For years, individuals concerned in the oil and fuel business have been innovating and creating ways to get accurate measurements. From extraction to supply of these uncooked materials, everyone within the business has invested a substantial quantity of effort to obtain the most accurate measurements.
As a outcome, scientists and engineers have been working exhausting to seek out new methods and strategies to make extra efficient metrology techniques. Thanks to their onerous work, the creation of different circulate meters was potential and because of this, the oil and gas trade is still sturdy at present.
These circulate meters are utilized by industry (especially fuel and oil) to calculate the mass circulate or volume flow of fluids. Such purposes outline the capacity and sort of circulate meters. Gases, liquids and fluids are measured based on mass flow and quantity circulate.
From corrosive subsea environments, offshore manufacturing platforms, onshore oil fields or refineries, we’ve the move experience to deal with these robust jobs. Difficult oil and gasoline circulate metering challenges such as excessive pressures, pulsating flows, corrosive media and harsh environments are our every day enterprise. We work with many of our upstream and downstream customers to develop customized circulate options for their hardest challenges, handling the most demanding chemical compounds in their most distant and dangerous areas. We work with you to improve course of efficiency, cut back costly manufacturing downtime, and establish real-time monitoring and management.
Table of Contents
Where and how are oil and gas formed?
Ultrasonic circulate meter
Coriolis circulate meter
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Vortex circulate meter
Turbine circulate meter
Thermal circulate meter
Differential circulate meter
Positive displacement move meter
Oil and gas move meter selection
Where and how are oil and gasoline formed?
Before discussing the totally different move meters generally used in the oil and fuel business, it could be very important first understand the method of how the business collects uncooked supplies.
Both of those uncooked materials exist in different geological sources. For probably the most part, natural fuel and oil fields exist on sedimentary rocks corresponding to sandstone and limestone. The primary cause for this is that these materials transfer simply by way of the rock, making them easier to build up. The capability of the discovered reservoirs could be decided by their porosity, whereas the production capability is proportional to their permeability.
To start the flow, they drill inside these rocks, which will make the fluid simpler to extract. To provoke, improve or sustain move, water is pumped into the rocks, that are usually positioned underground. High strain water is pumped into these rocks, which can enhance the circulate rate and improve fluid extraction. A flow meter called an Apure electromagnetic move meter is used to precisely measure the amount of water pumped contained in the rock.
However, in some cases, drilling and pumping isn’t sufficient to acquire this material. Most of the oil or gas found in impermeable rocks cannot be shaped within the standard way. These materials are called “unconventional hydrocarbons,” they usually include shale oil, coalbed methane and shale gasoline. Because of the very low permeability of the rocks, accumulation ought to be stimulated to begin the flow and allow the extraction course of. To do this, a method known as “hydraulic fracturing” is required.
In hydraulic fracturing, a mixture of sand and water is pumped into the rock. Due to the high stress, small cracks (fractures) are created, which is able to enable the material to move freely inside the inspiration. Hydraulic fracturing is accomplished by causing these fractures to open to allow the material to move, which is where the sand is out there in; opening these fractures, leading to excessive permeability. To accurately measure the mixing of fracturing fluid and components in the mixture, Apure’s electromagnetic circulate meters are used.
Now that we have explained an overview of how the oil and fuel industry will get these raw supplies, the subsequent step is to know how they’re measured using different sorts of metering systems.
Ultrasonic circulate meter
Ultrasonic move meters measure the velocity of a fluid flowing via a pipe through the use of sound waves. Once the speed of the fluid slowly increases, a linear change in its frequency becomes obvious.
Ultrasonic flow meters can be used to measure the move rate of fluids inside and outdoors of a pipe; the inline design installs the meter inside the pipe, whereas the clamp-on mannequin uses a transducer to measure velocity. However, clamp-on fashions are less correct than inline models. As a result, they’re solely used for spot checks to acquire immediate measurement results.
Ultrasonic flowmeters and different flowmeters designed for crude oil can be used 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 say, it requires very little upkeep.
Coriolis flow meter
The technology used in Coriolis move meters is not the newest in measuring pure substances in the oil and gasoline industry. The first industrial patents for Coriolis circulate meters date back to the Fifties. However, it was not till 1970 that the appliance of this know-how on this area started. Until now, nothing has changed, regardless of enhancements to the meters for extra correct measurements.
One of the original designs of the circulate meter was that it had a single thin-walled tube. It was very correct; nevertheless, the practicality of the mannequin was the first issue due to its vibration downside. To clear up this downside, the design was changed to a two-tube design as an alternative of one.
Despite going through completely different designs, the main precept of Coriolis circulate meters never modified. As materials flows via them, inertia is created through the oscillating tube and the tube twists. The variety of twists is proportional to the mass circulate rate. This is then measured by the flowmeter transmitter and sensor to provide a linear move signal.
