid mixture can be calculated as follows

ρm−s = ρL HL + ρg Hg

ρm−ns = ρL λL + ρg λg

ρL λ2L ρg λ2g
ρk = +
HL Hg

• Which equation to be applied is depending on the assumption of the flow.

15
Variables for 2-phase flow
• The viscosity of the flowing fluid is used in determining the Reynolds number in the process to determine
the friction factor.
• Following are the equations used to determine the viscosity of the mixture.

μm−s = μL HL + μg Hg

μm−ns = μL λL + μg λg

μL = μo fo + μw fw

• However, these equations are not valid if oi/water emulsion is formed

16
Variables for 2-phase flow
• Many 2-phase flow correlations are based on a variable called superficial velocity.
• Superficial velocity of a fluid phase is defined as the velocity of fluid phase would exhibit if it flowed
through the total cross-sectional area of the pipe.
• Superficial velocity of the gas

qg
vsg =
A

• The actual area of the pipe occupied by the gas is AHg, therefore the actual gas velocity

qg
vg =
AHg

17
Variables for 2-phase flow
• Similarly for liquid

qL
vsL =
A

qL
vL =
AHL

• Since HL and Hg is less than 1, the actual velocity is always greater than the superficial velocity.
• Mixture velocity is calculated based on the total in-situ flow rate from the equation.

qL + qg
vm = = vsL + vsg
A

18
Variables for 2-phase flow
• As been stated before the gas and liquid may travel at different velocity. This occurrence is known as slip.
• Accounting for the slippage effect, slip velocity can be calculated as difference between the actual gas
velocity and actual liquid velocity.

Vsg vsL
vs = vg − vL == −
Hg HL

19
Tubing friction component
• Important in predicting the pressure distribution in the tubing
• Depending on
1. Fluid characteristic (Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluid velocity)
2. Fluid flow conditions (velocity, laminar or turbulent flow)
3. Tubing properties (diameter and roughness)

20
Reynold number
• Friction factor is a function of Reynold’s number.
• Reynold’s number is a function of fluid density, velocity, pipe diameter, and fluid viscosity.
• Reynold number for a single-phase liquid can be determined using the following
equation

ρvd
NRe = 1488
μ

lb
ρ=
ft 3
ft
v=
s
d = ft
μ = cP

• For a multiphase fluid, a modification is made to account for mixture properties

21
Flow regime
• Reynold number determines the flow regime
• Re < 2000: Laminar flow
• Re = 2100: turbulent flow first apparent
• 2100 < Re < 3500 : transition flow
• Re > 3500 : turbulent flow

22
Velocity profile
Laminar flow: individual fluid component moving only in flow direction with fluid
movement across the pipe
Turbulent flow: rapidly fluctuating flow velocity components in random direction Newtonian
fluid: viscosity independent of shear rate
Non-Newtonian:
1. Viscosity shear rate dependent
2. Apparent viscosity decreases as shear rate increases
3. Very different velocity profiles across the tubing

23
Friction factor
• Friction factor can be determined after Reynold’s number is known.
• Commonly friction factor is determined through Moody chart when Reynold number, pipe diameter, and pipe
roughness are given.
• For a laminar flow :
64
f=
NRe

• For turbulent flow, Moody chart and several correlation can be used
1. Blasius correlation: RE < 100,000 and smooth pipe
2. Nikuradse’s correlation: Fully rough wall pipe
3. Drew, Koo, and Mc Adams correlation: 3000 < RE < 3000000, smooth pipe
4. Colebrook and White correlation: implicit solution (iterative)
5. Jain’s correlation: relative roughness between 10−6 to 10−2, 5000 < RE< 500 mil (1%
error), low RE as low as 2000 error 3%

1 e 21.25
= 1.14 − 2 log + 0.9
f D NRe

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Modification for 2-phase flow equation
• Elevation change component

dP g
= ρm sinθ
dL g c

• Friction component

dP fρm vm 2
=
dL 2g c d

ρm = mixture density (slip/no-slip)

vm = mixture velocity (slip/no-slip)

25
Example 1
If liquid and gas flow rate equal to 1 cuft/s in 5-in pipe with liquid hold-up of 53%, calculate liquid and gas no slip
hold-up and slip velocity

26
Example 2
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝑞𝐿 = 0.2
𝑠
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝑞𝑔 = 0.4
𝑠
𝑙𝑏
𝜌𝐿 = 60.4
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝑙𝑏
𝜌𝑔 = 1.2
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝜇𝐿 = 2.2 𝑐𝑃
𝜇𝑔 = 0.012 𝑐𝑃

If 30% of 4.0 in pipe volume occupied by the liquid, calculate

a) Phases superficial velocity
b) Mixture density
c) Mixture viscosity
d) Mixture velocity

