3-PHASE OIL WATER AIR VERTICAL FLOW

Oil/water/air data are reported for vertical flow in a 0.026 m i.d. pi pe. Nine flow regimes were identified by visual/video and pressure tec hniques and flow regime maps presented. A relation for determining the transitional boundary between oil and water dominated regimes was pre sented. Total liquid and individual phasic liquid holdup data in the f orm of a complex series of curves showing the influence of input liqui d flow rates, gas rates and flow pattern were presented. Pure liquid h oldup data obeyed existing models for the water system. A new relation was presented for the oil system. Using these models the total liquid holdup against oil/liquid ratio was quantified for annular flow patte rns. Pressure loss data are presented as complex curves showing the in fluence of input fluid rates and flow patterns. Results show that the pressure loss went through a minimum as the gas rate was increased in a similar way to that observed in two-phase flow. A qualitative explan ation of the data was presented for annular flow patterns based on the formation and interaction of the various annular/annulus films presen t.