This paper has numerically researched the effects of flow regime on particle trajectories as well as
solids deposition behaviours in multiphase petroleum flow. In this study, the flow patterns frequently
encountered in oil and wet-gas petroleum pipelines were targeted, including annular mist flow, stratified
smooth/wavy flow, slug flow, and elongated/dispersed bubble flow. Distributions of the liquid-phase
velocity in gas-liquid two-phase flow were determined by means of theoretical derivation, numerical
simulation, or using commercial software. Based on the acquired liquid-phase velocity fields, particle
velocities were calculated via Newton’s second law. Subsequently, particle trajectories were tracked by
solving the motion equation. Under an approximation of wall effect, the amount of solids deposition in
multiphase petroleum flow was quantified. Furthermore, solids deposition behaviours with respect to
solids/liquids properties, operating parameters, and pipeline terrain were characterized. Efforts were
made to understand the solids deposition behaviours in multiphase petroleum pipelines which have
been well known to initiate and accelerate localized pitting corrosion. This work was performed in
conjunction with the ongoing development of our company’s internal corrosion prediction model (ICPM)
which is capable of predicting solids deposition as well as under-deposit pitting corrosion rate.
Keywords: Flow regime, Multiphase petroleum flow, Liquid-phase velocity, Particle trajectory, Solids
deposition