Vertical Multiphase Flow

Instructional Objectives
1. List the 3 components of pressure loss
for multiphase flow in vertical pipe.
2. Define liquid holdup.
3. Explain the shape of the tubing curve.
4. Select an appropriate correlation for an
oil or gas well.
5. Define and calculate the critical rate to
remove liquids.

Vertical Multiphase Flow

Pressure Loss in Inclined Pipe

After Brown, Technology of Artificial Lift Methods, Vol 4, p. 71

Pressure Loss Components

2
f m m vm

m vm dvm
dP
g

m sin

dZ tot g c
2gcd
g c dZ
Elevation
Friction
Acceleration

Liquid Holdup

Vg

VL

VL
HL
VL V g
m H L L 1 H L g

Tubing Curve
3500

Tubing Curve

Flowing bottomhole pressure, psi

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Production rate, STB/D

3500

4000

4500

Wellbore Correlations for Oil

Early Empirical Models
Developed primarily from data on high flow
rate wells
Assume equal gas and oil velocities
Modify Fanning friction factor to agree with
multiphase flow data
Poettman and Carpenter (1952)
Baxendell and Thomas (1961)
Fancher and Brown (1963)

Poettman and Carpenter

Published in 1952
Based on field data from 49 wells
34 flowing wells, 15 gas-lift wells
Tubing size: 2 3/8 and 2 7/8 OD
Total liquid rate: 300 - 800 STB/D
Gas-liquid ratio: 100 - 800 scf/STB

Baxendell and Thomas

Published in 1961
Extended P&C to higher flow rates
Based on data from light-oil test well in
Venezuela
Tubing size: 2 7/8 and 3 1/2 OD
Flow rates: 176 - 5082 STB/D
GOR: 750 scf/STB

Fancher and Brown

Published in 1963
Extended P&C to lower flow rates and
higher GLRs
Based on data from 8000 test well
producing mostly salt water
Tubing size: 2 3/8 OD
Total liquid rate: 75 - 936 bbl/D
Gas-liquid ratio: 105 - 9433 scf/bbl

Wellbore Correlations for Oil

Generalized Empirical Models
Based on dimensional analysis by Duns
and Ros

Duns and Ros (1963)

Hagedorn and Brown (1963)
Orkiszewski (1967)
Beggs and Brill (1973)
Mukherjee and Brill (1983)

Duns and Ros

Published in 1963
Identified 10 dimensionless groups
Selected 4 as important in multiphase
flow based on extensive experimental
data
Defined liquid holdup

Hagedorn and Brown

Published in 1963
Widely accepted throughout industry
Based on data from 1500 test well
Tubing size: 1, 1 1/4, and 1 1/2
nominal
Different liquids: water, oil: 10 - 110 cp

Orkiszewski
Published in 1967
Extension of previous work by Griffith
and Wallis
Based on data from 148 pressure
gradient surveys
Pressure gradient based on flow regime
Oil rate: 175 - 3166 STB/D
GOR: 185 - 6450 scf/STB

Beggs and Brill

Published in 1973
Based on experimental data from
inclined 90 long acrylic pipe
Pipe size: 1 and 1 1/2
Gas flow rate: 0-300 Mscf/D
Liquid flow rate: 30-1000 bbl/D
Inclination: 90, 85, 75, 55, 35, 20, 15, 10,
5, 0

Mukherjee and Brill

Published in 1983
Based on data from 1 1/2 ID inclined
pipe
Developed three separate correlations
Uphill and horizontal flow
Downhill stratified flow
Other downhill flow regimes

Wellbore Correlations for Oil

Mechanistic Models
Attempt to predict pressure drop by
incorporating all important variables and
rigorous description of physical
processes
MONA (1986)
Sylvester & Yao (1987)
Ansari (1987)

Wellbore Correlations
High GLR Gas Wells
Cullender and Smith (1956)
Dry gas only; not recommended
Fundamental Flow
Dry gas only
Fundamental Flow adj
Adjusts gas density for GLR > 50,000

Wellbore Correlations
Low GLR Gas Wells
Gray (1974)
Wet gases, gas condensates
Ros and Gray (1961)
Oil well correlations may also be useful
Duns and Ros (1963)
Hagedorn and Brown (1963)

Critical Rate To Lift Liquid

Most gas wells produce some liquids
Liquids may be
Vaporized in reservoir gas
Free liquid in reservoir
Liquids will accumulate if not lifted to surface
Accumulated liquids will reduce productivity
For a given set of conditions, there is a
minimum flow rate to lift liquids

Models for Liquid Transport

Continuous film model

Entrained drop model

Critical Velocity

v 1.912
t

1 4 L g

12

14

Critical Rate

3060 pvt A
qc
Tz