Power-Law Correlation for Two-Phase Pressure Drop of Gas/Liquid Flows in Horizontal Pipelines

Abstract

Original SPE manuscript received for review 6 October 2009. Revised manuscript received for review 22 January 2010. Paper (SPE 138516) peer approved 13 April 10. Summary New dimensionless parameters and a simplified power-law correlation to predict pressure drop during the gas/liquid flow in horizontal pipes are proposed. The new equation fits the published data very well. The proposed power-law equation can correlate the stratified-smooth, stratified-wavy, stratified-atomization, stratified-annular-transition and annular flow patterns. The proposed simplified dimensionless formula can be used for flowline-design purposes and flow-assurance predictions in pipelines.