ASME/API/ISO Gas-Lift Workshop, February 10, 2004

Multiphase Technology-Past, Present and Future

byJim Brill

Professor EmeritusThe University of Tulsa

Topics

Historical Perspective of Multiphase Flow Technology

Technology DevelopmentWho Did It? (Sources)Why? When? (Acceptance)What’s Next? (Voids)How? (Current Dilemmas)

Historical Background

Empirical Period (1950-1975) Awakening Years (1970-1985) Modeling Era (1980-present)

Empirical Period (1950-1975)

Simplified conservation equations Homogeneous mixtures Mostly low pressure, air-water data Limited instrumentation and data

analysis capabilities Flow patterns - either not considered

or valid only for data set used Empirical liquid holdup and friction

factor correlations

Awakening Years (1970-1985)

Limited modeling before 1976 Began with incredible contributions

from Dukler, Taitel, and their students Significant contributions from

nuclear industry Opened doors for technology

developed over past 25 years Commercial, user-friendly, steady-

state flow software

Modeling Era (1980-Present)

Major contributors were vastly improved instrumentation, visualization, PCs, and data acquisition/processing/analysis

Mechanistic models with improved closure relationships

Lower level of empiricism Transient simulation capabilities

abound (OLGA, Tacite, PLAC) Emergence of unified models

Who Did It? (Technology Sources)

Empirical Period (1950-1975)Major Oil Co. Labs (50%)Academia (50%)

Awakening Years (1970-1985)Academia (75%)Major Oil Co. Labs (25%)

Modeling Era (1980- Present)Academia (≈100%)

Why and When? (Technology Acceptance)

Key Acceptance Events Multiphase Offshore Pipelines – Early 1970s Success of Design/Analysis Software

Flow Assurance – Early 2000s Deep and Ultra Deep Water Challenges Paraffin Deposition Models Multiphase Heat Transfer Hydrate Plug/Flow Models Severe Slugging Chemical Mitigation Design or Over-Design

What’s Next? Some Technology Voids

Flow Assurance in Cold Environment - Ultra Deep Water Formation and Deposition of Solids (Wax, Hydrates,

Naphtanes, Scales) Management of Deposits (Prevention, Removal) Separation

Multiphase Flow Oil-Water and Gas-Oil-Water Flow Downward Multiphase Flow Low Liquid Loading Multi-Dimensional Experiments and Modeling Transient Flows (Naturally Occurring, Induced) Production Stability Issues for Field-Wide Simulation

Fluid Behavior Rheology of Heavy Oil - Water Systems Kinetics of Phase Equilibrium Unconventional Components (CO2, H2S)

How? Future Technology (an Industry Dilemma)

Mergers Irreversible Dismantling of

Technology Centers Constant Reorganization Cost Cutting – 90 Day Myopia Linkage of Research to “Customers” Demise of Basic Research Demographics Perception – Current Technology is

Good Enough?

How? Future Technology (an Academic Dilemma)

Loss of Much of Industry Funding Insecure Government Funding Majors Might Wait for Technology Until

Publications Appear Few Domestic Graduate Students Academic Structure

Publish or Perish Tenure Grad Students vs Post Docs

Vulnerability of Consortia/JIPs