Slug tracking - Model description Page 1 of 5

Model description

In the slug tracking approach, the fixed grid in OLGA is supplemented by a moving grid that tracks the position of each
slug front and tail. Fronts and tails are then modeled as discontinuities in the mass and velocity fields. This enables an
efficient representation of the holdup distribution with a relatively small number of grid points. The movement of these
discontinuities are governed by the closure relationships used in OLGA.

There are two types of slugs that can be initiated in OLGA. These types are level slugs and hydrodynamic slugs. Level
slugs are often initiated at low-points where liquid has accumulated, while hydrodynamic slugs can be initiated at any
point in the pipeline provided OLGA predicts slug flow (ID = 3).

Initiation of level slugs

Figure 1 Schematic visualization of a pipeline shut-in situation where liquid has been accumulated at low points. The
pipeline consists of a well, a transport line, and a riser.

Level slug initiation can be carried out at any time by setting LEVEL=ON in the SLUGTRACKING keyword. Level slugs
then are initiated in the user specified time interval given by STARTTIME and ENDTIME. The detection of level slugs is
based on differences in the gas fraction. SLUGVOID is used to specify the maximum void allowed in a slug, whereas
BUBBLEVOID determines the minimum void in a bubble. When a section is found with void less than SLUGVOID, a level
slug might be initiated, all depending on the void in the neighboring sections. If the void increases and exceeds
BUBBLEVOID within two upstream sections, a tail is initiated. If, on the other hand, the void increases and exceeds
BUBBLEVOID within two downstream sections, a front is initiated.

Initiation of hydrodynamic slugs

mk:@MSITStore:C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Schlumberger\OLGA%202017.2.0\Docu... 7/15/2019
Slug tracking - Model description Page 2 of 5

Figure 2 Schematic visualization of the initiation of a hydrodynamic slug.

If the key HYDRODYNAMIC=ON in the SLUGTRACKING keyword, and OLGA predicts slug flow (ID=3) at boundary J, a
hydrodynamic slug can be initiated in section J, J-1, or over both sections, see Figure 2. The methodology for slug
initiation depends on the value of SLUGTRACKINGMODEL under the OPTIONS keyword (see description below).

Note: Initiating a new slug implies redistribution of masses, which might lead to discontinuities in pressure in
inclined or vertical pipes. To avoid such discontinuities, the new slug is set up with an as short slug length as
possible. These short hydrodynamic slugs then grow into larger slugs as they propagate through the pipe if the
conditions are favourable.

OPTIONS SLUGTRACKINGMODEL=OLGA2015

From OLGA 2015.1, a method of stochastic slug initiation has been implemented. This enables OLGA to simulate the
irregular behavior over time that characterizes the slug initiation better. The mechanistic model for slug initiation derives
from work carried out in the HORIZON II JIP [20]. The model is based on the conservation equation for the number
density of slugs:

(1)
where N represents the density of slugs in the pipeline (1/m) and UA represents the advection velocity (average
velocity with which slugs move through the pipeline). The term B is the 'birth' rate of slugs (rate at which new slugs are
formed 1/m/s), and D is the 'death' rate of slugs (1/m/s). Equation (1) is a continuum equation, but OLGA slug tracking
models slug birth and death as discrete events. When new short slugs form in a region of separated flow, the rate of
formation, is assumed to depend on the degree of instability in the system and the spatial density of slug precursors Np
(1/m).

The slug precursor density Np is obtained by simulating the unit cell length of successive short slugs of lengths 5 to 10
diameters. To this end, a two-phase tail profile model [2] is applied to compute the holdup distribution in the elongated
bubble zone.

The introduction of slugs is governed by the slug growth criterion, also known as the minimum slip criterion. This criterion
can be expressed in terms of the front (VF) and tail (VT) velocities of a candidate slug. If the flow is locally separated, we

mk:@MSITStore:C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Schlumberger\OLGA%202017.2.0\Docu... 7/15/2019
Slug tracking - Model description Page 3 of 5

consider the introduction of a candidate slug and calculate its front and tail velocities. If VF < VT, the slug will quickly die,
so a new slug should not be introduced. On the other hand, if VF > VT, the slug will grow, so a slug can be introduced. In
the latter case, the decision to introduce a slug or not is based on an estimate of the probability of slug formation.

The birth rate B is modeled in the form:

Where kB is a constant. The final factor represents the (inverse) time for a slug to grow to a length of 10 times the pipe
diameter D.

Then for a pipe section of length Δz and a time interval Δt, the probability of a new slug being formed is P = B Δz Δt. In
most cases, the time step is small, so that P << 1.

