Abstract
In this paper, a new compositional mechanistic wellbore model, including gas lifting parameters, is presented. In the governing equations of this model, new terms for mass transfer between phases and the enthalpy of phase change which are important in non-isothermal gas lift systems have been considered. These terms have been ignored in some recent research studies and subsequent results show that by ignoring them, serious errors may arise. In the current research study, using a mechanistic drift-flux approach, the pressure distribution in a wellbore was modeled. To verify the new simulator, the results were compared with those of commercial simulators. They were also verified against the phase behavior analysis of the fluid flowing in the wellbore. In addition, in order to show the novel aspects of the new simulator, the results of the presented simulator were compared with the results of a recently proposed model found in the literature. It was concluded that neglecting phase change effects may cause significant errors in calculating pressure and temperature values along wellbores. This error could be significant, up to 24% depending on conditions, when flowing fluid pressure is close to its saturation point or in the case of simulating gas lift operation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 112902 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Energy Resources Technology |
| Volume | 141 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Early online date | 17 May 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2019 |
Bibliographical note
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- compositional simulator
- wellbore simulator
- multiphase flow
- non-isothermal gas lifting
- drift-flux model
- modelling
- oil and gas production
- Petroleum Engineering
- Oil well
- Multi-phase
- oil and gas Reservoir
- Compositional simulator
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy(all)
- Engineering(all)
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
- Computers in Earth Sciences
- Mechanical Engineering
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Geochemistry and Petrology
- Fuel Technology
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
