In order to optimize wet gas pipeline water management (and subsequent corrosion issues),
liquid water accumulation at low spots, slug or wavy liquid water/gas flows attributable to water
draining from the reservoir or to water accumulation at low spots, must be assessed. This requires
tools capable of predicting flows, either at the pipeline design stage, or during operation for the
adjustment of operational parameters.
This paper presents a flow modeling study, using a commercial code, for multiphase flow
calculation, and dedicated to the prediction/assessment of liquid/gas flow regimes encountered in
wet gas gathering lines. The flow models developed during this study have been validated against
field measurements performed on french operator installations. Case studies illustrating the use of
the commercial code for optimizing either wet gas pipeline design, or the inspection strategy of
those lines are presented.
This paper illustrates how flow modeling can be used, within the “Indirect Inspection” step, for
prioritization of Direct examination, on the basis of both flow regimes and “relative time of wetness”
concept.