Prediction for internal corrosion of oil pipelines based on multi-phase flow simulation

In recent years, piercing of pipelines induced by internal corrosion has occurred frequently due to accumulation of water with corrosive materials contained in crude oil in lower points or dead flow zones of the pipeline. With low water contents, crude oil in pipelines has low transparency. Accordingly, conventional tests can hardly be used to determine conditions of oil and water flows. Instead, the Star-ccm+ simulation software is used depending on actual working conditions of the pipeline for simulation and calculation of oil and water flows within the pipeline for oil with low water contents (volume fraction is not higher than 1%). The results show that, under the current oil transportation conditions, fluids in the blind pipe 2 m after the tee connection can hardly flow with significant deposition of water and with volumetric fractions of water in bottom section of the pipeline 12.2% higher than those in upper sections. Accordingly, key sections with higher potentials for corrosion in pipelines of pump stations are predicted.