It is shown, by means of Lagrangian momentum and power balances across the slug nose in slug flow, that the power dissipated due to sudden expansion of the fluid in the film immediately downstream of the slug nose is greater than the power lost due to viscous action at the pipe wall but that it may not be large enough to materially aid particle transport. This has the implication that sand transport in intermittent flow may be considered as transport in a hybrid flow of hydraulic conveying and stratified flow when the length of the mixing section at the slug nose is short compared to the length of the slug body.