Getting an accurate understanding of the dynamics of multiphase transport for the design of efficient pipelines is an important issue in the oil and gas industry. This paper presents simulations of one-dimensional two-phase flow in pipelines. The compressible model used is derived from the two-fluid model where pressure relaxation terms are added. The governing system consists of five time-dependent partial differential equations solved explicitly by a finite volume approach. Numerical results on well-known air-water compressible flow problems are performed and analysed. Common problems are observed with coarse meshes and are reduced with mesh refinement. We conclude that the model and the discretisation each behave well in regions of large discontinuities of pressure and velocities.
One of the big issues in the oil and gas industries is the understanding of the behaviour of multiphase mixtures in pipeline transport. Indeed, it is important to be able to predict the gas or oil production rate of a system, or to check the efficiency of a pipeline design. All of this information can be obtained by numerical simulation. Research on such predictions has been conducted for several years, and is still a major challenge today.
