3D computational fluid dynamics analysis of natural gas separation efficiency in multiphase pumping wells with heterogeneous flow regime

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dc.contributor.authorOkafor, Charles C.
dc.contributor.authorVerdin, Patrick G.
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-18T10:46:33Z
dc.date.available2024-09-18T10:46:33Z
dc.date.freetoread2024-09-18
dc.date.issued2024-12-31
dc.date.pubOnline2024-08-30
dc.description.abstractThis research uses 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the downhole Natural Gas Separation Efficiency (NGSE) for multiphase pumping wells in the heterogeneous churn flow regime. Results explain the effects of key parameters such as liquid viscosity, intake port sizes/diameter, and casing diameter, on the NGSE. Methods are thus suggested to enhance the NGSE in oil field operations, and key improvements to the widely used mathematical formulations for viscous service are proposed. Transient numerical simulations were performed for a section of an experimental flow loop extracted from the literature, and the flow solution was obtained with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. For most simulations, turbulence effects were modelled with the k−ϵ turbulence model. The k−ω SST turbulence model was however considered for the sensitivity analysis on liquid viscosity. The final numerical results validated against the corresponding experimental data showed an average error of less than 6%. Combining past literature and current results confirms that (i), the NGSE is affected by the downhole geometry (i.e annulus space and pump intake port flow area geometry) and (ii), current analytical NGSE models are not ideal for multiphase viscous service (high viscosity Newtonian flow) in the heterogeneous flow regime. The widely used steady-state formulations might thus not be adequate for this flow regime.
dc.description.journalNameEngineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics
dc.identifier.citationOkafor CC, Verdin PG. (2024) 3D computational fluid dynamics analysis of natural gas separation efficiency in multiphase pumping wells with heterogeneous flow regime. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, Volume 18, Issue 1, 2024, Article number 2395452
dc.identifier.eissn1997-003X
dc.identifier.elementsID553207
dc.identifier.issn1994-2060
dc.identifier.issueNo1
dc.identifier.paperNo2395452
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/19942060.2024.2395452
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/22942
dc.identifier.volumeNo18
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor and Francis
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19942060.2024.2395452
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject4012 Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering
dc.subject40 Engineering
dc.subjectMechanical Engineering & Transports
dc.subject4012 Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
dc.subjectElectrical submersible pump (ESP)
dc.subjectnatural gas separation efficiency
dc.subject3D CFD
dc.subjectmultiphase flow regime
dc.subjectviscous service
dc.subjectartificial lift
dc.title3D computational fluid dynamics analysis of natural gas separation efficiency in multiphase pumping wells with heterogeneous flow regime
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-08-17

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