Petroleum Production Systems

Chapter 7. Wellbore Flow Performance

7.1. Introduction

Wellbore flow can be divided into several broad categories, depending on the flow geometry, the fluid properties, and the flow rate. First, the flow in a wellbore is either single phase or multiphase; in most production wells, the flow is multiphase, with at least two phases (e.g., gas and liquid) present. Some production wells and most injection wells experience single-phase flow. The flow geometry of interest in the wellbores is usually flow through a circular pipe, though flow in an annular space, such as between tubing and casing, sometimes occurs. Furthermore, the flow of interest may be in any direction relative to the gravitational field. The properties of the fluids, both their PVT ...