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The performances of the venturi meters for oil-water flow under real oil well operating conditions were investigated in the present experimental investigation. The pressure drop measurements were studied in Tercom flanged machined venturi meters with a beta ratio (β)=0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 for oil-water two-phase flow experiments in a 0.0762 m (3-in.) pipe. The experimental data for different fluid mixture flow rates and water cuts were acquired using a two-phase, large-scale inclinable flow loop. Potable water and Exxsol mineral oil (D80) were used for the single-phase and two-phase oil-water experiments for the three venturi meters. The experiments were conducted for water cuts varying from 0 to 100% in steps of 20%, flow rates ranging from 2000 to 10,000 barrels per day (bpd), and for horizontal and vertical flow loop inclinations (0∘ and 90∘). Real oil wells flow rates were matched by selecting test liquid flow rates. The experimental results showed that the venturi pressure drop varies as the square of the fluid flow rate for given water cut through the venturi meters studied. For given flow rate and water cut, the venturi pressure drop is inversely proportional to the venturi β; however, the venturi pressure drop varies almost linearly with the water cut for a given fluid flow rate. Within the range of test fluid flow rates, the venturi pressure drop measurements were unaffected by the inclination of the three venturi meters studied in the flow loop. This is very important from an application standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an experimental investigation of pressure drop measurements in a Tercom flanged machined venturi meter of 0.5 beta ratio for oil-water two-phase flow in a 0.0762 m (3-in.) pipe. Two-phase large scale inclinable flow loop was used to acquire data for different water cuts and fluid mixture flow rates. Mineral oil D80 and portable water were used for the single phase and two-phase oil-water experiments. The experiments were conducted for flow rates ranging from 2000 to 12000 bpd, water cuts varying from 0% to 100% in steps of 20%, for four flow loop inclinations (0, 40, 60, and 90 degrees) from horizontal to vertical positions. The range of liquid flow rates were selected to match the actual flow rates in real oil wells to reflect field conditions. The results show that the venturi pressure drop varies parabolically with fluid flow rate for given water cut. However, the venturi pressure drop varies linearly with water cut for given fluid flow rate. The corresponding slopes increase slightly with flow rates. The flow loop inclination has no effect on the venturi pressure drop measurements at the considered flow conditions. A new modified venturi coefficient, k, which is a function of pressure losses and geometry, was defined and its value obtained from the oil-water two-phase flow experiments. The mixture venturi pressure coefficient was also defined and determined, and the average value found to be around 15.5 for all flow loop inclinations. The results indicate that the venturi pressure drop and the determined venturi coefficients are unaffected by the flow loop inclination for selected oil-water two-phase flow conditions. In this paper, attention was focused on the variables affecting the performance of the venturi meter for oil-water flow under real oil well operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]