Investigation of Flow Regime Transitions in Large-Diameter Inclined Pipes

Multiphase oil/water/gas flow regime transition studies are carried out in a 10-cm i.d., 18-m long pipe at inclinations of ±2 deg at system pressures between 0 to 0.79 MPa. The results are compared to those of other researchers, and the effects of pressure, inclination, and liquid viscosity are shown. The water cut of the liquid has some effects on the transition from stratified to slug flow. Increasing the water cut results in the transition occurring at higher liquid velocity at the same gas velocity. Water cut has little effect on the slug/annular transition for low viscosity oil used. The system pressure has a moderate effect on the transition from stratified to slug and slug to annular. For the transition from stratified to slug, increasing the system pressure requires higher liquid velocity. The transition from slug to annular occurs at lower liquid velocity with increasing the system pressures. The inclination of the pipe has little effect on the transition from slug to annular flow. Increasing the inclination causes the transition to occur at approximately the same gas velocity at the same liquid velocity. The experimental results show a good agreement with Wilkens’ model.