Multiphase Technology- Past, Present and Future

1. Multiphase Technology-Past, Present and Future by Jim Brill Professor Emeritus The University of Tulsa ASME/API/ISO Gas-Lift Workshop, February 10, 2004

2. Topics • Historical Perspective of Multiphase Flow Technology • Technology Development • Who Did It? (Sources) • Why? When? (Acceptance) • What’s Next? (Voids) • How? (Current Dilemmas)

3. Historical Background • Empirical Period (1950-1975) • Awakening Years (1970-1985) • Modeling Era (1980-present)

4. Empirical Period (1950-1975) • Simplified conservation equations • Homogeneous mixtures • Mostly low pressure, air-water data • Limited instrumentation and data analysis capabilities • Flow patterns - either not considered or valid only for data set used • Empirical liquid holdup and friction factor correlations

5. Awakening Years (1970-1985) • Limited modeling before 1976 • Began with incredible contributions from Dukler, Taitel, and their students • Significant contributions from nuclear industry • Opened doors for technology developed over past 25 years • Commercial, user-friendly, steady- state flow software

6. Modeling Era (1980-Present) • Major contributors were vastly improved instrumentation, visualization, PCs, and data acquisition/processing/analysis • Mechanistic models with improved closure relationships • Lower level of empiricism • Transient simulation capabilities abound (OLGA, Tacite, PLAC) • Emergence of unified models

7. Who Did It? (Technology Sources) • Empirical Period (1950-1975) • Major Oil Co. Labs (50%) • Academia (50%) • Awakening Years (1970-1985) • Academia (75%) • Major Oil Co. Labs (25%) • Modeling Era (1980- Present) • Academia (≈100%)

8. Why and When? (Technology Acceptance) • Key Acceptance Events • Multiphase Offshore Pipelines – Early 1970s • Success of Design/Analysis Software • Flow Assurance – Early 2000s • Deep and Ultra Deep Water Challenges • Paraffin Deposition Models • Multiphase Heat Transfer • Hydrate Plug/Flow Models • Severe Slugging • Chemical Mitigation • Design or Over-Design

9. What’s Next? Some Technology Voids • Flow Assurance in Cold Environment - Ultra Deep Water • Formation and Deposition of Solids (Wax, Hydrates, Naphtanes, Scales) • Management of Deposits (Prevention, Removal) • Separation • Multiphase Flow • Oil-Water and Gas-Oil-Water Flow • Downward Multiphase Flow • Low Liquid Loading • Multi-Dimensional Experiments and Modeling • Transient Flows (Naturally Occurring, Induced) • Production Stability Issues for Field-Wide Simulation • Fluid Behavior • Rheology of Heavy Oil - Water Systems • Kinetics of Phase Equilibrium • Unconventional Components (CO2, H2S)

10. How? Future Technology (an Industry Dilemma) • Mergers • Irreversible Dismantling of Technology Centers • Constant Reorganization • Cost Cutting – 90 Day Myopia • Linkage of Research to “Customers” • Demise of Basic Research • Demographics • Perception – Current Technology is Good Enough?

11. How? Future Technology (an Academic Dilemma) • Loss of Much of Industry Funding • Insecure Government Funding • Majors Might Wait for Technology Until Publications Appear • Few Domestic Graduate Students • Academic Structure • Publish or Perish • Tenure • Grad Students vs Post Docs • Vulnerability of Consortia/JIPs