Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics

Name: Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics
Author: KnowledgeCity

Discover how petroleum moves through reservoirs and pipelines

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Course: On-Demand

Chapter three: Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. Characteristics of a fluid— The underpinnings of fluid dynamics are based on certain basic physical concepts. One of these is key to analyzing how fluids behave. Continuum hypothesis— In math, a continuum is an area where the individual elements seem the same. Any slight differences are so tiny as to be almost undetectable. However, when you compare both extremes of the continuum, the difference is more perceivable. An example of this would be degrees of temperature. A measurement of 77 degrees fahrenheit is almost imperceptibly different from 78 degrees within the continuum. However, when you compare the freezing point of water at 32 degrees fahrenheit to the boiling point at 100 degrees, it is much easier to see the difference. The continuum hypothesis dictates that fluids should be treated as if there are variations within the fluid regarding things like temperature and viscosity. Determining the average temperature of a sample would lead to an accurate approximation of the overall temperature of the larger body. The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. However, liquids and gases both move when force is applied to them. For this reason, gases are also classified as fluids. In contrast, solids resist movement due to outside forces, also called deformation. As long as the deformation force is present, a gas or liquid will flow in response to it while a solid will not. To estimate the potential of an oil reservoir, it is important to understand how the fluid in a specific reservoir reacts to pressure and temperature. Important measures include the solution gas-oil ratio, GOR, bubble point pressure, and formation volume factor, FVF. Other important factors include surface tension and viscosity to understand how the fluid flows through porous substances or pipes. Solution gas-oil ratio, or GOR— The solution gas-oil ratio identifies how much natural gas is dissolved in the reservoir oil. Oils can be classified as heavy and light. Heavy oils do not contain as much gas as lighter oils. The most important measure is the GOR at bubble point. When the pressure is above the bubble point, the oil is described as undersaturated because it could hold more gas at a lower pressure and temperature. When the pressure is below the bubble point, gas is released from the oil and the oil is called saturated. Bubble point— Reservoir oil contains dissolved natural gas. The bubble point is the combination of temperature and pressure required to release the gas from the oil or allow it to start to bubble out of the liquid. Sometimes, the oil is fully saturated, which means it is holding all the gas it is capable of holding at its current temperature and pressure. If it is undersaturated, it is capable of holding more gas if there is a change in the temperature and pressure. Formation volume factor, or FVF— The formation volume factor of oil is the volume of crude oil that exists after extraction compared to the volume of oil measured at the greater temperature and pressure that exists in the oil reservoir. Very volatile oil contains 3.0 barrels per stock tank barrel at surface conditions. Less volatile oil contains 1.0 barrels per stock tank barrel at surface conditions. Interfacial tension— When two substances exist together without mixing, such as gas and oil, you can measure the interfacial tension. Essentially, it measures the force needed to keep the two phases separate rather than merging together. The interfacial tension is affected by the composition of the material, the temperature around it, and the pressure brought to bear on it. Density— In an oil-water mixture, water is denser than oil, so it sinks to the bottom while the lighter oil floats on top. The American Petroleum Institute has created several standard measures for oil, among them API gravity. API gravity is measured by comparing the density of oil to that of water. An API gravity greater than 10 indicates the oil is lighter and would float on top of water. When API gravity is below 10, it is called heavy and will sink into the water. Light oil is more desirable because they contain more hydrocarbons. Heavy oils contain higher levels of sulfur and metals which requires more filtering. Isothermal compressibility— With isothermal compressibility, the temperature remains the same, but the pressure changes. This affects the volume of crude oil. With oil, as API gravity increases, the isothermal compressibility also increases. If the pressure changes, it can increase or decrease the yield of an oil reservoir.

Essential Provider : KnowledgeCity 5 Lessons · 14m in Arabic, English

Course Description

The underpinnings of fluid dynamics are based on certain basic physical concepts. One of these is key to analyzing how fluids behave. The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. However, liquids and gases both move when force is applied to them. For this reason, gases are also classified as fluids.

In this course on the Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics, we will discuss the characteristics of a fluid including bubble point, formation volume factor (FVF) and density. You’ll also learn the basics of viscosity, and how petroleum flows in pipes by understanding the mechanisms of flow.

What You'll Learn

Analyze the factors that affect fluid characteristics, including bubble point, formation volume factor (FVF), and density
Define surface tension
Explain viscosity and identify viscous fluids
Identify the five types of fluid flow
Describe how petroleum flows in pipes by understanding the mechanisms of flow
Examine flow velocity, flow rate, and computational fluid dynamics

Key Takeaways

The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas, but because both liquids and gases move when force is applied, gases are also classified as fluids.
Fluid characteristics covered in the course include bubble point, formation volume factor (FVF), and density.
The course covers the basics of viscosity and surface tension.
Understanding the mechanisms of flow explains how petroleum flows in pipes.
The course identifies five types of fluid flow and addresses flow velocity, flow rate, and computational fluid dynamics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics course cover?

The course discusses the characteristics of a fluid, including bubble point, formation volume factor (FVF), and density, the basics of viscosity, surface tension, and how petroleum flows in pipes by understanding the mechanisms of flow. It also covers flow velocity, flow rate, and computational fluid dynamics.

Why are gases classified as fluids in this course?

The course explains that although the three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas, both liquids and gases move when force is applied to them, and for this reason gases are also classified as fluids.

What skills will I gain from this course?

The course builds skills in fluid coupling, fluid dynamics, fluid mechanics, fluid simulation, gas dynamics, and hemodynamics (fluid mechanics).

What lessons are included in the course?

The lessons are Characteristics of a Fluid, Viscous Fluids, Flow in Pipes, Flow Velocity and Flow Rate, and Computational Fluid Dynamics.