Upward Vertical Two-Phase Flow Through an Annulus—Part II: Modeling Bubble, Slug, and Annular Flow

This paper reports that mechanistic models have been developed for each of the existing two-phase flow patterns in an annulus, namely bubble flow, dispersed bubble flow, slug flow, and annular flow. These models are based on two-phase flow physical phenomena and incorporate annulus characteristics such as casing and tubing diameters and degree of eccentricity. The models also apply to the new predictive means for friction factor and Taylor bubble rise velocity. Given a set of flow conditions, the existing flow pattern in the system can be predicted. The developed models are applied next for predicting the flow behavior, including the average volumetric liquid holdup and the average total pressure gradient for the existing flow pattern. In general, good aggrement was observed between the experimental data and model predictions.