The history of OLGA

The development started in 1979. OLGA was initially conceived and developed by Dr. Dag Malnes and Dr. Kjell Bendiksen at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Kjeller in 1979/1980. Dr. Bendiksen wrote the first version of the code, which was named OLGA in May 1980. The development until 1983 was financed by Statoil. Even at an early stage the program was used to analyse practical problems for Statoil.

Long and extensive collaboration between SINTEF and IFE

From 1983 till 1992 there were numerous multi-client projects where SINTEF was project leader. Responsibilities were shared such that SINTEF built the large scale multiphase laboratory at Tiller in Trondheim and conducted the experiments, while IFE developed the OLGA code.

The OLGA development included:

  • Physical modelling of the flow
  • Development of the numerical methods
  • Implementation in the  FORTRAN code.
The modelling work at IFE identified parameter intervals where OLGA needed improvements, and this guided to a large extent the type of measurements to be done at Tiller.

Commercialisation through Scandpower

OLGA was jointly owned by SINTEF and IFE in the first multi-client projects including version OLGA89, released in 1989. After this the sponsors took over the OLGA ownership. In 1993 the owners gave Scandpower the right to commercialise OLGA. IFE and SINTEF participated at the OLGA Club meetings and received the same licence income as the owners.

Further development sponsored by Statoil, Saga and Norsk Hydro led to OLGA 2000

Then the willingness of the market to finance further development fell considerably. However, in 1993 Statoil signed an agreement with IFE and SINTEF to continue a strong focus on multiphase technology R&D. This agreement was in effect for five years, and in the latter three years Norsk Hydro and Saga Petroleum joined. The resulting improvements in the OLGA code led to OLGA2000. During this period IFE developed OLGA while SINTEF delivered experimental data, as in the early days.

Experimental multiphase flow research at IFE

IFE has through the whole OLGA development history had an independent experimental activity to provide data for modelling of special flow phenomena. IFE has now a medium scale three-phase flow laboratory where important experimental data for further development of the OLGA models have been collected.

Document Actions