CFD Applied to Process Development in the Oil and Gas Industry – A Review

Abstract

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is increasingly used in the oil and gas industry. The present article aims to show how CFD can be used at all steps of the development of a new process, with a focus on refining technologies. Those different steps consist first of setting up tools that will be used during the development phase, second of obtaining data in complement with experiments required for the process development, and finally, of troubleshooting actions or technology developments that will make the process even more efficient. A large number of applications corresponding to various flow configurations, single-phase or gas-liquid, gas-solid or even gas-liquid-solid, characterised by significantly different scales and requiring adapted simulation approaches, are discussed based on original results and a review of the literature. Perspectives are given in particular on the multi-scale approach and physical phenomena coupling.