Multiphase Flow Behavior in the Deep-Stratum and Deep-Water Wellbores

  • 3,921

    Total Downloads

  • 23k

    Total Views and Downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

Select the journal/section where you want your idea to be submitted:

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

The physics of multiphase flow in porous media is a relatively young field in rapid development. Much of the understanding of multiphase flow in porous media that we have today comes not from basic science, i.e., the study of phenomena for their own sake, but as spin-off knowledge in connection with applications. A traditional application that has been one of the main driving forces of this field is the development of oil, gas, and natural gas hydrate. In recent years, the exploration and development of hydrocarbon energy, such as oil, natural gas, and natural gas hydrate, has come to deep water and deep stratum regions. The practicing engineers must face challenges resulting from the multiphase flow of complex fluids under elevated temperature/pressure conditions. These challenges require developing our understanding of multiphase flow in porous media under conditions that typically are not studied in a basic science setting. For example, the temperature and pressure of a 24000 ft long wellbore can reach over 200 ℃ and 100 MPa in the Tarim oilfield. In deep-water wells, the wellbore temperature can vary from 4 to 120 ℃, while the wellbore pressure can vary from 10 to 30 MPa. Since phase state, heat-mass transfer between gas and liquid, and fluid hydrodynamics in the wellbore (e.g., acid gas, hydrocarbon gas and crude oil) depend highly on the temperature and pressure conditions, multiphase flow behavior in deep stratum and deep-water wellbore becomes much more complex. Different from conventional oil and gas development, the development of oil and gas in deep water and deep stratum regions involves many complex physical phenomena, such as phase transition (gas-liquid-solid-super critical), particle deposition (wax, hydrate, water scale, asphaltene, etc.), changes of heat-mass transfer induced by phase change, etc.

Current models, experiment measures and simulation approaches cannot satisfy the requirement of developing oil and gas from deep water and deep stratum regions. The most interesting and urgent multiphase flow problems in this context can be grouped into two categories. First, unexpected crystallization of solid particle happens in multiphase flow induced by changes of temperature and pressure in the wellbore, such as gas hydrate, wax, acid gas, water scale, asphaltene, etc. Those particles can deposit along wellbore and pipe and plug the production channel of oil and gas. Second, the accompanied physical problems induced by the phase transition threaten the safety of drilling and production in deep stratum and deep-water region. For example, the phase transition changes the distribution of temperature and pressure in wellbore and increases the risk of gas kick.

It is the aim of this Research Topic to explore the challenges and open questions for multiphase flow in porous media under conditions dictated by the conditions met when developing oil and natural gas in deep water and deep stratum regions.

We will draw on contributions from several frontier engineering fields, such as gas hydrate development, CO2 storage underground, underground natural gas storage, underground coal gasification, etc. to bring the field of multiphase flow in porous media forwards.

This Research Topic will be dedicated to publishing experimental and theoretical studies related to the multiphase flow behavior in the wellbore. The Research Topic intends to cover but is not limited to the following topics:
1. Transient multiphase flow model coupling with reservoir performance.
2. THMC (thermal-hydrological-mechanical–chemical) coupling and multi-physical process in drilling and production.
3. Characteristics of heat and mass transfer process in wellbore.
4. Physical structure and dynamic deposition process of solid particles (wax, hydrate, asphaltene, scale, etc) in multiphase flow.
5. Flow assurance method and theory in wellbore.
6. Structural strength of wellbore and pipe (aspect of fluid-structure coupling).
7. New experiments and new simulation approaches towards multiphase flow in wellbore.
8. New challenges from the aspect of multiphase flow in wellbore in the frontier engineering fields, such as CO2 storage underground, underground natural gas storage, natural gas hydrate production, underground coal gasification, etc.

Keywords: Hydrodynamic, Multiphase Flow, Flow assurance, Drilling and completion, Phase transition

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Participating Journals

Impact

  • 23kTopic views
  • 18kArticle views
  • 3,921Article downloads
View impact