ABOUT TUFFP
Description
The Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP) is a cooperative industry-university research group supported by several oil and gas production, transmission, consulting, and service member companies from 8 countries. The group was formed January 1, 1973, to conduct applied research on fluid flow problems encountered by the member companies.
Funding
Research is supported by annual membership fees. 2009 membership fees totaled $720,000. Effective July, 2003 DOE project titled "The devolopment of new generation multiphase flow predictive tools for three-phase flow" has effectively ended at the end of summer 2008. DOE's support translated into the equivalent four members for the past five years. Most of the current research projects involve experimental and modeling studies of multiphase flow in pipes and wells.”
Membership
Membership fee for 2009 is $48,000. An Information Fee of $10,000 is waived if company joins for a minimum of two years.Click here to view a generic Letter of Agreement for membership in TUFFP.
Current Membership:
15 Industrial Members and Mineral Management Services (MMS)
Current TUFFP Membership.
Scope of work
The main purpose of TUFFP is to conduct applied research on fluid flow problems encountered by the member companies. At any given time, there could be between 3 and 7 research projects actively being conducted.Major Deliverables
- Several computer programs developed as design tools for different multiphase flow applications.
- Entire set of technical reports of previous TUFFP projects shedding light on many multiphase production and transportation problems.
- Experimental procedures, analyses, and data for the membership in conducting their own studies and practices.
- Readily available expertise in multiphase flow production and transportation.
- Access to TUFFP facilities for possible contract projects.
- Platform to exchange information and ideas on multiphase flow practices.
- Personnel training through resident education and short courses.
Accomplishments
Research & Technology Development:
Several experimental and theoretical investigations shedding light on many of the problems encountered in production and transportation of multiphase fluids such as oil, gas and water have been conducted. Several computer programs have been provided to the membership as design tools for different applications. Most of the delivered products are currently used by the major production systems analysis commercial software programs. Most of our members use these commercial programs. Moreover, the experimental procedures, analyses, and data have been very beneficial for the membership in conducting their own studies and practices. A list of the completed studies, categorized into specific interest areas, can be found by following the links in the Completed Studies section below.Training
Resident Education:
TUFFP has produced 70 alumni, many of whom are multiphase flow leaders in their respective organizations.Industry Short Courses
Since 1973, the TUFFP short course, Two-Phase Flow in Pipes, has been taught 29 times to train over 800 individuals from 137 different companies.2009 TUFFP Short Course Brochure
Service
Created and Participated in Different Platforms:
Examples of the various platforms that have facilitated member companies to interact and exchange ideas are TUFFP Advisory Board meetings, TUFFP Transient Multiphase Flow Forums, BHRG meetings, and ETCE Production Technology Symposia.Project Selection Process
Research projects are selected by the TUFFP member companies. Each year, TUFFP members are requested to submit brief descriptions of topics that they would like to see being investigated. A list of proposed topics is then evaluated using an annual questionnaire in which members are asked to indicate their interest levels ranging from . Depending on the availability of funding and experimental facilities, the high ranked topics are initiated as TUFFP projects. 2008 TUFFP Questionnaire
2008 TUFFP Questionnaire Results
Deliverables
During the last thirty-one years, over one hundred final reports were originated from TUFFP based on the research conducted. These final reports have been categorized into a number of groups, so that the historical background of the current research projects can be fully appreciated. This also shows the diversity of the various research projects TUFFP had undertaken in the past. Although there are many different ways to classify the research conducted at TUFFP, we have selected one method. The following structure was selected to classify the final reports. This allowed us to obtain a sufficient number of entries for each category, while minimizing the number of reports classified as miscellaneous. However, because of the interrelationships of the research topics, as well as the overlap in the selected categories, it is appropriate to include some projects in different categories.Research Reports Listed by Category
Research Reports List Chronologically