Numerical Analyses of the Effects of Bend Orientation on Sand Erosion in Elbows for Annular Flow

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Kang ◽  
Haixiao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Annular Flow ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Particle Model ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Hydrocarbon Reservoir ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Sand Particles

Abstract Sand erosion is a severe problem during the transportation of oil and gas in pipelines. The technology of multiphase transportation is widely applied in production, due to its high efficiency and low cost. Among various multiphase flow patterns, annular flow is a common flow pattern in the transportation process. During the transportation of oil and gas from the hydrocarbon reservoir to the final destination, the flow direction of the mixture in pipelines is mainly changed by the bend orientation. The bend orientation obviously changes the distributions of the liquid film and sand particles in annular flow, and this would further affect the sand erosion in elbows. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is an efficient tool to investigate the issues of sand erosion in multiphase flow. In the present work, a CFD-based numerical model is adopted to analyze the effects of bend orientation on sand erosion in elbows for annular flow. Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is adopted to simulate the flow field of annular flow, and sand particles in the flow field are tracked by employing Discrete Particle Model (DPM) simultaneously. Then, the particle impingement information is combined with the erosion model to obtain the maximum erosion ratio. The present numerical model is validated by experiments conducted in vertical-horizontal upward elbows. Finally, the effects of various bend orientations on the erosion magnitude are investigated according to the numerical simulations.

Distribution of Sand Particles in Horizontal and Vertical Annular Multiphase Flow in Pipes and the Effects on Sand Erosion

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenton S. McLaury ◽  
Siamack A. Shirazi ◽  
Vinod Viswanathan ◽  
Quamrul H. Mazumder ◽  
Gerardo Santos
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Annular Flow ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Sand Particles ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Upstream Flow

Predicting erosion resulting from the impact of solid particles such as sand is a difficult task, since it is dependent on so many factors. The difficulty is compounded if the particles are entrained in multiphase flow. Researchers have developed models to predict erosion resulting from solid particles in multiphase flow that account for a variety of factors. However, no model currently accounts for the flow orientation on the severity of erosion. This work provides three sets of experimental results that demonstrate pipe orientation can have a significant impact on the amount of erosion for annular flow. A semimechanistic model to predict erosion in annular flow is also outlined that accounts for the upstream flow orientation.

The effect of surface profile on the sand erosion of aluminium

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Wong ◽  
Lachlan Graham ◽  
Anthony Swallow ◽  
Chris Solnordal ◽  
Jie Wu
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Surface Profile ◽  
Target Material ◽  
Sample Surface ◽  
Material Surface ◽  
Abrasive Particles ◽  
Erosion Depth ◽  
Sand Surface ◽  
Sand Erosion

Management and prediction of sand erosion on oil and gas equipment are important for the safety, reliability and maintenance of the production facility. Prediction of sand erosion is not a trivial task as it requires an understanding of the fluid flow-field, movement of abrasive particles in this flow-field and their subsequent impact on the target material surface. It is reasonable to assume that once sand erosion occurs on a surface, the rate of erosion would be constant. This is not always the case since the surface topography may change over time. An experiment investigating the sand erosion of a hole centred in a rectangular aluminium plate was designed to explore this phenomenon. The sample was subject to erosion by two 50 kg batches of sand; surface profiles of the hole were measured after each batch. The results suggest that a pre-eroded surface has an increased change of erosion depth compared with a new surface. As erosion progresses, the geometry of the sample alters and, depending on location, the change of erosion depth, relative to the previously eroded profile, on the sample surface varied from -30-50%; slight material build-up occurred on the inner face of the hole due to extrusion processes during erosion.

