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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Experimental investigation of gravitational gas separation in an inclined annular channel

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Author(s):
Ortiz Vidal, Luis Enrique [1] ; Hernandez Rodriguez, Oscar Mauricio [1] ; Estevam, Valdir [2] ; Lopes, Divonsir [3]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Engn Sch Sao Carlos, Dept Mech Engn, BR-13566970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
[2] Petrobras SA, E&P ENGP IPP EE, Explorat & Prod, BR-20031170 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil
[3] Petrobras SA, E&P PDP CTPDP SUB, Explorat & Prod, BR-20031170 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: EXPERIMENTAL THERMAL AND FLUID SCIENCE; v. 39, p. 17-25, MAY 2012.
Web of Science Citations: 3
Abstract

The oil industry uses gas separators in production wells as the free gas present in the suction of the pump reduces the pumping efficiency and pump lifetime. Therefore, free gas is one of the most important variables in the design of pumping systems. However, in the literature there is little information on these separators. It is the case of the inverted-shroud gravitational gas separator. It has an annular geometry due to the installation of a cylindrical container in between the well casing and pioduction pipe (tubing). The purpose of the present study is to understand the phenomenology and behavior of inverted-shroud separator. Experimental tests were performed in a 10.5-m-length inclinable glass tube with air and water as working fluids. The water flow rate was in the range of 8.265-26.117 l/min and the average inlet air mass flow rate was 1.1041 kg/h, with inclination angles of 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 80 degrees and 85 degrees. One of the findings is that the length between the inner annular level and production pipe inlet is one of the most important design parameters and based on that a new criterion for total gas separation is proposed. We also found that the phenomenology of the studied separator is not directly dependent on the gas flow rate, but on the average velocity of the free surface flow generated inside the separator. Maps of efficiency of gas separation were plotted and showed that liquid flow rate, inclination angle and pressure difference between casing and production pipe outlet are the main variables related to the gas separation phenomenon. The new data can be used for the development of design tools aiming to the optimized project of the pumping system for oil production in directional wells. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 09/17424-2 - Inverse method based on vibration and strain structural signals for the determination of two-phase flow patterns in pipes
Grantee:Luis Enrique Ortiz Vidal
Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate