Experimental Study of Flow Instabilities in a Hilly-Terrain Pipeline/Riser System

Abstract

Abstract: Even at constant inlet and outlet boundary conditions (represented by gas and liquid mass flow rates and separator pressure, respectively), unsteady-state flow may occur in a pipeline/riser system operating at relatively low gas and liquid flow rates. The cyclic unsteady-state flow characterized by large-amplitude pressure and flow rate fluctuations has been referred to as severe slugging. This study is an experimental investigation of flow instabilities, especially severe slugging, in a relatively long hilly-terrain pipeline/riser system. Five types of flow regimes were found and characterized on the basis of visual observation and the measured pressure drop over the riser.