An Alternate Method to API RP 14E for Predicting Solids Erosion in Multiphase Flow

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenton S. McLaury ◽  
Siamack A. Shirazi
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Production Rate ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
American Petroleum Institute ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Threshold Velocity ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Fluid Properties

One commonly used method for determining oil and gas production velocities is to limit production rates based on the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 14E (API RP 14E). This guideline contains an equation to calculate an “erosional” or a threshold velocity, presumably a flow velocity that is safe to operate. The equation only considers one factor, the density of the medium, and does not consider many other factors that can contribute to erosion in multiphase flow pipelines. Thus, factors such as fluid properties, flow geometry, type of metal, sand production rate and size distribution, and flow composition are not accounted for. In the present paper, a method is presented that has been developed with the goal of improving the procedure by accounting for many of the physical variables including fluid properties, sand production rate and size, and flowstream composition that affect sand erosion. The results from the model are compared with several experimental results provided in the literature. Additionally, the method is applied to calculate threshold flowstream velocities for sand erosion and the results are compared with API RP 14E. The results indicate that the form of the equation that is provided by the API RP 14E is not suitable for predicting a production flowstream velocity when sand is present. [S0195-0738(00)00203-X]

Multiphase sand erosion in standard elbows

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 371
Author(s):  
Chong Yau Wong ◽  
Amir Zamberi ◽  
Amira Shaffee ◽  
Zurita Johar ◽  
Maharon Jadid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Internal Surface ◽  
Internal Erosion ◽  
Pipe System ◽  
Surface Profiling ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Erosion Modelling ◽  
Gas Volume

Standard elbows are used to redirect multiphase flows in oil and gas facilities. Internal erosion of the pipe walls is expected when produced solids are present in the pipe system. The literature widely documents erosion modelling through empirical and numerical methodologies validated with experimental data on elbow erosion. There are no studies documenting the full internal surface of standard elbows in multiphase flow erosion. This peer-reviewed paper fills that knowledge gap through experimental erosion modelling of standard elbows at various multiphase flow conditions. The results provide a source of validation for numerical and analytical methodologies. Surface profiling of standard elbows at gas volume fractions (GVFs) from zero to one are studied. Results suggest that erosion hot spots for all GVFs are located past an angle of approximately 45° from the flow inlet plane. In gas only flows, moderate levels of erosion occur upstream of the erosion hot spot. All GVF conditions exhibit moderate levels of erosion downstream of the erosion hot spot. In liquid only flows, the erosion hot spot is at the extrados in the vicinity of the elbow outlet plane, and is not easily detectable by ultrasonic probes. Comparison of multiphase experimental erosion pattern is made with computational fluid dynamics multiphase erosion simulations. A new relationship between the erosion rate of standard elbows and the reference cylinder-in-pipe data is proposed.

Effect of Particle Size and Viscosity on Erosion in Annular and Slug Flow

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Kesana ◽  
J. M. Throneberry ◽  
B. S. McLaury ◽  
S. A. Shirazi ◽  
E. F. Rybicki
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Electrical Resistance ◽  
Slug Flow ◽  
Annular Flow ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Metal Loss ◽  
Head Probe

Solid particle erosion is a mechanical process in which material is removed from a surface due to impacts of solid particles transported within a fluid. It is a common problem faced by the petroleum industry, as solid particles are also produced along with oil and gas. The erosion not only causes losses resulting from repairs and decreased production but also causes safety and environmental concerns. Therefore, the metal losses occurring in different multiphase flow patterns need to be studied and understood in order to develop protective guidelines for oil and gas production equipment. A large scale boom loop, which is capable of generating a wide variety of multiphase flow regimes was used for conducting experiments. Specifically, this work examines erosion measurements in multiphase slug and annular flow regimes. These flow regimes are selected since they produce higher metal losses than other flow regimes, and they also occur for a wide variety of operating conditions. Experiments are performed on a horizontal 0.0762 m (3-inch) diameter pipe, with superficial gas velocities ranging from 15.2 m/s (50 ft/s) to 45.7 m/s (150 ft/s) and superficial liquid velocities ranging from 0.46 m/s (1.5 ft/s) to 0.76 m/s (2.5 ft/s), for liquid viscosities of 1 cP and 10 cP. Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) was used to increase the viscosity of the liquid without significantly altering the density of the liquid. Three different sand sizes (20, 150 and 300 micron sand) were used for performing tests. The shapes of the sand are also different with the 20 and 300 micron sand being sharper than the 150 micron sand. Erosion measurements are taken using Electrical Resistance (ER) probes which relate the change in electrical resistance to the change in the thickness of an exposed element resulting from erosion. Two probes are placed in a bend and another probe is placed in a straight section of pipe. The probes in the bend are flat-head probes, and they are placed flush with the outer wall in the 45 and 90 degree positions. The probe in the straight pipe is an angle-head probe which protrudes into the flow with the face placed in the center of the pipe. Under the flow conditions investigated, the angle-head probe measures the maximum erosion due to its placement. Results demonstrate a significant increase in the metal loss occurs when increasing the superficial gas velocity and decreasing the superficial liquid velocity. The effect of changing the viscosity of the liquid is not as clear. Results suggest a slight increase in metal loss by increasing the viscosity from 1cP to 10 cP in slug flow. However, for annular flow, higher erosion occurs for the lower liquid viscosity considered.

