Phase splitting of wet steam in annular flow through a horizontal impacting tee

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · SPE Production Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/22764-PA· OSTI ID:6964718

Chien, S F; Rubel, M T ^[1]

---

1. E and P Technology Dept., Texaco Inc., Houston, TX (United States)

Phase splitting occurs during gas/liquid two-phase flow through pipe junctions and causes a gas/liquid mass ratio in the outlet legs of the junction that is different form that at the inlet. In steamflood distribution networks, this results in different steam qualities at the outlets of a junction than at the inlet. This, in turn, results in a heat distribution not in accordance with the mass distribution in the outlets of the tee. Because heat management of a steamflood project is important for both economic incentives and ultimate recovery, phase splitting must be understood and controlled. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation conducted on phase splitting of wet steam during annular flow through a horizontal 2-in. impacting tee. The experimental operating range included inlet pressures of 400 and 600 psig, inlet mass fluxes form 1,180 to 10,150 lbm/(in[sup 2]-hr), inlet steam qualities form 0.2 to 0.8, and outlet vapor extraction ratios for one outlet leg from 0.2 to 0.5.

• OSTI ID: 6964718
• Journal Information: SPE Production Engineering (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Vol. 7:4; ISSN 0885-9221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
42 ENGINEERING
OIL WELLS
STEAM INJECTION
PIPELINES
HEAT TRANSFER
TWO-PHASE FLOW
ENHANCED RECOVERY
MANAGEMENT
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
WELLS
022000* - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
420400 - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
420205 - Engineering- Transport & Storage Facilities- (1980-)