New slugs can also be formed by the introduction of a short Taylor bubble in a region of bubbly flow or to split an existing
slug. This is handled in a manner analogous to the introduction of a new slug into a region of separated flow.

The death rate of slugs is not modeled explicitly in OLGA slug tracking. Instead, the death of an individual slug occurs
when the slug tail catches up with the slug front. The number of slugs can also be reduced by slug merging, which
occurs when the front of one slug catches up with the tail of the preceding slug.

In addition to the new and improved slug birth model, the slug tracking model has also been revised to improve the
physical basis of the model. In essence, the slug tracking functionality solves equations for the motion of each slug front
and tail. Thus, the key components of the physical model are the closures that affect the slug front and tail velocity. The
slug tail velocity is specified by a correlation based on that of Bendiksen [2]. This has been thoroughly tested against a
wide range of experimental data and found to be accurate. The model also contains a factor governing the dependence
of the slug tail velocity on the slug length: The flow in the front region of each slug is dominated by a recirculation zone or
wake driven by the shear layer between the fast-moving liquid in the slug front and the relatively slow-moving liquid layer
which it overtakes. If a slug is shorter than the length of the wake zone (which is of order 5 to 10 times the pipe
diameter), the tail of the slug senses the velocity field in the wake. This leads to an increase in the tail velocity for short
slugs, as first reported by Fagundes Netto et al. [10]. Figure 3 shows a plot of slug tail velocity against the slug length;
the tail velocity VT is normalized with the value V∞ corresponding to an infinitely long slug, and the slug length LS is
normalized with the pipe diameter D. The plot comes from a CFD study by Ujang et al. [36] and includes comparison with
experimental data [10] and literature correlations, see references [7] and [11]. The dependence on slug length was
revised in OLGA 2015 and with SLUGTRACKINGMODEL=OLGA2015 this behaviour contributes to a gradual evolution
in the slug length.

mk:@MSITStore:C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Schlumberger\OLGA%202017.2.0\Docu... 7/15/2019
Slug tracking - Model description Page 4 of 5

Figure 3 Variation of the slug tail velocity with slug length (for details see Ujang et al. [36])

Although SLUGTRACKINGMODEL=OLGA2015 is meant to be a predictive way to model slugs, there is a tuning

capability to help the user to match data. The tuning constant SLUGFREQCONST modifies the birth rate model and the
model for the slug tail velocity. Higher values increase the initiation frequency and favour shorter slugs.

OPTIONS SLUGTRACKINGMODEL=OLGA6
SLUGTRACKINGMODEL=OLGA6 activates the slug functionality, which was the only option in OLGA 2014.3 and earlier
versions. In this model a slug is initiated in a section if:

l OLGA predicts slug flow.

l The distance to the closest slug must exceed a minimum distance.

l The time elapsed since a slug was either generated in or passed through the section must be larger than a specified
minimum time.

The minimum distance between slugs is specified through the INITFREQUENCY key (slug initiation frequency, Fi). Using
the slug initiation frequency, the minimum distance is calculated as UB/Fi, where UB is the bubble nose velocity of the
new slug. Per default, the minimum distance is 10 pipe diameters.

The idle time required before generating a new slug at any section boundary is specified through the DELAYCONSTANT
key. The delay constant, DC, is the number of pipe diameters a slug must travel before the slug model tries to initiate a
new slug at the same boundary. Thus, the time between two consecutive slug initiations on any given boundary or the
time between a slug passes a boundary and a new slug can be set up is given by:

mk:@MSITStore:C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Schlumberger\OLGA%202017.2.0\Docu... 7/15/2019
Slug tracking - Model description Page 5 of 5

D = pipe diameter [m]

Ul = average liquid velocity [m/s]

The default value for the delay constant is 150.

It is possible to estimate the value of the delay constant by using the Shea correlation for slug frequency. This correlation
is given by:

D = pipe diameter [m]

L = pipeline length [m]
Usl = superficial liquid velocity [m/s]

The delay constant should be tuned such that the resulting slug frequency is in the same order of magnitude as Fsl. Note
that this correlation is based on experimental data and field data for systems dominated by hydrodynamic slugging.
Thus, if terrain effects are predominant, you should not use the Shea correlation. The default value of 150 has been
found to yield good results for a number of cases.

When tuning this model we recommended that only the DELAYCONSTANT key is varied first. If it is not possible to
achieve the slug pattern sought by varying DELAYCONSTANT alone, INITFREQUENCY can be modified as well.

mk:@MSITStore:C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Schlumberger\OLGA%202017.2.0\Docu... 7/15/2019