Effect of Sand Distribution on Erosion in Annular Three-Phase Flow

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quamrul H. Mazumder ◽  
Gerardo Santos ◽  
Siamack A. Shirazi ◽  
Brenton S. McLaury
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Annular Flow ◽  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Sand Particle ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Sand Particles ◽  
Particle Velocities ◽  
Vertical Test

Erosion in multiphase flow with entrained solid particles is a complex phenomenon due to existence of different flow patterns. Erosion experiments were conducted on an elbow specimen in a one-inch multiphase flow loop with gas, liquid and sand. Two different elbow specimens were used in the experiments. One placed downstream of a horizontal test section and one downstream of a vertical test section. Erosion tests were conducted at different gas and liquid velocities that showed a difference in erosion rates between the horizontal and vertical specimens. In order to better understand erosion results, the distribution of solid particles within the horizontal and vertical pipes just upstream of the elbows was measured across the pipe with a pitot probe. The results indicate that the distribution of sand in the pipe cross-section plays an important role in the erosion process due to the differences in velocities of the sand particles moving in the gas core and in the liquid film of the annular flow. It is observed that sand distribution in the horizontal test section is different than the sand distribution in the vertical test section for the same gas and liquid velocities. Therefore, the distribution of sand particles affects erosion test results. Based on these observations, a new mechanistic model has been developed to predict erosion in annular flow considering the effects of sand particle distribution and particle velocities in the annular film and gas core region. The experimental erosion results compare well with the model predictions.

Predicting erosion in wet gas pipelines/elbows by mathematical formulations and computational fluid dynamics modeling

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (10) ◽  
pp. 1240-1260
Author(s):  
Ruben Cuamatzi-Meléndez ◽  
MA Hernandez Rojo ◽  
AO Vázquez-Hernández ◽  
Francisco L Silva-González
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Engineering Structures ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Sand Particles ◽  
Modeling Strategy

Sand erosion has been identified as a potential damage and failure mechanism in pipelines/elbows employed to transport gas from wells to terminals. Erosion can cause localized material loss decreasing the structural integrity of pipelines/elbows leading to failure. As a result, sand erosion has been the object of much research work in the oil and gas industry. The prediction of erosion caused by sand transported by hydrocarbons flow is a difficult task due to the large number of variables involved. At present, a great number of empirical models have been developed to predict sand erosion in smaller diameter pipelines under laboratory conditions. Therefore, such formulations generally present uncertainties for their application in larger diameter pipelines employed to transport oil and gas because there is no fundamental basis showing how the empirical formulations can be extrapolated to large diameters pipelines as most of the models have been developed on the basis of elementary laboratory experiments, which may not represent the real sand erosion conditions. Furthermore, most of the analytical/empirical models were developed for specific pipeline/elbows diameters and cannot be employed to predict erosion in different engineering structures. Hence, in the present work a computational fluid dynamic modeling strategy is proposed, which incorporated fundamental physically erosion parameters to predict erosion in larger diameter pipelines/elbows. The methodology was applied to different elbows/pipelines diameters in order to investigate how pipeline's diameter, sand production rate, and sand particles sizes affect the erosion mechanism and the erosion rate. The results showed the importance of including fluid and flow conditions, sand particles trajectory, and self-particles movement. The computational fluid dynaimcs results were compared with those obtained with the most employed empirical models to predict sand erosion in the oil and gas industry models published in the literature, and it was shown that the proposed modeling strategy can be used to predict erosion in larger diameters pipelines/elbows with good results.

