Study on hydrodynamic stability of multiphase flows in petroleum production systems

• Grant number: 08/05913-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2008
• End date: August 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Luis Baliño
• Grantee: Wellington Lombardo Nunes de Mello
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to make a hydrodynamic stability analysis of multiphase flow models utilized in petroleum production systems. Computational and analytical tools will be developed capable of determine, in the space of parameters, the regions where the multiphase flow has a steady state and the regions where exist different types of intermittency, like severe slugging. Methodologies will be developed to classify the different type of observed hydrodynamic instabilities, which will be useful to determine the intermittent regimes that are acceptable from the operational point of view. In the first year a tutorial study will be performed, related to multiphase flow and linear stability theory while, in the second year, calculation tools will be developed using the finite element method for the space discretization. The project will be developed at Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica at Escola Politécnica, USP, in collaboration with Prof. Karl Peter Burr, from Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas at Universidade Federal do ABC, through a cooperation agreement between both universities.