Abstract: The experimental study on heavy oil-water two-phase flow in the horizontal pipes was conducted in a steel pipe loop with 25.4 mm in diameter and 52m in length. The visual observation, local sampling methods and the analysis of pressure drop signals were jointly used, and a new flow pattern of Ew/o+D(Ew/o)/w intermittent flow was defined and distinguished. The intermittent flow was composed of two liquid slugs including slug of water in oil emulsion and water in oil emulsion, which dispersed in water phase. The factors affecting the critical conditions for phase inversion were discussed. The mixture velocity was especially studied. The results showed that the increment of mixture velocity would reduce the critical water fraction for phase inversion and lead to phase inversion directly at a fixed water fraction ranged from 35% to 55%.

Key words: heavy oil water two phase flow, flow pattern, pressure drop, mixture velocity, phase inversion

摘要： 以高粘度稠油和水为工质,将稠油和水先经搅拌罐混合,再由螺杆泵输送进入实验环道流程,在内径为25.4mm、长52m的水平钢质管道中,模拟了稠油油田现场情况。描述了实验流型,并命名了一种新的流型——Ew/o+D(Ew/o)/w间歇流流型,研究了稠油-水两相管流的压降及反相过程,重点探讨了混合流速对反相的影响。研究结果表明,随着混合流速的增大,反相有提前发生的趋势。在含水率为0.35-0.55时,混合流速的增大将直接引发反相。

关键词: 稠油-水两相流, 流型, 压降, 混合流速, 反相