Scaling Laws for Multiphase Flow in Pipelines and Wellbores

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Canadian oil and gas reserves are of critical, economic and strategic importance to Canada’s future. The hydrocarbon reserves of unconventional offshore and Arctic regions are abundant, while many other global traditional hydrocarbon reserves have been depleted. From a strategic standpoint, it is important that Canada is capable of low-energy intensive extraction, transportation and use of a limited resource. Current multiphase pipeline/wellbore designs are limited in their ability to meet the targeted transport demand for future supplies. Better understanding of the performance and scaling of multiphase fluid dynamics in a pipe/wellbore will help optimize the design conditions. The proposed scaling study will serve as a valuable tool in multiphase pipeline/wellbore design and in the development of future generation pipeline transport processes. The objective of this research program is to develop a better understanding of the mechanics of three-phase gas-liquid-solid flows and to develop scaling laws for flow pattern, pressure gradient and volume fraction estimation for three-phase flows in a pipe/wellbore. This will be achieved by detailed experimental investigations and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations using CFX/FLUENT. The primary research challenge to be addressed is how multiphase fluid flow patterns and fluid properties – such as viscosity, surface tension, turbulence, bubbles, droplets, solid particles and heat transfer – affect multiphase scaling laws. Two sets of laboratory flow loops and field data will be used to better understand the scaling relationships. The developed scaling law will also be tested with the newly proposed multiphase pressure drop and volume fraction correlation. The outcome of this research will provide a comprehensive means of improving the design conditions of multiphase flows through a pipeline/wellbore in the offshore or subsea oil and gas industry and mitigating flow assurance challenges in harsh environments. Improving the efficiency of the multiphase pipeline transport process will reduce the impact of flow assurance problems in subsea oil and gas production and processing facilities. The knowledge base developed in this program will be significant in making improvements to oil and gas transport and it will also be of value to a wide range of other applications.