Ledaflow Engineering 1D

LedaFlow Engineering 1D is an advanced transient multiphase flow simulator that models the dynamics of multiple fluid phases within well and pipe networks.

LedaFlow is the product of many years of innovative development by SINTEF; sponsored, guided and supported by TOTAL and ConocoPhillips, commercialized and developed further by KONGSBERG.

LedaFlow is based on models that are closer to the actual physics of multiphase flow. It increases the resolution of modelling, solving mass, energy, and momentum conservation for each of the three phases of multiphase flow (oil, gas and water). This improves the accuracy in simulation of critical transient events and consequently provides a step change in the understanding of fluid behaviour. More physically correct models also provide better scalability.

Multi-field approach

It solves mass equations for all nine fields (dispersed and continuous) of the three phase flow (oil, gas and water) while the energy and momentum conservation are solved for each zone (continuous phase with the dispersed phases it contains). This improves the accuracy in simulation of critical transient events and consequently provides a step change in the understanding of fluid behavior.

Advanced thermal modelling

As LedaFlow solves separate energy equations for all three phases, much more accurate information can be determined during stratified flow and during blow down conditions where the temperature of the slower moving liquids at the bottom of a pipe can differ considerably from the gas flowing above. In addition, a buried pipe model provides the user with a heat conduction model from the inner surface of the pipe through to the exterior surface of the soil. This is particularly important for estimating corrosion rates and pipe-wall temperatures, information that is critical for material selection and for hydrate risks prediction.

Latest software technology

LedaFlow is designed with an intuitive user interface to improve productivity. 3D visualization is available which makes understanding of the multiphase flow easier. LedaFlow also has a comprehensive relational database to ensure that all cases are stored and readily available. Scripting allows the user to programmatically control LedaFlow to build and edit models, execute commands, introduce logic, extract data and write data back to LedaFlow.

Application areas

LedaFlow can be used by multiple disciplines throughout the project lifecycle to address gas/liquid, thermal, solid and integrity management challenges.

Flow Assurance Studies

Slugging
- Hydrodynamic
- Terrain
Turndown
Shutdown
Cooldown
Depressurization
Start-up / Ramp-up
Pigging
Dead oil displacement
Multiphase pumping
Hydrate risk estimation and transport
Wax risk estimation and deposition
Sand
Inhibitor tracking
CO2 transport
Hydrogen transport
Line packing/unpacking
Gas lift
Corrosion
Erosion
Flow induced pulsation
Force calculations in bends

Well Kill

Blowout simulations
- Establish blowout rates of oil for environmental evaluations
- Numerous flow paths
- Establish confidentmodels for dynamic kill simulations
Dynamic kill simulations
- Document well kill requirements
  - Minimum pump rate
  - Pit volume
  - Kill fluid density
  - RW capacity
  - Horse power requirement
  - Pressure requirement

Well Performance Studies

Slugging
- Hydrodynamic
- Terrain
Clean-up
Start-up / Restart
Warm-up
Shut-in
Artificial lift
Gas lift
ESP
Liquid loading
Crossflow
Annular pressure
Hydrates
Wax
Inhibitor tracking
Corrosion
Erosion