Flow Regimes in Vertical and Inclined Oil/Water Flow in Pipes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Flow regime behavior in upwards oil-water flow has been studied in a large diameter, inclinable, multiphase flow loop. With the pipe vertical, bubble flow occurred for all conditions tested. When the pipe was inclined by 5 or 15° from vertical, a new flow regime, countercurrent bubble flow, was observed over a wide range of flow conditions. Theoretical flow regime maps developed for gas-liquid flow did not properly predict oil-water flow regime behavior.