Application of Array Imaging Algorithms for Water Holdup Measurement in Gas–Water Two-Phase Flow Within Horizontal Wells
Gas–water two-phase flow in horizontal and inclined wells is significantly influenced by gravitational forces and spatial asymmetry around the wellbore, resulting in complex and variable flow patterns. Accurate measurement of water holdup is essential for analyzing phase distribution and understandi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4557 |
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| Summary: | Gas–water two-phase flow in horizontal and inclined wells is significantly influenced by gravitational forces and spatial asymmetry around the wellbore, resulting in complex and variable flow patterns. Accurate measurement of water holdup is essential for analyzing phase distribution and understanding multiphase flow behavior. Water holdup imaging provides a valuable means for visualizing the spatial distribution and proportion of gas and water phases within the wellbore. In this study, air and tap water were used to simulate downhole gas and formation water, respectively. An array capacitance arraay tool (CAT) was employed to measure water holdup under varying total flow rates and water cuts in a horizontal well experimental setup. A total of 228 datasets were collected, and the measurements were processed in MATLAB (2020 version) using three interpolation algorithms: simple linear interpolation, inverse distance interpolation, and Lagrangian nonlinear interpolation. Water holdup across the wellbore cross-section was also calculated using arithmetic averaging and integration methods. The results obtained from the three imaging algorithms were compared with these reference values to evaluate accuracy and visualize imaging performance. The CAT demonstrated reliable measurement capabilities under low- to medium-flow conditions, accurately capturing fluid distribution. For stratified flow regimes, the linear interpolation algorithm provided the clearest depiction of the gas–water interface. Under low- to medium-flow rates with high water content, both inverse distance and Lagrangian methods produced more refined images of phase distribution. In dispersed flow conditions, the Lagrangian nonlinear interpolation algorithm delivered the highest accuracy, effectively capturing subtle variations within the complex flow field. |
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| ISSN: | 1424-8220 |