Unlocking Production Potential through Sand Management What–If Analysis in Digital Fields

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nghia Tri Vo ◽  
Roland Hermann ◽  
Roberto Fuenmayor
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Sand Production ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Oil And Gas Producers ◽  
Sand Erosion ◽  
Actual Field ◽  
Sand Particles ◽  
Production Losses

Abstract Sand production associated with oil and gas producers is one of the oldest problems in the industry and is typically in unconsolidated sandstone formations. The stresses caused by the fluids flowing into the wellbore are often sufficient to produce fine sand particles. Sand production may cause operational problems such as disposal of produced sand, sand erosion of downhole and surface equipment, and loss of primary containment (LOPC), which is the most important reason for controlling sand production. In actual field operation, a sand management program is usually implemented to manage sand challenges which limits to monitoring and basic analysis. The proposed sand management solution in this paper performs sensitivity analysis (known as what–if scenarios) using model–based sand erosion calculation to analyze different possible operating scenarios with the objective of preventing and minimizing sand issues. The solution also helps to minimize risks related to well, facilities and avoiding cost or production losses due to sand production. It recommends the operational settings to achieve maximum production rates while ensuring operating within safe erosion limits and without sand deposition risk.

Sand Transportations and Deposition Characteristics in Multiphase Flows in Pipelines

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Al-lababidi ◽  
W. Yan ◽  
H. Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Sand Transport ◽  
Transport Velocity ◽  
Sand Particles ◽  
Phase Water ◽  
Slurry Transport

Sand management strategies become an important study to be performed as part of multiphase flow assurance assessments during oil and gas project life and especially for subsea multiphase flow network. This paper presents experimental works to investigate the sand transport characteristics and identify the sand minimum transport condition (MTC) in sand–water and sand–air–water flows in a horizontal and + 5 deg inclined pipelines. The used sand volume fraction, Cv, ranged from 1.61 × 10−5 up to 5.38 × 10−4. The sand minimum transport velocity in single-phase water flow was obtained visually and then compared with that calculated by previous correlations for slurry transport. It was found that in sand–water flow, the pipeline inclination had negligible effect on the minimum sand transport velocity. However, the transport characteristics of sand particles were found changed significantly by changing the pipe inclination, which could result in the change of air–water flow regime. It was observed that sand particles transport more efficiently in terrain slug than stratified wavy flow in +5 deg inclined pipes. The sand transport and settling boundary for different air–water flow regimes were generated for horizontal and +5 deg inclined pipeline.

Groundwater flow simulation and its application in GaoSong ore field, China

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Chen ◽  
Shiguang Xu ◽  
Chunxue Liu ◽  
Lei Lu ◽  
Liang Guo
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Mine Water ◽  
Permeability Coefficient ◽  
Water Inrush ◽  
Seepage Field ◽  
Groundwater Seepage ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
Groundwater Flow Field

Abstract Mine water inrush is one of the important factors threatening safe production in mines. The accurate understanding of the mine groundwater flow field can effectively reduce the hazards of mine water inrush. Numerical simulation is an important method to study the groundwater flow field. This paper numerically simulates the groundwater seepage field in the GaoSong ore field. In order to ensure the accuracy of the numerical model, the research team completed 3,724 field fissure measurements in the study area. The fracture measurement results were analyzed using the GEOFRAC method and the whole-area fracture network data were generated. On this basis, the rock mass permeability coefficient tensor of the aquifer in the study area was calculated. The tensor calculation results are used in the numerical model of groundwater flow. After calculation, the obtained numerical model can better represent the groundwater seepage field in the study area. In addition, we designed three different numerical models for calculation, mainly to explore the influence of the tensor assignment of permeability coefficient on the calculation results of water yield of the mine. The results showed that irrational fathom tensor assignment would cause a significant deviation in calculation results.

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