FAQ: Performance
How long does the Vortex helix stay in place?
The flow pattern is actually a helical wave that is propagated. Like many waves in nature, this wave can travel lengthy distances. The wavelengths of the wave start out short and quickly grow into longer wavelengths. For surface Vortex applications, the helical wave is often not strong enough to overcome gravity and the liquid will travel along the bottom of the pipe until the pipe starts to travel uphill. At this point when the helical wave confronts the area of liquid loading, the wavelengths recoil into shorter wavelengths until the liquid is moved over the hill. We have field reports where persons have observed the unique flow pattern at the wellhead of a 6,000' deep well. We have empirical evidence showing wells as deep as 13,000' being improved with one Vortex downhole tool. We have empirical evidence that a second Vortex downhole tool inserted mid-way in an 8,500' tubing string provided slight production improvement. We have empirical evidence showing lines up to three miles long improved with one 10" Vortex surface tool. The exact distance that the short wavelengths extend is a function of pressure, pipe ID, flowrate and velocity. Additionally, the short wavelengths do extend further down the pipe with time. WeÕve physically observed this characteristic in lab testing at Texas A&M.
Do the Vortex tools enhance single-phase liquid flows?
Yes. In two ways. First, if a single-phase water line has a pattern of developing gas pockets in the water line (most likely where water line moves uphill), the organized flow regime created by the Vortex Surface tool will prevent the gas pockets from forming and enable the gas to flow down the center of the pipe. Second, upon testing extremely high flowrate single phase liquid flows at RMOTC in 2002, the Vortex surface tool was able to reduce pressure drop by 50% over a relatively short distance. Finally, in testing at Texas Tech in 2004, the Vortex downhole tool was able to reduce the 'bottom-hole' pressure in water flow testing.