27
Example 3
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝑞𝐿 = 0.1
𝑠
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝑞𝑔 = 0.2
𝑠
𝑙𝑏
𝜌𝐿 = 62.4
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝑙𝑏
𝜌𝑔 = 1.5
𝑐𝑢𝑓𝑡
𝜇𝐿 = 1.0 𝑐𝑃
𝜇𝑔 = 0.015 𝑐𝑃
D = 1.5 in
ℯ= 0.00006 ft
Liquid hold-up = 0.45
a) Calculate slip and no-slip properties
b) Gravitational and frictional pressure gradient for slip and no slip

28
Modification for 2-phase flow equation
• The friction component is not analytically predictable except for the case of laminar, single-phase flow.
• In general, the 2-phase friction factor methods differ only in the way the friction factor is determined majorly
depending on the flow pattern.
• For example, in the mist flow pattern, an equation base on gas is used, whereas, for a bubble flow pattern,
an equation base on liquid is used.
• For some flow patterns the acceleration component is completely ignored.

29
2-phase flow pattern
• Whenever 2 fluids with different physical properties flow simultaneously
in the pipe, there is a wide range of possible flow patterns.
• Flow patterns can be defined as the distribution of each phase in the pipe relative to the other phase.
• The flow pattern was found to be dependent on the relative magnitude of superficial velocities.
• With known superficial velocities, flow patterns can be estimated.

30
2-phase flow pattern

31
2-phase flow pattern
• Whenever 2 fluids with different physical properties flow simultaneously
in the pipe, there is a wide range of possible flow patterns.
• Flow patterns can be defined as the distribution of each phase in the pipe relative to the other phase.
• The flow pattern was found to be dependent on the relative magnitude of superficial velocities.
• With known superficial velocities, flow patterns can be estimated.

32
2-phase flow pattern
• When oil travel in a vertical pipe (well), pressure will
decrease along the flow
• As pressure is reduced to below bubble point pressure, gas
bubbles started to appear causing the fluid mixture velocity
to increase and average fluid density will decrease. Tiny
bubbles are widely dispersed in the liquid

• As pressure is further reduced more gas bubbles are formed and this is the bubble flow regime. The gas bubbles flow rate
is higher than liquid slip occurs and liquid hold-up increases
• Further upward flow increases the gas phase volume at the expense of liquid volume. Gas bubbles started to coalesce and
fill the entire tubing cross section and form a slug. This is the slug flow regime. Efficient mechanism to lift liquid to the
surface (minimized slip).
• Further gas volume increase cause increased velocity and gas expansion, the large gas slug is breaking up into wider gas
bubbles size. This is churn flow/froth flow: highly turbulent flow patterns dispersed in one another.
• Continuous gas liberation and expansion cause phase separation where gas occupies the center part and liquid on the
tubing wall (pipe friction). This is an annular flow regime.
• Higher gas velocity destroys the liquid annular ring on the tubing wall and disperse liquid in small droplets of mist. This
is a mist flow regime.

33
Flow pattern for horizontal flow

34
2-phase pressure drop correlation

35
2-phase pressure drop correlation

36
2-phase pressure drop correlation

37
2-phase pressure drop correlation

38
2-phase pressure drop correlation

39
Assignment 1
Given
q o = 4000 BOPD q w = 200 BWPD
q g = 0.3 cuft/s
Oil API = 30°
Gas density = 1.8 lb/cuft
Water S.G = 1.25
μL = 2.5 cP
μg = 0.014 cP
R = 32.2 ft/s2
Tubing ID = 4.5 in vertical tubing
ℯ = 0.000045 ft
Liquid hold-up = 60%

Calculate the pressure gradient for slip and no-slip for

a) Gravitational
b) Frictional

40
Vertical well performance
• Defined as flow characteristics in a tubing (pressure-rate relationship) as fluid flow
from bottom hole to the surface.
• Directly affected by
1. Tubing size and depth
2. GLR
3. Water production
4. Separator pressure
5. Surface flowline size and length
6. Fluid properties (density, viscosity)
7. Production problem (scaling, sand, and paraffin)
• Also known as tubing performance (outflow), wellbore flow performance

41
Vertical well performance
• Parameters contributed to pressure at the bottom hole:
1. Back pressure at wellhead.
2. Hydrostatic pressure between wellbore and wellhead and a function of:
▪ Elevation between wellhead and wellbore
▪ Average fluid density in the tubing
▪ Gravity acceleration
3. Pressure loss/ friction losses due to viscous drag depending on:
▪ Flow rate
▪ Flow regime
▪ Fluid properties
▪ Depth
▪ Diameter
▪ Tubing roughness
• Important: conservation of mass and momentum for pressure change calculation and conservation of mass
and energy for enthalpy and temperature calculation.

