Papers

We study Engineering, Accounting, Business Management, Computer Science and a host of other curriculums on our way to employment. Technical schools teach us Ohm’s Law, Fundamental Physics, Chemistry, Electronics and Welding. Courses and complete degree programs in Leadership are available but for some reason, Effective Leadership is rarely taught in the disciplines found in our industry. While we admire sports heroes and winning coaches, how often do we admire winning CEOs or Managers? How many coaches, teachers or other people of influence have mentored us to success? How do we adapt the winning qualities we find in sports or college to Leadership in our careers? Sadly, Managers often lead or manage as they were managed. Traditions and bad habits persist as employees tolerate poor leadership and sometimes move to competition or out of the industry all together.

All around the world, propane, butane and natural gas must be odorized. The odorization ensures a safe transport, distribution and use of this valuable energy to residential buildings. Regulations vary from one country or state to another. The natural gas can be odorized at different points of the gas grid: in some countries (France, Spain, …

ODORANT LEAK MANAGEMENT Read More »

This paper is intended to provide meter station designers with a basic methodology for selection of an appropriate flow meter (or meters) for a given application. Since many applications require that a meter station operate over a broad range of flow rates or loads, an example is provided on how to address system rangeability while …

METER SELECTION FOR VARIOUS LOAD REQUIREMENTS Read More »

Today’s smart measurement devices produce significant diagnostics information. When the diagnostics from the various
devices are collected, trended, and integrated, operators can remotely and continuously identify measurement problems. The vocabulary associated with this topic is evolving. In the past, the industry used terms such as SCADA and Condition Based Monitoring to describe this process. These terms are being replaced by terms such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Big Data Analytics, and even AI. In either case, this paper looks at the problems associated with collecting, trending, and integrating diagnostics information. It then gives examples of how diagnostics can be used to identify measurement problems. Finally, the paper provides an example of the reduction in exposure to Lost and Unaccounted For gas (LAUF) that operators may expect through implementing comprehensive diagnostic monitoring and analysis systems.

Thiols (i.e. mercaptans), sulfides, and tetrahydrothiophene (THT) have been widely used in the odorization of natural and liquefied petroleum gas due to the fact that natural gas does not possess an odor. Mercaptans, for example, have proven to be very effective in odorizing because of their low odor threshold and therefore, immediate impact on the …

GAS ODORANTS – SAFE HANDLING, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT Read More »

Timely, diligent field testing and calibration of gas volume recording and correcting instruments ensure that measurement information fairly represents actual volumes. The instruments save a company capital and operating costs because they can record or integrate volumes at pressures and temperatures above the normal pressure base conditions specified in contracts for volume calculation. This allows …

FIELD INSPECTION AND CALIBRATION OF VOLUME CORRECTING D E V I C E S Read More »

Turbine meters have been used for the custody transfer of refined petroleum products and light crude oils for over
40 years. When correctly applied, they offer high accuracy and long service life over a wide range of products and operating conditions. Traditionally turbine metes were used for the measurement of low viscosity liquids and PD meters for higher viscosities. However, new developments in turbine meter technology are pushing these application limits while increasing reliability and accuracy. This paper will examine the fundamental principles of turbine meter measurement as well as new developments including: smart preamps for real-time diagnostics, helical flow turbine meters for higher viscosity applications, higher performance flow conditioners to increase accuracy, and viscosity compensation to extend the application limits.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss in depth the systems we use as a standard to sample natural gas liquids, or
NGL’s. Before we discuss the systems and methods used to sample these products, we must first clearly define what NGL’s
are. NGL’s can be a combination of any fluid in liquid form that is taken from the pipeline under pressure. Typically, “NGL” refers mainly to ethane, propane, butanes, and natural “gasolines” (pentanes) & condensates. Because of the broad range of products that can be claimed as NGL’s, there are many different approaches to the methods by which we sample them. The common thread among all NGL’s is that these products; in order to be maintained and properly sampled, require the use of specific sampling techniques unique to light liquid and NGL sampling.

This paper provides a fundamental overview of an NGL meter station design reviewing the nuances of configuring similar
components in different ways. There are multiple considerations that influence the meter station design and all must be taken into account. Major considerations are: what product or products will be measured, what meter technology to utilize, and the process design limitations.
The first thing that must be taken into account is whether the product is a purity product or a mixed compositional product. Most purity products are measured and accounted for by volume, while a mixed compositional product is measured and accounted for by mass. This influences the meter skid design, since mass product skids must be set-up to allow for the stream’s mass and stream’s composition to be measured properly.
The second consideration that influences the skid design is the meter technology chosen. The skid components required can change depending on the meter technology selected. There are numerous meter technologies available on the market, but the three major meter technologies commonly used for NGL custody measurement are Turbine meters, Coriolis meters, and Positive Displacement (PD) meters. Other minor considerations will be discussed at the appropriate times throughout the paper.