Single-Phase Flow of an

Incompressible, Newtonian Fluid

PDB4333
Flow Regimes
 Either Laminar or Turbulent
 Depending on Reynold Number
 Nre Critial =2100. Average Velocity

Pipe Size
Fluid Density

𝑫𝒖𝝆
𝑵𝑹𝒆 =
𝝁
Fluid Viscosity
Question 1
a. Establish the relationship between Reynolds number versus
volumetric flow rate (in bbl/d) in a water injection well , given the
following fluid and casing information:
ρ = 64.3 lbm/ft3.
D = 6.094”.
µ = 0.6cp.

b. From a, find the critical flow RATE at which the flow would
change from laminar to turbulent .
 Solution.1 𝑞
𝑢= (1),
𝐴
The cross-sectional area is :-
𝜋𝐷2
𝐴= (2),
4
So,
4𝑞
𝑢= (3)
𝜋𝐷2
𝐷𝑢𝜌
Substituting for u in 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = ;
𝜇
𝟒𝒒𝝆
𝑵𝑹𝒆 =
𝝅𝑫𝝁
Continue..
𝑏𝑏𝑙 𝑓𝑡3 𝑑𝑎𝑦 64.3𝐼𝑏𝑚
4(𝑞 )(5.615 )( )( )
𝑑 𝑑 86400𝑠 𝑓𝑡3
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑓𝑡 𝑥10−4 𝐼𝑏𝑚
=26q
𝜋(6.094 𝑖𝑛)(12𝑖𝑛)(0.6 𝑐𝑝)(6.72 𝑓𝑡−𝑠−𝑐𝑝 )
Q2
In well that’s 45o from horizontal , a brine (𝛾𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑒 =1.05 , 𝜇 = 1.2 𝑐𝑝 ) is
flowing at 1000 bbl/d through a tubing of a diameter 2” of 0.001
relative roughness.

Calculate the total pressure drop a cross the 1000’ tubing

Solution
𝜟𝑷𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑬 + 𝜟𝑷𝑲𝑬 + 𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑭
a) Calculation of potential energy pressure drop 𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑬

𝜟𝑷 𝑷𝑬 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟑𝟑 𝜸𝒘 𝑳 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽

Thus ,
𝜟𝑷 𝑷𝑬 = 0.433 ( 1.05)(1000) (sin45) = 321.5 psi
Continue …
b) Calculation of pressure drop due to kinetic energy 𝜟𝑷𝑲𝑬

𝟖𝝆𝒒𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
𝜟𝑷𝑲𝑬 = 𝟐 ( 𝟒 - )
𝝅 𝒈𝒄 𝑫 𝟐 𝑫𝟒𝟏

Since no change in the tubing size ; 𝜟𝑷𝑲𝑬 = Zero

c) Calculation of FRICTION pressure drop 𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑭

𝟐𝒇𝒇 𝝆𝒖𝟐 𝑳
𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑭 =
𝒈𝒄 𝑫

First we calculate Reynold number :-

𝟏.𝟒𝟖𝒒𝝆
𝑵𝑹𝒆 =
𝑫𝝁

𝑰𝒃
𝟏.𝟒𝟖(𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒃𝒃𝒍/𝒅)(𝟔𝟓.𝟓 𝒇𝒕𝒎𝟑 )
= = 40392 > 2100 ( Turbulent Flow )
(𝟐 𝒊𝒏)(𝟏.𝟐 𝒄𝒑)

Using Colebrook –White Equation to find friction factor :-

𝟏 𝜺 𝟓.𝟎𝟒𝟓𝟐 𝜺𝟏.𝟏𝟎𝟗𝟖 𝟕.𝟏𝟒𝟗 𝟎.𝟖𝟗𝟖𝟏

= −𝟒𝒍𝒐𝒈 { − 𝒍𝒐𝒈 +( ) }
𝒇𝒇 𝟑.𝟕𝟎𝟔𝟓 𝑵𝑹𝒆 𝟐.𝟖𝟐𝟓𝟕 𝑵𝒓𝒆

𝟏
Thus ; 𝒇𝒇 = ( )𝟐 , 𝒇𝒇 = 0.0062
𝟏𝟐.𝟔𝟖
Calculating 𝒖
4𝑞
𝑢=
𝜋𝐷2
1000𝑏𝑏𝑙 𝑓𝑡3 1𝑑
4( 𝑑
)(5.615 )(
𝑏𝑏𝑙 86400 𝑠
)
= 2 2 = 3 ft/s
𝜋( )
12𝑓𝑡
𝟐𝒇𝒇 𝝆𝒖𝟐 𝑳
𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑭 =
𝒈𝒄 𝑫
𝑰𝒃
𝟐(𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟐)(𝟔𝟓.𝟓𝒇𝒕𝟑)(𝟑 𝒇𝒕/𝒔)𝟐 (𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒇𝒕)
= 𝑰𝒃𝒎 𝟐 = (1059 Ib/ft2 )(ft2/144 in2) = 7.3 psi
(𝟑𝟐.𝟏𝟕 𝒇𝒕− 𝑰𝒃𝒇 −𝒔𝟐 )(𝟏𝟐𝒇𝒕)
𝜟𝑷𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑬 + 𝜟𝑷𝑲𝑬 + 𝜟𝑷𝑷𝑭 = 321.5 psi +0 psi + 7.3 psi
= 329 psi
Q.3
A brine ( 𝛾𝑤 =1.05 , 𝜇 = 1.2 𝑐𝑝 ) is being flowing at a rate of 1200
bbl/d in a well that is deviated 700 from vertical. If the brine is flowing
through a tubing having a of 4” and of 0.001 relative roughness.

Calculate the total drop occurs a cross 1500’ pipe .