The ability to predict the rate of erosion in the multiphase production of oil and gas is important for sizing lines, analyzing failures, and lhniting production rates. The commonly used API-RP-14E criterion is shown to be inadequate for two reasons: (i) in some cases, it gives a false sense of security, and (ii) in other cases, it unnecessarily limits production. The
fundamentals of erosion caused by particles in single-phase systems are discussed. Recent literature in the area of erosion in single and multiphase flow is reviewed and critically analyzed. A new method of calculating erosion rates and limits in multiphase flow is presented. Results for the new approach are. validated by several observations.
Keywords: API-RP-14E, Multiphase Flow, Erosion, Limiting Velocities