42
Vertical well performance
• As much as 80% of pressure loss in a vertical flowing well.
• Pressure loss/pressure drop is a function of
1. Wellbore mechanical configuration
2. Fluid properties
3. Production rate
• For a flowing well, the pressure drop is often determined through a pressure traverse
curve at specific conditions (q, GLR, and tubing size).
• Typically, wellhead pressure (Pwh) is fixed and Pwf is calculated by determining
the pressure drop.
• Pwf is calculated for various q. Plot Pwf and q: (VLP curve).

43
Vertical well performance
• Single phase liquid flow (e.g water injection well).

dP g fρv 2 ρvdv
= ρsinθ + +
dL g c 2g c d g c dL

• All fluid properties are only for single phase fluid properties.
• Multiphase flow: pressure calculation depend on predicted flow pattern (bubble, slug, transition, or mist):
iterative method.
• Many researchers have proposed method to estimate pressure drop among those are using pressure traverse
curve.
• Pressure-traverse curves for particular tubing diameter, production rate, and fluid properties (mixture).

dP g fρm vm2 ρm vm dv
= 𝜌 sinθ + +
dL g c 𝑚 2g c d g c dL

44
Component of flowline pressure loss for various fluids
1. For single incompressible liquid production
• Dense liquid, hydrostatic head component large and constant
• Friction component increases rapidly, once turbulent achieved
2. For gas well
• Hydrostatic head much smaller but increases with depth and rate since gas density dependent on pressure
• Frictional pressure losses most important component
• Turbulent flow encountered even at a very low rates
3. For multiphase (gas/liquid) production
• Variation of friction and hydrostatic pressure losses is very complicated depending on exact conditions.

45
Tubing pressure traverse
1. For single incompressible liquid
• Fluid density and friction loss per length is constant
• Hydrostatic and friction head is straight line
2. For gas well
• Gas density increased with depth
• Hydrostatic head increased with depth
• Gas velocity greatest at shallow depth
• Friction pressure/hydrostatic head per unit length increases as depth decreases
• Friction component importance less at greater depth
• Pressure traverse approximating straight line
• Restriction lead to high pressure losses due to large increase in fluid velocity
3. For multiphase flow
• Hydrostatic head varies at higher end due to the presence of liquid and gas.

46
Estimating vertical lift performance – Gilbert method
• Based on field data of practical use (multiphase flow)
• Pressure traverse curve (pressure distribution curve) is a function of GLR, tubing size ,and q.
• The curve can be used to:
1. Optimum tubing size selection
2. Well dead prediction (well life)
3. Well artificial lift prediction, planning, design, and evaluation.
4. Well stimulation planning and evaluation
5. Pwf determination
6. PI determination
7. q optimum determination at a given production condition.

47
Example of pressure traverse curve

48
VLP using pressure traverse curve

49
Pwf determination
1. From THP data, and suitable pressure distribution curve, determine THP equivalent depth (THP eq depth).
2. Determining tubing or Pwf equivalent depth.

Pwf eq depth = tubing depth + THP eq depth

3. With the same pressure distribution curve and tubing equivalent depth, determine Pwf.

THP determination

1. From Pwf data and suitable pressure distribution curve, determine Pwf eq depth.
2. Determine THP eq depth

Tubing eq depth = Pwf eq depth – tubing depth

3. With the same pressure distribution curve and tubing equivalent depth, determine THP.

50
Vertical lift performance curve – Method 1

• Pwf vs q: VLP curve

• Procedure:
1. Assume various q
2. From THP data at the relevant pressure distribution curve, determine THP eq depth for all q.
3. Calculate Pwf eq depth for all q
THP eq. depth + Tubing depth = Pwf eq. depth
4. From the relevant pressure distribution curve, determine Pwf for all q
5. Plot Pwf vs q

51
Vertical lift performance curve – Method 2

• THP vs q: VLP curve

• Procedure
1. Assume various q
2. From plotted IPR or calculation, determine Pwf for various q
3. From Pwf at various q and relevant distribution curve, determine tubing or Pwf eq depth
for all q
4. Calculate THP equivalent depth for all q
THP eq depth = Pwf eq depth – tubing depth
5. From relevant pressure distribution curve, determine THP for all q
6. Plot THP vs q

52
Example 4
Well depth = 5200 ft
Ps = 1850 psig
2 3/8” tubing setting depth = 5000 ft Oil rate = 250
BPD at Pwf = 1387 psig GLR = 0.4 MSCF/bbl
PI = constant
If the tubing used is corroded and need to be replaced with available tubing of 1.9” and 3.5”,
which tubing should be used for maximum flow rate at tubing head pressure 170 psig.

