# US 5,710,717 A · Method for predicting and adjusting the distribution of two-phase fluids flowing through a piping network

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- Number: US 5,710,717 A
- Document ID: US5710717A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/408,827
- Filed: 1995-03-22
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1995-03-22
- Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
- Inventors: Ki Choong Hong; Suzanne Griston
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710717A

## CPC

- F17D 1/005: {for a two-phase gas-liquid flow}
- E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection
- F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A new, improved method is disclosed for reliably and accurately predicting and adjusting vapor-liquid split ratios to branches of a piping network incorporating a plurality of impacting tee junctions for a wide range of two-phase steam or gas-liquid conditions representative of field distribution systems. The vapor velocity and liquid volume fraction of the two-phase entering an impacting tee junction are computed from measured pressure, quality and rate of a two-phase fluid entering the impacting tee junction. The velocities of the vapor split to each branch tee junction are computed from measured or computed vapor mass flow rates. The liquid volume fraction of the two-phase fluid exiting a branch or arm of the tee junction is then computed as a function of inlet vapor velocity and liquid volume fraction and from the vapor velocity exiting the branch or arm using an empirical correlation equation. Finally, the vapor mass fraction (or quality) of the two-phase fluid exiting the tee branch is computed from the liquid volume fraction exiting the branch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for managing the mount of heat injected into a reservoir in a steam flood project comprising the steps of:
a. measuring the pressure, quality and rate of a two-phase fluid entering an impacting tee junction;
b. determining the flow cross-sectional area of a pipe inlet to the tee junction;
c. determining the vapor-phase and liquid-phase specific volumes at measured inlet pressure, or obtaining said specific volumes from steam tables when the two-phase fluid is wet steam;
d. determining the vapor velocity entering the tee junction;
e. determining the liquid volume entering the tee junction;
f. determining the vapor velocity in a first tee branch or arm;
g. computing coefficients, a and b, wherein
a=a1+a2*ln(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in)+a3*(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in).sup.0.5
and
b=b1+b2*(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in)+b3*ln(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in)+b4*(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in).sup.0.5
and
a1=0.2088; a2=-0.2541; a3=0.3928;
b1=-3.0662; b2=-0.4052; b3=-1.0381; b4=2.7228;
h. calculating the liquid volume fraction of fluid exiting the first tee branch wherein
LVF.sub.arm =a*LVF.sub.in *(V.sub.arm /V.sub.in).sup.b
i. computing vapor mass fraction of fluid exiting the first tee branch, wherein
x.sub.arm ={1+(LVF.sub.arm *.nu..sub.g)/›(1-LVF.sub.arm)*.sub.-- .nu..sub.L !}.sup.-1
j. determining the vapor velocity in a second tee branch or arm;
k. calculating the liquid volume fraction of fluid exiting the second tee branch;
l. computing vapor mass fraction of fluid exiting the second tee branch; and
m. controlling the amount of heat injected into the reservoir based on the vapor mass fraction of the fluid exiting the first tee branch and the second tee branch.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor mass fraction exiting the tee branch or arm is determined from separator vessel measurements and the vapor velocity exiting the tee branch is obtained from a measured mass flow rate wherein
V.sub.arm =W.sub.g *.nu..sub.g /A.sub.c.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor mass fraction exiting the tee branch or arm is determined from wellhead choke data using
W.sub.g =857.9 d.sup.2 (1-0.0423/d)*(P.sub.1 /.sub.-- .nu..sub.g).sup.0.5
and the vapor velocity exiting the tee branch is obtained from a measured mass flow rate wherein
V.sub.arm =W.sub.g *.nu..sub.g/A.sub.c.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
a. the vapor velocity and liquid volume fraction entering the first tee junction is obtained from feedwater rate and steam quality measurements at the steam generator(s);
b. the vapor flow rate into a tee branch or arm is the sum of all measured or computed rates for all wells served by that arm; and
c. the vapor rate entering a second, third, and other subsequent tee junctions in said steam flood project is the sum of the vapor rates exiting the tee branches as previously determined.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling step is:
restricting the flow through the tee junction to improve liquid-vapor splits.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling step is:
shutting in selected wells to improve sweep and displacement efficiency of the reservoir.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling step is:
prolonging steam injection in selected wells to improve sweep and displacement efficiency of the reservoir.

### Claim 8

A method for managing the amount of liquid and vapor distributed in an impacting tee junction comprising the steps of:
a. measuring the pressure, temperature, quality and rate of a two-phase fluid entering the impacting tee junction;
b. determining the flow cross-sectional area of a pipe inlet to the tee junction;
c. determining the vapor-phase and liquid-phase specific volumes at measured inlet pressure and temperature;
d. determining the vapor velocity entering the the junction;
e. determining the liquid volume entering the tee junction;
f. determining the vapor velocity in a first tee branch or arm;
g. computing coefficients, a and b, wherein
a=a1+a2*ln(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in)+a3*(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in).sup.0.5
and
b=b1+b2*(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in)+b3*ln(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in)+b4*(LVF.sub.in *V.sub.in).sup.0.5
h. calculating the liquid volume fraction of fluid exiting the first tee branch wherein
LVF.sub.arm =a*LVF.sub.in *(V.sub.arm /V.sub.in).sup.b
i. computing vapor mass fraction of fluid exiting the first tee branch, wherein
x.sub.arm ={1+(LVF.sub.arm *.nu..sub.g)/›(1-LVF.sub.arm)*.sub.-- .nu..sub.L !}.sup.-1
j. determining the vapor velocity in a second tee branch or arm;
k. calculating the liquid volume fraction of fluid exiting the second tee branch;
l. computing vapor mass fraction of fluid exiting the second tee branch; and
m. controlling the amount of liquid and vapor exiting the first tee branch and the second tee branch.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein:
a1=0.2088; a2=-0.2541; a3=0.3928;
b1=-3.0662; b2=-0.4052; b3=-1.0381; and b4=2.7228.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the vapor mass fraction exiting the tee branch or arm is determined from separator vessel measurements and the vapor velocity exiting the tee branch is obtained from a measured mass flow rate wherein
V.sub.arm =W.sub.g *.nu..sub.g /A.sub.c.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the vapor mass fraction exiting the tee branch or arm is determined from wellhead choke data using
W.sub.g =857.9 d.sup.2 (1-0.0423/d)*(P.sub.1 /.sub.-- .nu..sub.g).sup.0.5
and the vapor velocity exiting the tee branch is obtained from a measured mass flow rate wherein
V.sub.arm =W.sub.g +.nu..sub.g /A.sub.c.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein:
a. the vapor velocity and liquid volume fraction entering the first tee junction is obtained from measurement;
b. the vapor flow rate into a tee branch or arm is the sum of all measured or computed rates for all elements fed by that arm; and
c. the vapor rate entering a second, third, and other subsequent tee junctions in a piping network is the sum of the vapor rates exiting the tee branches as previously determined.

### Claim 13

The method of claim g wherein the controlling step is:
restricting the flow through the tee junction to improve liquid-vapor splits.