Mass Transfer Coefficient Measurement in Water/Oil/Gas Multiphase Flow

Abstract

Mass transfer studies in oil-containing multiphase flow provide fundamental knowledge towards the understanding of hydrodynamics and the subsequent effect on corrosion in pipelines. Mass transfer coefficient measurements in two-phase (oil/ferri-ferrocyanide) and three-phase (oil/ferri-ferrocyanide/nitrogen) flow using limiting current density technique were made in 10-cm-dia pipe at 25 and 75 percent oil percentage. Mass transfer coefficients in full pipe oil/water flow and slug flow were studied. A relationship is developed between the average mass transfer coefficient in full pipe flow and slug flow. The mass transfer coefficient decreased with a decrease of in-situ water cut. This was due to the existence of oil phase, which decreased the ionic mass transfer diffusion coefficient.