For years, folks involved within the oil and fuel trade have been innovating and creating ways to get correct measurements. From extraction to supply of those raw supplies, everyone in the enterprise has invested a great deal of effort to obtain probably the most correct measurements.
As a end result, scientists and engineers have been working onerous to search out new methods and strategies to make extra environment friendly metrology techniques. Thanks to their onerous work, the creation of different circulate meters was potential and due to this, the oil and gasoline industry is still sturdy at present.
These flow meters are utilized by industry (especially gas and oil) to calculate the mass flow or quantity circulate of fluids. Such purposes outline the capacity and sort of flow meters. Gases, liquids and fluids are measured primarily based on mass flow and quantity move.
From corrosive subsea environments, offshore production platforms, onshore oil fields or refineries, we now have the move expertise to tackle these robust jobs. Difficult oil and gas circulate metering challenges similar to excessive pressures, pulsating flows, corrosive media and harsh environments are our every day business. We work with a lot of our upstream and downstream customers to develop customized flow solutions for his or her hardest challenges, handling essentially the most demanding chemical substances of their most distant and hazardous areas. We work with you to enhance course of effectivity, scale back expensive manufacturing downtime, and set up real-time monitoring and control.
Table of Contents
Where and the way are oil and gas formed?
Ultrasonic flow meter
Coriolis circulate meter
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Vortex circulate meter
Turbine move meter
Thermal flow meter
Differential circulate meter
Positive displacement circulate meter
Oil and fuel flow meter selection
Where and the way are oil and gasoline formed?
Before discussing the different move meters commonly used within the oil and gasoline trade, you will want to first perceive the method of how the business collects uncooked supplies.
Both of those raw supplies exist in several geological sources. For probably the most half, natural gas and oil fields exist on sedimentary rocks corresponding to sandstone and limestone. The major cause for that is that these materials transfer simply by way of the rock, making them easier to build up. The capacity of the discovered reservoirs may be determined by their porosity, while the manufacturing capacity is proportional to their permeability.
To begin the circulate, they drill inside these rocks, which will make the fluid easier to extract. To initiate, improve or maintain move, water is pumped into the rocks, which are often situated underground. High pressure water is pumped into these rocks, which can increase the flow fee and enhance fluid extraction. A move meter called an Apure electromagnetic flow meter is used to precisely measure the quantity of water pumped inside the rock.
However, in some instances, drilling and pumping is not sufficient to acquire this materials. Most of the oil or fuel found in impermeable rocks cannot be shaped in the conventional way. These supplies are referred to as “unconventional hydrocarbons,” and they embrace shale oil, coalbed methane and shale gas. Because of the very low permeability of the rocks, accumulation ought to be stimulated to start the move and allow the extraction process. To do that, a method called “hydraulic fracturing” is required.
In hydraulic fracturing, a mixture of sand and water is pumped into the rock. Due to the excessive stress, small cracks (fractures) are created, which can allow the fabric to maneuver freely inside the muse. Hydraulic fracturing is accomplished by causing these fractures to open to allow the fabric to move, which is where the sand comes in; opening these fractures, resulting in high permeability. To precisely measure the mixing of fracturing fluid and additives in the combination, Apure’s electromagnetic circulate meters are used.
Now that we have defined an outline of how the oil and gasoline trade will get these raw supplies, the next step is to understand how they’re measured using different sorts of metering systems.
Ultrasonic circulate meter
Ultrasonic flow meters measure the speed of a fluid flowing by way of a pipe through the use of sound waves. Once the velocity of the fluid slowly increases, a linear change in its frequency becomes apparent.
Ultrasonic flow meters can be utilized to measure the move rate of fluids inside and outdoors of a pipe; the inline design installs the meter inside the pipe, while the clamp-on model uses a transducer to measure velocity. However, clamp-on fashions are much less accurate than inline models. As a result, they are solely used for spot checks to acquire quick measurement outcomes.