53
Optimum tubing size selection
1. Plot IPR (present and/or future).
2. Plot VLP at tubing size
3. Repeat step 3 for various tubing size
4. Intersection between IPR and VLP corresponds to optimum q for the particular tubing size
5. Selection tubing size at highest optimum q: optimum tubing size at given production condition.

54
Well producibility
1. Plot IPR (present and/or future).
2. Plot VLP at tubing size
3. Repeat step 3 for various tubing size
4. Intersection between IPR and VLP corresponds to optimum q for the particular tubing size
5. Selection tubing size at highest optimum q: optimum tubing size at given production condition.

55
Well life determination
1. Plot IPR (present and future)
2. Plot VLP at given production condition
3. Plot IPR which just touch at only one point of VLP curve: well life

56
Required Pwf determination
1. Plot IPR curve at given production condition
2. From the given tubing size, GLR, and THP, plot the VLP curve
3. Intersection between IPR and VLP curve: Pwf required for certain q

57
Example 5
Payzone depth = 5000-5200 ft
Tubing ID = 2.875” Ps = 2000 psig
Tubing depth = 5000 ft PI = 0.3 BPD/psig
GOR = 300 scf/bbl Water cut = 10%

Determine the optimum q at THP = 100 psig using method 1 and 2.

58
Example 6

Determine Pwf if; Tubing depth = 13 000 ft

Tubing ID = 2.375”
q = 100 BPD
GLR = 1.0 MSCF/bbl
THP = 200 psig

59
Assignment 2

Determine when the following well will be dead if;

Production interval = 5000 – 5040 ft
Tubing ID = 2.875”
Tubing depth = 5000 ft
PI = 0.5 BPD/psi
GLR = 300 scf/bbl
Ps = 1400 psig
THP = 100 psig

60
Effects of variables on well performance

• Ignoring the acceleration term (fluid expansion negligible) the pressure drop equation for
multiphase flow is reduced to only 2 terms, the hydrostatic component and friction component.

dP g fρm vm2
= 𝜌𝑚 sinθ +
dL g c 2g c d

• For a vertical well where sin 90° = 1, the ratio of gravity acceleration = 1, and mixture velocity is
represented by mixture flow rate the equation reduced to

2
dP Cfρm qL + qg
= ρL HL + ρg 1 − HL +
dL d5

61
Effects of variables on well performance

• Ignoring the acceleration term (fluid expansion negligible) the pressure drop equation for
multiphase flow is reduced to only 2 terms, the hydrostatic component and friction component.

dP g fρm vm2
= 𝜌𝑚 sinθ +
dL g c 2g c d

• For a vertical well where sin 90° = 1, the ratio of gravity acceleration = 1, and mixture velocity is
represented by mixture flow rate the equation reduced to

2
dP Cfρm qL + qg
= ρL HL + ρg 1 − HL +
dL d5

62
Effects of variables on well performance

• Liquid flow rate : increasing q will increase liquid

hold-up and fluid velocity causing in increase of
both hydrostatic and friction terms. This effect
can be seen in following chart where other
variables are kept constant except for q.

63
Effects of variables on well performance

• Gas/ liquid ratio: GLR has more effect on the 2-

phase flowing pressure gradient. In a depletion
type of field, GLR will usually increase with time
until the late life of the reservoir. GLR only
increases if the water-cut increase. GLR affect the
hydrostatic term as liquid hold-up decrease as
GLR increase and the friction term as the total
flow rate increase.

64
Effects of variables on well performance

• Gas/ liquid ratio: GLR has more effect on the 2-

phase flowing pressure gradient. In a depletion
type of field, GLR will usually increase with time
until the late life of the reservoir. GLR only
increases if the water-cut increase. GLR affect the
hydrostatic term as liquid hold-up decrease as
GLR increase and the friction term as the total
flow rate increase.

65
Effects of variables on well performance

Water-cut/water fractional flow: total pressure

gradient will increase as water- cut increase as
a result of increasing density due to water
heavier than oil as well as decreasing GLR.
ρL = ρo 1 − f w + ρ w f w
GLR = GOR 1 − fw
ρL = liquid density
ρo = oil density
ρ w = water density

66
Effects of variables on well performance

Liquid viscosity: will affect the liquid hold-up to

some degree and increase the shearing stresses in
the liquid hence, the friction pressure drop.

67
Effects of variables on well performance

Tubing diameter and slippage: as d increase, friction

pressure gradient will decrease until to a point
where the velocity of the mixture decreases to an
extent where the velocity is too low to lift the liquid
to the surface. The well will then to load up with
liquids and eventually die.

68
THANK YOU

In the Name of God for Mankind

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