An Experimental Comparison Between a Recombined Hydrocarbon-Water Fluid and a Model Fluid System in Three-Phase Pipe Flow

In this paper, results are presented from an experimental comparison between a light hydrocarbon system from the North Sea and a model oil system in pipe flow. The experiments were carried out in order to compare similar fluid systems (density, viscosity, oil-water interfacial tension) with respect to pressure drop and flow pattern for horizontal flow. The results show significant deviations with respect to pressure drop and flow patterns for two and three-phase flow. This may contribute to the explanation of the discrepancies often revealed between multiphase models and measurements on multiphase flowlines in the oil and gas industry.