Ultrasonic flowmeters and other flowmeters designed for crude oil can be used to measure 20-inch pipes inline. In addition, the clamp-on design is appropriate for many various things and is sturdy. Not to mention, it requires very little maintenance.
Coriolis circulate meter
The know-how utilized in Coriolis flow meters isn’t the latest in measuring pure substances within the oil and fuel business. The first industrial patents for Coriolis circulate meters date back to the Fifties. However, it was not until 1970 that the application of this technology on this field began. Until now, nothing has modified, despite improvements to the meters for more correct measurements.
One of the original designs of the circulate meter was that it had a single thin-walled tube. It was very correct; however, the practicality of the mannequin was the first problem due to its vibration drawback. To remedy this problem, the design was changed to a two-tube design as a substitute of 1.
Despite going by way of different designs, the primary principle of Coriolis flow meters by no means modified. As materials flows through them, inertia is created via the oscillating tube and the tube twists. The variety of twists is proportional to the mass move rate. This is then measured by the flowmeter transmitter and sensor to produce a linear flow signal.
There are a number of advantages to utilizing a Coriolis move meter. One of them is that it is very correct. These circulate meters are extra generally used to measure varied petroleum merchandise similar to crude oil and pure gas. The primary level of the circulate meter is that it primarily measures mass move somewhat than quantity. It is greatest suited for measuring petroleum merchandise as a outcome of the primary concern in measuring these merchandise is warmth somewhat than volume.
Typically, this sort of circulate meter is suitable for pipes with diameters of 1 to four inches. Today, nevertheless, bigger fashions are extra available than ever earlier than. The only drawback of the Coriolis flowmeter could additionally be that it is costlier than different forms of metering methods. This is value it because it is inexpensive to maintain than different move meters.
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Electromagnetic move meter relies on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction principle of manufacturing a flowmeter to measure conductive liquids, from its measurement precept may be seen in its limitations: can’t measure steam and gas, the measured medium should be conductive, and the conductivity cannot be less than 5μs/cm. Its benefit is that it can measure dirty, viscous and corrosive fluids, such as pulp, slurry, sewage, and so on.. No strain loss attributable to move detection, large move range, big selection of caliber, for giant diameter pipeline can be utilized insertion sort electromagnetic flowmeter.
Electromagnetic flowmeter electrode and lining are in direct contact with the measured medium, so for the measured medium corrosive and operating temperature to determine on the suitable electrode and lining materials.
Vortex move meter
One of the most versatile flow meters, the vortex move meter, can easily measure the circulate of gases, liquids, and steam.
In years past, vortex flowmeters lacked the required approvals for use in business. However, in 2007, the American Petroleum Institute accredited a draft standard for using this flowmeter. Since that point, several companies in the business have been actively working with API to additional develop the usual and its approval.
The commonplace is applicable to liquid, vapor and fuel flows and was expanded for additional use in 2010. Although there is an unsure future, the design is evident for the presence of gases and liquids. In latest years, vortex flowmeters have had a limited impression in the marketplace, but the choice for future companies is steadily growing. However, because of other competitors corresponding to ultrasonic, differential strain and turbine move meters, it has had little influence on the gasoline commerce delivery market.
Turbine move meter
Turbine circulate meters use a mechanical rotor which is connected to a shaft inside a pipe. It is then used to measure the volume of the fuel, fluid or steam passing by way of the pipe. As the substance passes by way of the pipe, the rotor rotates at its pace, relying on the pace at which the substance is passing by way of the pipe. The rotational velocity resulting from the rotation of the rotor is set by means of a sensor or different mechanical method.
Typically, magnetism is used to permit the sensor to take readings from the rotor, with the magnet positioned on the outside of the pipe. Through the utilization of a signal, the sensor and transmitter decide the quantity of material flowing within the pipe.
Turbine flow meters are very inexpensive when it comes to pricing. In addition, they provide extra correct results when the substance being measured is a fuel or another material that is free of particles at low move rates.
