Evaluation and Modelling of Emulsion Droplets Characteristics for stable Oil and Gas Wells Performance (Published)
This study evaluates and model emulsion droplets characteristics for stable oil and gas wells performance. The focus of this work is on the eradication of liquid fall-back in an oil and gas wells and this is narrowed to the determination of the minimum diameter of emulsion droplet at the bottom of the well and the maximum emulsion droplet sizes for each of the dispersed phases, producing gas velocity and critical velocity that can lift the emulsion droplets from the reservoir to the surface. The minimum diameter of the emulsion droplet was gotten with the conditions that if gas flow provides enough energy to keep the emulsion droplets in suspension in the gas, gravitational force equals the sum of the resistance force and the buoyant force inasmuch as the emulsion is spherical in shape and smooth. The minimum diameter of the emulsion droplet at the bottom was. The values of the maximum stable emulsion droplet sizes from the bottom to the surface were 825µm, 498µm, 496µm, 494µm and 488µm, 484 µm, 481 µm, and 480 µm respectively. The producing gas velocities to lift the emulsion droplets from the bottom to the wellhead were 5.27m/s, 5.24m/s, 5.28m/s, 5.33m/s, 5.33 m/s, 5.35 m/s, 5.37 m/s and 5.39m/s respectively. The critical velocity at the wellhead to be the controlling factor for liquid loading, which was 0.230m/s. Whenever the critical gas velocity is greater than the producing gas velocity, liquid fall-back occurs. In conclusion, liquid loading is eradicated as the producing gas velocities are greater than the critical velocities that can lift the liquids from the bottom to the surface. It was recommended among others that the engineering simulation software (HYSYS) should be used for controlling emulsions droplets characteristics of oil and gas wells with a view of determining stable conditions for achieving a better performance.
Keywords: Emulsion droplets, gas wells, oil