Abstract
This chapter reports information related to multiphase flow with emphasis to core-annular flow. Industrial application has been given to transient water-heavy ultraviscous oil two-phase flow in horizontal pipe. The high viscosity heavy oil transportation is one of the main technological challenges for the oil industry. This fact is related with the high pressure drop due to the viscous effects during the flow. Different techniques for the heavy oil transportation have been cited in the literature, core-flow is one. In this technique, water is injected in the pipe and flows as an annular film near the wall while oil moves in the core region. This way, a smallest amount of energy is required for heavy oil pumping. Mathematical formulation to describe transient and isothermal two-phase flow (water-heavy oil) is presented. Results of the velocity, pressure and volume fraction distributions of the phases were obtained and analyzed. A large reduction of pressure drop by comparison with single phase heavy oil flow (around 59 times) was verified and shows the efficiency of the technique applied to production and transportation of heavy oils.
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