One drawback of using a turbine flowmeter is that it doesn’t adapt properly to changing circulate rates, because the mechanical components can wear heavily and must be replaced immediately. In addition, turbine meters work greatest when measuring the mass of a gasoline with unknown traits.
In addition to its uses, it’s generally used as a billing meter to measure gas or water in business, industrial and residential buildings. In this respect, nonetheless, it competes with volumetric flow meters. The latter is more appropriate for measuring pipes of 1.5 to 10 inches in dimension, whereas the turbine circulate meter is best fitted to pipes of 10 inches or extra in dimension.
Thermal move meter
In its main sense, a thermal move meter measures the rate at which warmth dissipates as it’s injected immediately into a fuel stream. In most cases, thermal flow meters are used completely to measure gases.
The heat dissipation is determined by the composition and temperature of the gas. When the composition or temperature is minimized or this degree of accuracy is inside acceptable parameters, the thermal flowmeter is the best choice.
Differential move meter
Like its distant relative, the ultrasonic flow meter, it additionally measures the circulate through the pipe. It differs from different flowmeters in that it makes use of Bernoulli’s equation. In addition, differential circulate meters use constriction to sluggish the circulate and pressure of fabric within the pipe.
As the move pressure slowly will increase, the magnitude of the stress drop increases proportionally. The information from this occasion is transmitted over different sets of strain readings. Using this data, it is attainable to calculate the stress differential to measure the volumetric move fee.
Differential flow meters are normally low-cost. And there are also completely different versions for various substances to make correct measurements for every fluid. However, gases are a special case as a end result of so as to get correct readings for a selected gasoline, differential move meters ought to be utilized in combination with other sensors for various elements corresponding to temperature, stress, gas composition and gasoline density.
Although it is a superb flowmeter in its personal proper, business prefers other types of metering techniques. This is mainly because of its inaccuracy in relation to different factors such as temperature, pressure, and so on. In addition, so as to obtain probably the most accurate gasoline measurements, it must be utilized in combination with other sensors or a different version of differential stress flowmeter altogether. Due to the above elements, it’s difficult to obtain accurate readings. This is especially the rationale why the oil and gas trade prefers other forms of metering, particularly when coping with gases.
Positive displacement circulate meter
There are several varieties of optimistic displacement circulate meters: oval gear, piston, rotary, diaphragm, chapter-actuated disc and screw.
Volumetric flow meters can be used for quite lots of things involving industrial, industrial and residential functions. They are most commonly used to measure gasoline move. However, turbine flowmeters compete with volumetric flowmeters in this regard. One of its benefits over turbine flowmeters is that it excels at handling a gradual circulate in pipes 10 inches in diameter or smaller.
Both diaphragm and rotary volumetric flowmeters are usually used to measure fuel move. The latter is most well-liked over rivals corresponding to Coriolis flowmeters, primarily because volumetric flowmeters don’t have the industry approvals required for field applications.
Oil and gasoline move meter choice
The major components to contemplate in selecting a suitable flowmeter include: fluid traits, flowmeter characteristics necessities, installation conditions, environmental conditions, and value.
In addition, the choice of move meters can not totally pursue high efficiency and excessive precision, which not solely will increase the purchase value, but also increases the cost of spare elements. It can be essential to suppose about the calibration and upkeep of circulate meters.
Accurate measurement and regulation of fluid flow is the idea for guaranteeing the safety of petrochemical production process, bettering product high quality and decreasing power consumption. Due to the complexity and diversity of move measurement media, there isn’t any universal kind of flowmeter, no flowmeter may be applied to any totally different situations of all kinds of media. Each sort of flowmeter has its benefits and limitations of measurement, different rules, completely different structures, completely different capabilities of the flowmeter in their respective applicable scope play a job. Therefore, the choice of flowmeter must comply with the usual specs and choice principles at the identical time comprehensive consideration of various factors affecting move measurement.
