Mapping and Validation of Multiphase Flow Patterns in the Rock-Flow Cell as a Robust Tool for Flow Assurance

As the name implies, flow assurance in oil and gas production must consider flow, that is, flow regimes/patterns for the distribution of the phases as those encountered in field flowlines. To fully translate and scale up laboratory studies for flow assurance, experimental data collected must be able to closely represent the thermohydraulic conditions of flowlines. To that end, flow loops are the closest representation but costly and resource-intensive, necessitating a more efficient alternative, which the rock-flow cell offers. In this paper, we provide data and analysis of the flow patterns in the rock-flow cell to demonstrate its ability to scale up and translate the thermohydraulic conditions equivalent to flow loops as well as those in flowlines. The one fundamental premise in multiphase flow is the link between shear (turbulence) and flow patterns in terms of dispersion of phases, as described by the Kolmogorov–Hinze dispersion theory and modern extensions of the field such as Brauner’s model. We use a visual rock-flow cell and a stirred beaker to study and understand turbulence and how it impacts droplet breakup. The data presented herein supports the claim that, by adjusting rocking conditions (angle and rate), the rock-flow cell is capable of reproducing flow patterns and droplet size distributions from flow loops as reported in the literature, showing that it is able to match the shear conditions of such systems. Considering the evidence presented herein and in the context of multiphase flow and flow assurance with phase change and solid precipitation, the rock-flow cell is a robust and efficient setup and, in many ways, the best setup available to that end.