Pressure Drop in Perforated Pipes: Experiments and Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT The total pressure drop in horizontal wells is considered to consist of reversible (acceleration) and irreversible (wall friction, perforation roughness, mixing effects) pressure drop. The fundamental equations for pressure drop are presented along with relationships used for pipe junction flow. Experiments on a perforated pipe with 144 perforations, geometrically similar with wellbore casing (12 SPF, 60° phasing), are presented and analyzed. The results are applied to a typical horizontal oil well in the North Sea. It was found that the total pressure drop consists typically of 80 percent wall friction, IS percent mixing effects (including perforation roughness) and 5 percent pressure drop due to acceleration.