Extended reading:
Solvent flow meter
Sewage flowmeter
Ultrasonic move meter working precept
Liquid flow meter
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For years, folks concerned in the oil and gasoline industry have been innovating and creating methods to get correct measurements. From extraction to delivery of those raw supplies, everybody within the enterprise has invested a substantial amount of effort to obtain the most accurate measurements.
As a outcome, scientists and engineers have been working hard to find new methods and strategies to make extra efficient metrology systems. Thanks to their onerous work, the creation of different move meters was potential and due to this, the oil and gas business continues to be strong at present.
These circulate meters are used by business (especially fuel and oil) to calculate the mass circulate or quantity flow of fluids. Such purposes define the capacity and type of flow meters. Gases, liquids and fluids are measured based on mass circulate and volume circulate.
From corrosive subsea environments, offshore production platforms, onshore oil fields or refineries, we now have the flow expertise to deal with these tough jobs. Difficult oil and fuel circulate metering challenges similar to high pressures, pulsating flows, corrosive media and harsh environments are our day by day enterprise. We work with lots of our upstream and downstream clients to develop custom circulate options for his or her toughest challenges, handling essentially the most demanding chemical compounds in their most remote and hazardous areas. We work with you to enhance course of effectivity, scale back expensive production downtime, and establish real-time monitoring and control.
Table of Contents
Where and how are oil and gas formed?
Ultrasonic flow meter
Coriolis flow meter
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Vortex flow meter
Turbine flow meter
Thermal move meter
Differential move meter
Positive displacement move meter
Oil and gas move meter selection
Where and how are oil and fuel formed?
Before discussing the completely different move meters generally used in the oil and gasoline business, it is very important first understand the process of how the trade collects uncooked supplies.
Both of those raw materials exist in several geological sources. For essentially the most part, pure gas and oil fields exist on sedimentary rocks corresponding to sandstone and limestone. The major reason for that is that these supplies move easily via the rock, making them simpler to build up. The capacity of the found reservoirs could be decided by their porosity, whereas the production capacity is proportional to their permeability.
To start the flow, they drill inside these rocks, which is able to make the fluid simpler to extract. To provoke, increase or sustain move, water is pumped into the rocks, which are normally located underground. High strain water is pumped into these rocks, which can improve the move rate and improve fluid extraction. A flow meter called an Apure electromagnetic flow meter is used to accurately measure the quantity of water pumped inside the rock.
However, in some circumstances, drilling and pumping just isn’t sufficient to obtain this materials. Most of the oil or gas found in impermeable rocks cannot be fashioned in the conventional method. These supplies are known as “unconventional hydrocarbons,” they usually include shale oil, coalbed methane and shale gasoline. Because of the very low permeability of the rocks, accumulation must be stimulated to begin the move and enable the extraction process. To do that, a method known as “hydraulic fracturing” is required.
In hydraulic fracturing, a combination of sand and water is pumped into the rock. Due to the excessive pressure, small cracks (fractures) are created, which is in a position to enable the fabric to maneuver freely inside the inspiration. Hydraulic fracturing is completed by causing these fractures to open to permit the fabric to move, which is the place the sand is available in; opening these fractures, resulting in high permeability. To accurately measure the blending of fracturing fluid and components within the mixture, Apure’s electromagnetic circulate meters are used.
Now that we now have explained an overview of how the oil and gas business gets these uncooked supplies, the following step is to understand how they are measured using several varieties of metering methods.
Ultrasonic move meter
Ultrasonic circulate meters measure the velocity of a fluid flowing by way of a pipe through the use of sound waves. Once the velocity of the fluid slowly will increase, a linear change in its frequency becomes apparent.
Ultrasonic flow meters can be used to measure the move fee of fluids inside and outside of a pipe; the inline design installs the meter inside the pipe, while the clamp-on mannequin uses a transducer to measure velocity. However, clamp-on fashions are less correct than inline models. As a outcome, they’re solely used for spot checks to acquire instant measurement results.
