Digital twinning of temperature fields for modular multilayer multiphase pipeline structures

Abstract

The temperature field of oil and gas wells in the field of petroleum engineering presents a core problem and challenge in the digital twin framework due to its ultra-long-distance and highly variable structural characteristics. The varying wellbore cross-sectional structures with depth make it difficult to establish an effective and generalized analytical model for heat transfer. In this study, we propose, for the first time, a method to automate the construction of multi-layered and multi-component heat transfer models by using a general computational model based on non-steady-state single-phase structural modules. This method enables the automated generation of complex multi-layered and multi-component heat transfer models, thereby achieving the construction of a generalized model for temperature field characterization with varying wellbore cross-sectional structures over ultra-long distances. Utilizing this modeling approach, we validate the proposed method through case studies using actual wellbore temperature field data. The results demonstrate the lightweight and efficient computational analysis of temperature field information under non-steady-state conditions.