TECHNICAL INFORMATION SHEET-8

WET GAS
What is a Wet Gas?

In simple terms it can be described as a gas w ith a small amount of liquid present. There is no
quantitative definition of a w et gas flow that is universally accepted and the definition has been
interpreted from a humid gas (i.e. gas saturated w ith liquid vapour) to multiphase flow s w ith a gas
volume fraction (volume of gas to the total volume of gas plus liquid) of 90% or higher.

Gas
Liquid

How ever, since the gas volume fraction is based on the volumetric flow rates of the liquid and
gas phases at actual conditions, no account has been made of the gas and liquid densities.
Liquids are considered as incompressible fluids and so the density does not tend to change w ith
a change in pressure. Gas on the other hand is a compressible fluid and the density changes
significantly w ith pressure. If the pressure of a system increases, the gas density increases but
the liquid density w ill not change. The fluid densities are an important consideration in flow
measurement as they relate to the actual mass quantities of the fluids present.

To account for both the flow rates and densities of the liquid and gas phases it is common
practice to define the w etness or liquid loading of the gas using the Lockhart-M artinelli
parameter, referred to as X. This parameter can be calculated from the mass or volumetric flow
rates and the density of the fluids.

Liquid Mass Flowrate Gas Density

Lockhart  Martinelli Parameter 
Gas Mass Flowrate Liquid Density
Or

Liquid Volume Flowrate Liquid Density

Lokhart  Martinelli Parameter 
Gas Volume Flowrate Gas Density

The Lockhart-M artinelli parameter can also be expressed in terms of the gas and liquid
densiometric Froude number, w hich is a dimensionless number used to express the liquid or gas
phase velocity. It is common (and sometimes confusing) to find different expressions of the
Lockhart-M artinelli parameter in different publications.
The Lockhart-M artinelli parameter is used to define a w et-gas flow w ith the value of X
betw een zero (i.e. completely dry gas) and about 0.3. Flow s w ith a Lockhart-M artinelli
parameter above 0.3 are usually referred to as multiphase flow s.

Steam Flows

Steam, w hen it is saturated and has w ater present as a liquid, can be defined as a w et gas.
In this case the gas component is steam and the liquid is very hot w ater. Large amounts of
steam are routinely produced by industry in general and it has been estimated that
approximately 50% of the energy consumed by industry is for the generation of steam.

Hydrocarbon Flows

Within the oil and gas industry w et gas flow s are commonly encountered, for example,
w hen gas is extracted from reservoirs w here it can contain some liquid, or w hen extracted
dry gas undergoes a change in pressure and temperature, say across a choke valve, and
liquid subsequently condenses out.

Within this industry the liquid component can be any combination of w ater and liquid
hydrocarbon. The liquid fraction of the total hydrocarbon flow is typically a low molecular
w eight hydrocarbon referred to as the gas condensate.

Gas Liquid
hydrocarbon
Liquid
Water

The hydrocarbon present in the liquid phase depends on the local temperature and pressure
conditions. The system conditions could either change or be such as to enable
condensation of liquid from its vapour hydrocarbon form. As the temperature and/or the
pressure changes, then liquid may form from the gas phase. The presence of the liquid can
cause problems and errors in the ability to accurately meter the gas phase flow rate.
Changes in the system conditions are common, for example, w hen a gas is transported
from a reservoir at high temperature and pressure to w here it is brought ashore.

It is common practice to define the amount of w ater in the liquid phase as a percentage
know n as the w ater cut. This liquid phase may have a w ater cut anyw here betw een 0%
and 100%.

For further information, contact:

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Tel: + 44 (0) 1355 220222 Email: info@tuvnel.com www.tuvnel.com

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