Ultrasonic flowmeters and other flowmeters designed for crude oil can be utilized to measure 20-inch pipes inline. In addition, the clamp-on design is appropriate for so much of different things and is sturdy. Not to mention, it requires very little maintenance.
Coriolis move meter
The know-how used in Coriolis flow meters is not the latest in measuring natural substances in the oil and gasoline industry. The first industrial patents for Coriolis move meters date again to the 1950s. However, it was not till 1970 that the appliance of this technology in this subject began. Until now, nothing has modified, regardless of improvements to the meters for extra accurate measurements.
One of the original designs of the flow meter was that it had a single thin-walled tube. It was very accurate; nevertheless, the practicality of the mannequin was the primary issue as a outcome of its vibration problem. To solve this downside, the design was modified to a two-tube design as an alternative of one.
Despite going via totally different designs, the main principle of Coriolis flow meters never modified. As materials flows through them, inertia is created through the oscillating tube and the tube twists. The variety of twists is proportional to the mass flow rate. This is then measured by the flowmeter transmitter and sensor to supply a linear move sign.
There are a quantity of benefits to utilizing a Coriolis move meter. One of them is that it is rather accurate. These flow meters are extra generally used to measure varied petroleum products similar to crude oil and natural gasoline. The primary level of the circulate meter is that it primarily measures mass move somewhat than quantity. It is greatest fitted to measuring petroleum products as a end result of the primary concern in measuring these merchandise is warmth somewhat than volume.
Typically, this sort of circulate meter is appropriate for pipes with diameters of 1 to four inches. Today, nevertheless, larger models are more readily available than ever earlier than. The only disadvantage of the Coriolis flowmeter could also be that it’s more expensive than different forms of metering systems. This is price it as a outcome of it’s less expensive to hold up than different move meters.
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Electromagnetic flow meter relies on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction precept of manufacturing a flowmeter to measure conductive liquids, from its measurement principle could be seen in its limitations: can not measure steam and gas, the measured medium should be conductive, and the conductivity can not be lower than 5μs/cm. Its benefit is that it may possibly measure soiled, viscous and corrosive fluids, such as pulp, slurry, sewage, and so forth.. No strain loss attributable to move detection, massive flow range, big selection of caliber, for giant diameter pipeline can be utilized insertion type electromagnetic flowmeter.
Electromagnetic flowmeter electrode and lining are in direct contact with the measured medium, so for the measured medium corrosive and working temperature to decide on the suitable electrode and lining materials.
Vortex flow meter
One of probably the most versatile circulate meters, the vortex flow meter, can easily measure the circulate of gases, liquids, and steam.
In years past, vortex flowmeters lacked the mandatory approvals for use in trade. However, in 2007, the American Petroleum Institute permitted a draft commonplace for the utilization of this flowmeter. Since that time, a quantity of corporations within the business have been actively working with API to additional develop the usual and its approval.
The normal is applicable to liquid, vapor and gasoline flows and was expanded for further use in 2010. Although there is an uncertain future, the design is evident for the presence of gases and liquids. In current years, vortex flowmeters have had a limited impression on the market, but the preference for future companies is steadily rising. However, due to different opponents corresponding to ultrasonic, differential pressure and turbine move meters, it has had little influence on the gas trade delivery market.
Turbine move meter
Turbine flow meters use a mechanical rotor which is hooked up to a shaft inside a pipe. It is then used to measure the volume of the gas, fluid or steam passing via the pipe. As the substance passes through the pipe, the rotor rotates at its velocity, relying on the pace at which the substance is passing by way of the pipe. The rotational velocity ensuing from the rotation of the rotor is decided by the use of a sensor or other mechanical technique.
Typically, magnetism is used to permit the sensor to take readings from the rotor, with the magnet positioned on the surface of the pipe. Through the use of a signal, the sensor and transmitter decide the quantity of fabric flowing in the pipe.
Turbine move meters are very inexpensive by way of pricing. In addition, they offer extra correct results when the substance being measured is a gas or any other material that is free of particles at low move charges.
