Comparison of Correlations for Predicting Oil Flow Rate Passing Through Chokes

• Published in: Energy sources. Part A, Recovery, utilization, and environmental effects Vol. 37; no. 12; pp. 1340 - 1345
• Main Authors: Moghaddasi, M. J., Lotfi, I., Moghaddasi, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 18.06.2015
• Subjects: choke; Chokes; Correlation; Flow rate; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Mathematical analysis; oil flow rate; production; Reservoirs; Sand; ISW, Iran
• ISSN: 1556-7036; 1556-7230
• DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2011.605426

Multiphase flow occurs in almost all producing oil wells and nearly every flowing well has some sort of choke to regulate the flowing rate, for the following reasons: (1) to maintain sufficient back pressure to prevent sand entry; (2) to protect surface equipment from high pressure; (3) to prevent gas or water coning; and (4) to produce the reservoir at the optimum flow rate. One of the most important problems in the petroleum industry is measuring fluid flow rate. For calculation of fluid flow, various methods are used. In this article, a comparison based on data obtained from an Asmari reservoir located in southwest Iran was performed. The following procedures were used to choose the best correlation: (1) evaluation of oil flow rate in production unit by separator test; (2) evaluation of oil flow rate by using the choke flow rate equations; and (3) comparison of these correlations and choosing the best fitted correlation for these data. Results showed that Baxendall (1958) correlation has the least errors and can be used to predict flow rate in this reservoir.