Method and devices for unloading flow conduits and improving multi-phase flow capacity
AssigneeEnergy Transition Technologies B.V.
InventorsReza Malekzadeh, Mark Gilbert Sisouw de Zilwa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pathway section in a tubing system for transporting a gas-liquid flow from a petroleum wellbore to a production point. The pathway section includes a first tubing portion directing the flow towards the production point and a second tubing portion inserted within the first tubing portion, along with other features described herein directing the flow in a manner that makes more wall surface available for liquid transport, which results in a greater liquid lifting capacity, and optimize gas velocity distribution over the cross-section of the pipes, which results in a greater upward shear stress exerted by the gas phase on the liquid phase. Methods of operating and use of the system are also described.
Claims9
A computer implemented method comprising:
- (a) simulating a system with a predetermined number of concentric second tubing portions of predefined radii, wherein the system comprises:
- a tubing system for transporting a gas-liquid flow from a petroleum wellbore to a production point, the tubing system comprising a pathway section in fluid communication with the wellbore and the production point, the section comprising:
- a first tubing portion directing the flow towards the production point;
- at least one second tubing portion disposed within the first tubing portion, wherein the at least one second tubing portion comprises a packer, wherein the at least one second tubing portion is disposed within the first tubing such that the flow exclusively enters the first tubing portion above the packer via the at least one second tubing portion, and wherein the at least one second tubing portion comprises a lateral opening and a distal opening for enabling a first flow path from the distal opening towards the first tubing portion, and enabling a second flow path from the distal end of the first tubing portion and the lateral opening, wherein the second flow path extends along an outer surface of the second tubing portion as well as along an inner surface of the first tubing portion to the lateral opening disposed in the second tubing below the packer, and wherein both the first and second flow paths merge below the packer in the at least one second tubing portion, and
- comprising a sliding side door arranged for covering the lateral opening to enable reversibly switching the system between a first operational mode in which the first and second flow paths are simultaneously enabled, and a second operational mode in which only the first flow path is enabled;
- (b) changing the number of concentric tubing portions that make up the plurality within a predefined range and/or the respective radii within a predefined range, and repeating the simulation step (a);
- (c) iterating towards a simulated final system with a higher simulated liquid unloading capacity and/or flow capacity by repeating step (b);
- and
- (d) providing a system having a first tubing portion with at least second tubing portions such that it corresponds to the simulated final system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.