Papers

The knowledge base and continual flow of information from a field measurement technician to the measurement analyst located in the corporate office is extremely demanding. Every field technician is tested in both knowledge and skills on a daily basis regarding:   Electronic controls to pneumatic controls   Communication system support   Multiple technical disciplines  …

IMPROVING FLOW MEASUREMENTS WITH IMPROVED CALIBRATION AND DATA HANDLING PROCEDURES Read More »

any (likely most) gas pipeline companies struggle with lost-and-unaccounted-for-gas (L&U) and it can be a significant cost to their bottom line as shown below. As shown in this inset, by reducing L&U from 0.6 percent to .25 percent, a typical company with a 2 BCF daily throughput could save Over 7.6 million dollars annually based …

HOW TO PERFORM A LOST & UNACCOUNTED-FOR GAS PROGRAM Read More »

Measuring natural gas is both a science and an art. Guidelines and industry practices explain how to accurately measure natural gas. The ‘art” comes in trying to minimize errors and prevent measurement problems. However, sometime it’s easier to explain “how not” to measure gas when reviewing measurement errors. Measurement errors can be caused through poor …

“How Not to Measure Gas – Orifice Measurement” Read More »

Flow conditioning is one of the most critical aspects dealing with any type of volumetric flow metering. Flow conditioning is the final buffer between the flow meter and the upstream piping layout and is responsible for eliminating swirl, restoring flow symmetry and generating a repeatable, fully developed velocity flow profile. Even though modern advancements have …

Fluid FLOW CONDITIONING FOR METER ACCURACY AND REPEATABILITY Read More »

With the recent release of the Green House Gas Regulations, the increased visibility of flaring natural gas and increased awareness of royalty owners, the ability to accurately measure and account for the amount of product flared from a facility has become increasingly important to regulators, royalty owners and operators. In the past, flare gas was …

Flare Measurement According to API 14.10 Read More »

Pressure calibration is as important today as it has been for a very long time, but the way calibration is performed and the equipment used to do it has changed drastically. In the past it was a standard practice to use a primary standard for pressure calibration. That standard was normally a dead weight tester …

FACTORS AFFECTING DIGITAL PRESSURE CALIBRATION ASSOCIATED TECHNIQUES, USES, TRACEABILITY, AND PROBLEMS Read More »

Measurement requires the highest level of ethical integrity in an industry that relies on ethical integrity at every level. A measurement professional is the provider of data to all the other professionals involved in the petroleum industry. If the measurement professional fails at their assigned duties, all the other branches of this industry make decisions …

ETHICS Read More »

The use of electronics is evolving in the measurement industry. The technology of measurement and control has evolved over the past few decades. Systems have moved from mechanical devices that were read on site to early versions of electronic systems that were polled infrequently. Current systems can control several devices such as pumps, meters or …

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS IN MEASUREMENT Read More »

One of the most common measurement errors and the most difficult to identify in natural gas metering systems is that caused by pulsating flow. It is important to understand the effects that pulsations have on the common types of flow meters used in the gas industry so that potential error-producing mechanisms can be identified and …

EFFECTS AND CONTROL OF PULSATION IN GAS MEASUREMENT Read More »

Flow is one of the four major physical measurements in processes. Flow meters may be classified in four categories: differential pressure, velocity, mass and positive displacement or volumetric. Each category has advantages and disadvantages; however, the focus of this paper will be the differential pressure flow meters. Differential pressure (dP) flow meters include flow elements …

INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE PRODUCING PRIMARY FLOW ELEMENTS Read More »