One disadvantage of using a turbine flowmeter is that it does not adapt nicely to altering circulate charges, because the mechanical parts can put on heavily and need to be changed instantly. In addition, turbine meters work finest when measuring the mass of a fuel with unknown characteristics.
In addition to its makes use of, it’s generally used as a billing meter to measure gasoline or water in commercial, industrial and residential buildings. In this respect, nonetheless, it competes with volumetric circulate meters. The latter is more suitable for measuring pipes of 1.5 to 10 inches in size, while the turbine move meter is finest suited to pipes of 10 inches or more in dimension.
Thermal move meter
In its main sense, a thermal flow meter measures the rate at which warmth dissipates as it is injected directly into a gas stream. In most cases, thermal flow meters are used completely to measure gases.
The warmth dissipation is dependent upon the composition and temperature of the fuel. When the composition or temperature is minimized or this level of accuracy is inside acceptable parameters, the thermal flowmeter is your finest option.
Differential circulate meter
Like its distant relative, the ultrasonic flow meter, it additionally measures the circulate through the pipe. It differs from different flowmeters in that it uses Bernoulli’s equation. In addition, differential flow meters use constriction to sluggish the circulate and stress of material in the pipe.
As the move strain slowly increases, the magnitude of the stress drop increases proportionally. The data from this occasion is transmitted over completely different units of pressure readings. Using this info, it is attainable to calculate the stress differential to measure the volumetric flow rate.
Differential flow meters are usually low-cost. And there are additionally different versions for various substances to make accurate measurements for every fluid. However, gases are a special case as a end result of so as to get accurate readings for a specific gasoline, differential flow meters must be utilized in mixture with other sensors for various components similar to temperature, pressure, gasoline composition and gas density.
Although it is an excellent flowmeter in its own right, industry prefers other forms of metering methods. This is principally because of its inaccuracy in phrases of other components such as temperature, stress, and so on. In addition, in order to acquire the most correct gasoline measurements, it must be used in mixture with other sensors or a special version of differential pressure flowmeter altogether. Due to the above factors, it’s tough to obtain accurate readings. This is mainly the explanation why the oil and fuel industry prefers other types of metering, particularly when coping with gases.
Positive displacement circulate meter
There are several types of optimistic displacement flow meters: oval gear, piston, rotary, diaphragm, chapter-actuated disc and screw.
Volumetric flow meters can be utilized for a selection of things involving commercial, industrial and residential purposes. They are most commonly used to measure gasoline circulate. However, turbine flowmeters compete with volumetric flowmeters on this regard. One of its advantages over turbine flowmeters is that it excels at handling a gentle circulate in pipes 10 inches in diameter or smaller.
Both diaphragm and rotary volumetric flowmeters are sometimes used to measure gas move. The latter is preferred over opponents such as Coriolis flowmeters, primarily as a outcome of volumetric flowmeters don’t have the business approvals required for area functions.
Oil and fuel move meter choice
The main components to consider in choosing an appropriate flowmeter embody: fluid characteristics, flowmeter traits requirements, set up conditions, environmental situations, and value.
In addition, the choice of flow meters cannot fully pursue high performance and high precision, which not solely increases the acquisition value, but additionally will increase the value of spare parts. It can additionally be needed to contemplate the calibration and upkeep of flow meters.
Accurate measurement and regulation of fluid flow is the basis for guaranteeing the protection of petrochemical manufacturing process, improving product quality and reducing energy consumption. Due to the complexity and diversity of circulate measurement media, there isn’t a universal type of flowmeter, no flowmeter can be utilized to any totally different conditions of all types of media. Each type of flowmeter has its advantages and limitations of measurement, different rules, completely different constructions, completely different functions of the flowmeter of their respective applicable scope play a task. Therefore, the selection of flowmeter must observe the usual specs and selection rules at the identical time complete consideration of varied components affecting move measurement.
Extended reading:
Solvent move meter
Sewage flowmeter
Ultrasonic circulate meter working precept
Liquid move meter