Nonisothermal Fluid Flow in a Well during Induction Heating of the Casing String

Abstract

The distinctive features of the flow velocity and temperature fields of ascending fluid flow in a metal round pipe (round casing string installed in a production well) under the conditions of its local induction heating are studied. The results of investigation are based on numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations in the Boussinesq–Oberbeck approximation. The calculations were performed using the Ansys Fluent software package (license ANSYS Academic Research CFD under the agreement with the Bashkir State University dated June 15, 2020). The fluid flow rates of 10 and 50 m³ per day are considered. Such flow rates correspond to the laminar and transitional flow regimes in the casing pipe. It is found that local perturbations of the velocity and temperature fields are presented in the near-wall region of the heated casing. Fluid temperature perturbations reach several Kelvin degrees, the local flow velocity which increases due to natural thermal convection in the near-wall region of the casing string being several times higher than the cross-section-average flow velocity. The occurrence of areas of vortex flow motion over the interval of induction heating due to natural thermal convection is shown.