Prediction of pressure drop for segregated oil-water flows in small diameter pipe using modified two-fluid model

Abstract

Horizontal segregated oil-water two-phase flows are widely encountered in oil wells. The pressure drop is an important parameter to evaluate the productivity of the horizontal oil well. In this study, through introducing dynamic contact angle, we calculate the oil-water interface shape by solving Young-Laplace equation. The oil-water interface shapes and the wave characteristics are considered to modify the closure relations of the two-fluid model (TFM), and consequently the pressure drop of horizontal oil-water flows is predicted using the modified TFM. In addition, we predict the pressure drop of horizontal oil-water flows using the TFM with flat interface. Through comparing the prediction results of the pressure drop, it is found that the TFM modified with dynamic contact angle allows for higher accuracy in pressure drop prediction, and it is not dependent on the flow pattern discrimination.