Applying CFD in the Analysis of Heavy-Oil Transportation in Curved Pipes Using Core-Flow Technique
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21152/1750-9548.11.2.169Abstract
Multiphase flow of oil, gas and water occurs in the petroleum industry from the reservoir to the processing units. The occurrence of heavy oils in the world is increasing significantly and points to the need for greater investment in the reservoirs exploitation and, consequently, to the development of new technologies for the production and transport of this oil. Therefore, it is interesting improve techniques to ensure an increase in energy efficiency in the transport of this oil. The core-flow technique is one of the most advantageous methods of lifting and transporting of oil. The core-flow technique does not alter the oil viscosity, but change the flow pattern and thus, reducing friction during heavy oil transportation. This flow pattern is characterized by a fine water pellicle that is formed close to the inner wall of the pipe, aging as lubricant of the oil flowing in the core of the pipe. In this sense, the objective of this paper is to study the isothermal flow of heavy oil in curved pipelines, employing the core-flow technique. A three-dimensional, transient and isothermal mathematical model that considers the mixture and k-e turbulence models to address the gas-water-heavy oil three-phase flow in the pipe was applied for analysis. Simulations with different flow patterns of the involved phases (oil-gas-water) have been done, in order to optimize the transport of heavy oils. Results of pressure and volumetric fraction distribution of the involved phases are presented and analyzed. It was verified that the oil core lubricated by a fine water layer flowing in the pipe considerably decreases pressure drop.
References
Trevisan, F. E. Flow Patterns and Pressure Drop in Horizontal Three-Phase Flow of Heavy Oil, Water and Air, Petroleum Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 2003. (In Portuguese). https://doi.org/10.1615/ihtc13.p12.520
Silva, R.C.R. Variations in Wettability of Internal Surfaces of Pipes Used in the Transport of Heavy Oils Via Core-flow. Master's Dissertation Petroleum Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil, 2003. (In Portuguese).
Russel, T.W.F.; Hodgson, G.W.; Govier, G.W. (1959) Horizontal Pipeline Flow of Mixtures of Oil and Water, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering. 37(1), p. 9-17. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.5450370104
Obregón, V.; Rosa, M. Hydrodynamics of the Heavy Oil-Water Two-phase Flow in Horizontal Tube. Master´s Dissertation, Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil, 2000. (In Portuguese)
Bensakhria, A.; Peysson, Y.; Antonini, G. (2004) Experimental Study of the Pipeline Lubrication for Heavy Oil Transport. Oil & Gas Science and Technology, 59(5), p.523-533. https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst:2004037
Ghosh, S.; Mandal, T. K.; Das, G.; Das, P. K. (2009) Review of Oil Water Core Annular Flow. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13(8), p.1957 – 1965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2008.09.034
Wegmann, A.; Melke, J.; Rohr, P. R. (2007) Three-phase Liquid–Liquid–Gas Flows in 5.6 mm and 7 mm Inner Diameter Pipes. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 33(5), p.484-497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2006.10.004
Poesio, P.; Sotgia, G.; Strazza, D. (2009)Experimental Investigation of Three-Phase Oil-Water-Air Flow Through a Pipeline. Multiphase Science and Technology, 21(1-2), p. 107-122. https://doi.org/10.1615/multscientechn.v21.i1-2.90
Wang, L.-Y.; Wu, Y.-X.; Zheng, Z.-C.; Guo, J.; Zhang, J.; Tang, C. (2008) OilWater Two-Phase Flow Inside T-Junction. Journal of Hydrodynamics, 20(2), p. 147-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1001-6058(08)60040-2
Andrade, T. H. F.; Silva, F. N.; Farias Neto, S. R.; Lima, A. G. B. (2013) Applying CFD in the Analysis of Heavy oil - Water Two-phase Flow in Joints by Using Core Annular Flow Technique. The International Journal of Multiphysics, 7, p.137 - 152. https://doi.org/10.1260/1750-9548.7.2.137
Andrade, T. H. F.; Silva, F. N.; Farias Neto, S. R.; Lima, A. G. B.; SILVA, C. J.; Lima, W. M. P. B.(2014) Operation Control of Fluids Pumping in Curved Pipes During Annular Flow: A Numerical Evaluation. The International Journal of Multiphysics. 8, p.271-284. https://doi.org/10.1260/1750-9548.8.3.271
Andrade, T. H. F.; Crivelaro, K. C. O.; Farias Neto, S. R.; Lima, A. G. B. (2013) Isothermal and Non-isothermal Water and Oil Two-phase Flow (Core-flow) in Curved Pipes. The International Journal of Multiphysics. 7, p.167-182. https://doi.org/10.1260/1750-9548.7.3.167
Andrade, T. H. F., Crivelaro, K. C. O., Farias Neto, S. R.; Lima, A. G. B. Numerical Study of Heavy Oil Flow on Horizontal Pipe Lubricated by Water. In: Materials with Complex Behaviour II: Properties, Non-Classical Materials and New Technologies. Series: Advanced Structured Materials.1 ed. Heidelberg (Germany): Springer-Verlag, 2012, v.16, p. 99-118. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22700-4_6
Crivelaro, K. C. O.; Damacena, Y. T.; Andrade, T. H. F.; Lima, A. G. B.; Farias Neto, S. R. (2009) Numerical Simulation of Heavy Oil Flows in Pipes Using The Core-Annular Flow Technique. WIT Transactions on Engineering Sciences (Online). 63, p.193 - 203. https://doi.org/10.2495/mpf090171
Brauner, N. (1991) Two-Phase Liquid-Liquid Annular Flow, International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 17(1), p. 59-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-9322(91)90070-j
Vanegas, P. J. W. Experimental Study of the Core-Flow in Ultra-viscous Oils Elevation - (Master´s Dissertation), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, Campian, Brazil, 1998. (In Portuguese).
Bannwart, A. C. (2001) Modeling Aspects of Oil-Water Core-annular-flows. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 32(2), p.127-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0920-4105(01)00155-3
Sattarin, M.; Modarresi, H.; Bayat, M.; Teymori, M. (2007) New viscosity correlations for dead crude oils. Petroleum & Coal. 49(2), p. 33-39.
Andrade, T. H. F. Ultra-viscous Heavy-oil Transportation via Core-Flow: Geometrical e Thermo Fluid Dynamic Aspects. PhD Thesis (Process Engineering), Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande, Brazil, 2013. (In Portuguese). https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.17.11.06.p569
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2017 S Conceição, A De Lima, T Andrade, S Neto, V Oliveira, K Angelim, L Rocha
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
