Experiments and Model Assessment on High-Viscosity Oil/Water Inclined Pipe Flows

Abstract

Abstract An experimental study has been conducted to investigate high-viscosity oil/water flow in inclined pipes. The pipe inside diameter (ID) is 50.8 mm and pipe inclination angles are −2°, 0°, 5° and 10° from horizontal. The fluids are a mineral oil with a viscosity range of 0.2 – 1.1 Pas corresponding to temperatures 60 –100 °F and filtered tap water. Tulsa city natural gas was used to pressurize the facility to 250 (+20) psig. Superficial oil velocity ranged from 0.1 to 1 m/s and superficial water velocity ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 m/s. Experimental measurements obtained are pressure gradient and water holdup. Pipe viscometer was used to obtain live oil viscosity measurements. Flow patterns were observed through a sapphire window and recorded with a high speed video system. The experimental measurements and observations are used to compare with mechanistic model predictions to identify the deficiencies in the models.