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Predicting pressure gradients in heavy oil—water pipelines
Author(s) -
McKibben Melissa J.,
Gillies Randall G.,
Shook Clifton A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450780418
Subject(s) - pressure gradient , pipeline transport , asphalt , petroleum engineering , flow (mathematics) , pressure drop , oil field , oil well , mechanics , environmental science , fraction (chemistry) , geology , materials science , chemistry , environmental engineering , chromatography , composite material , physics
Experimental investigations of the flow of water‐heavy oil mixtures at velocities typical of oil‐field gathering systems show that continuous water assisted flow at very low pressure gradients can be achieved. The principal criterion to be satisfied in establishing this desirable flow regime appears to be use of sufficient water, with the velocity also playing a role. It also appears that oil viscosity and water fraction effects on pressure gradient are small provided the beneficial flow regime is established. The flows resemble core‐annular flow, which has been observed previously in Bitumen froth and water‐heavy oil flows, with an oil layer on the pipe wall. However, the correlation for pressure gradient is somewhat different from that reported previously for Bitumen froth flows.