Motivation
One of the key problems in designing the pipelines and wells and controlling the fluid transport along is to predict the pressure along-hole pressure distribution during the stationary fluid transport.
In many cases the flow can be considered as Isothermal or Quasi-isothermal.
Pipeline flow simulator is addressing this problem with account of the varying pipeline trajectory, gravity effects and fluid friction with pipeline walls.
Inputs & Outputs
Inputs | Outputs |
---|---|
Pipeline trajectory {\bf r} = {\bf r}(l) = \{ x(l), \, y(l), \, z(l) \} | along-pipe distribution of stabilised pressure p(l) |
along-pipe distribution of stabilised flow rate q(l) | |
Fluid density \rho(T, p) and fluid viscosity \mu(T, p) | along-pipe distribution of stabilised average flow velocity u(l) |
Inner pipe wall roughness \epsilon |
Assumptions
Stationary fluid flow |
Homogenous fluid flow |
Isothermal or Quasi-isothermal conditions |
Constant cross-section pipe area A(l) along hole |
Equations
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(see Derivation of Stationary Isothermal Homogenous Pipe Flow Pressure Profile @model )
Approximations
Incompressible fluid with constant friction
Pressure profile | Pressure gradient profile | Fluid velocity | Fluid rate | ||||||||
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where
\displaystyle \cos \theta(l) = \frac{dz(l)}{dl} | correction factor for trajectory deviation |
The first term in (5) defines the hydrostatic column of static fluid while the last term defines the friction losses under fluid movement:
In most practical applications in water producing or water injecting wells the water can be considered as incompressible and friction factor an be assumed constant f(l) = f_s = \rm const along-hole ( see Darcy friction factor in water producing/injecting wells ).
See Also
Petroleum Industry / Upstream / Pipe Flow Simulation / Water Pipe Flow @model
[ Darcy friction factor ] [ Darcy friction factor @model ] [ Derivation of Stationary Isothermal Homogenous Pipe Flow Pressure Profile @model ]