There are several benefits to utilizing a Coriolis flow meter. digital pressure gauge of them is that it is extremely accurate. These flow meters are extra generally used to measure numerous petroleum products such as crude oil and natural gasoline. The main level of the flow meter is that it primarily measures mass flow quite than volume. It is greatest suited for measuring petroleum merchandise as a result of the principle concern in measuring these products is heat somewhat than volume.
Typically, this kind of circulate meter is suitable for pipes with diameters of 1 to 4 inches. Today, however, larger models are more available than ever earlier than. The only drawback of the Coriolis flowmeter could also be that it is more expensive than different forms of metering techniques. This is value it as a outcome of it is cheaper to keep up than other move meters.
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Electromagnetic move meter relies on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction precept of manufacturing a flowmeter to measure conductive liquids, from its measurement precept can be seen in its limitations: can not measure steam and fuel, the measured medium have to be conductive, and the conductivity can not be less than 5μs/cm. Its advantage is that it may possibly measure soiled, viscous and corrosive fluids, similar to pulp, slurry, sewage, etc.. No stress loss brought on by move detection, massive flow vary, wide 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 operating temperature to determine on the appropriate electrode and lining supplies.
Vortex circulate meter
One of essentially the most versatile circulate meters, the vortex move meter, can easily measure the circulate of gases, liquids, and steam.
In years previous, vortex flowmeters lacked the mandatory approvals for use in business. However, in 2007, the American Petroleum Institute permitted a draft normal for the usage of this flowmeter. Since that time, a number of companies within the business have been actively working with API to further develop the standard and its approval.
The normal is relevant to liquid, vapor and gas flows and was expanded for additional 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 influence in the marketplace, however the preference for future corporations is steadily increasing. However, because of other opponents such as ultrasonic, differential strain and turbine flow meters, it has had little impression on the gasoline trade delivery market.
Turbine circulate meter
Turbine move meters use a mechanical rotor which is connected to a shaft inside a pipe. It is then used to measure the amount of the fuel, fluid or steam passing through the pipe. As the substance passes by way of the pipe, the rotor rotates at its velocity, relying on the speed at which the substance is passing via the pipe. The rotational pace ensuing 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 located on the outside of the pipe. Through using a signal, the sensor and transmitter determine the volume of material flowing in the pipe.
Turbine flow meters are very cheap by way of pricing. In addition, they provide extra correct results when the substance being measured is a gasoline or any other material that is freed from debris at low circulate rates.
One disadvantage of utilizing a turbine flowmeter is that it doesn’t adapt well to changing flow charges, as the mechanical components can wear closely and need to be changed instantly. In addition, turbine meters work finest when measuring the mass of a gasoline with unknown traits.
In addition to its makes use of, it is generally used as a billing meter to measure gas or water in industrial, industrial and residential buildings. In this respect, nevertheless, it competes with volumetric circulate meters. The latter is extra appropriate for measuring pipes of 1.5 to 10 inches in size, while the turbine circulate meter is greatest suited to pipes of 10 inches or more in dimension.
Thermal circulate meter
In its primary sense, a thermal flow meter measures the speed at which warmth dissipates as it’s injected instantly into a fuel stream. In most instances, thermal flow meters are used solely to measure gases.
The warmth dissipation is determined by the composition and temperature of the gas. When the composition or temperature is minimized or this level of accuracy is inside acceptable parameters, the thermal flowmeter is the greatest choice.
Differential circulate meter
Like its distant relative, the ultrasonic move meter, it additionally measures the circulate by way of the pipe. It differs from other flowmeters in that it makes use of Bernoulli’s equation. In addition, differential circulate meters use constriction to slow the circulate and pressure of material in the pipe.
As the circulate stress slowly will increase, the magnitude of the stress drop will increase proportionally. The information from this occasion is transmitted over totally different sets of strain readings. Using this info, it is possible to calculate the strain differential to measure the volumetric circulate rate.
Differential circulate meters are normally low-cost. And there are also completely different variations for different substances to make correct measurements for every fluid. However, gases are a special case because in order to get correct readings for a specific fuel, differential move meters ought to be used in combination with different sensors for various elements corresponding to temperature, pressure, gas composition and gasoline density.
Although it is an excellent flowmeter in its own proper, trade prefers different forms of metering techniques. This is especially due to its inaccuracy in terms of other factors corresponding to temperature, stress, and so forth. In addition, so as to obtain probably the most correct gasoline measurements, it needs to be used in mixture with other sensors or a different version of differential stress flowmeter altogether. Due to the above components, it’s tough to obtain accurate readings. This is especially the reason why the oil and fuel trade prefers other forms of metering, particularly when dealing with gases.
Positive displacement flow meter
There are various varieties of optimistic displacement move meters: oval gear, piston, rotary, diaphragm, chapter-actuated disc and screw.
Volumetric move meters can be utilized for a wide range of issues involving commercial, industrial and residential applications. They are most commonly used to measure fuel move. However, turbine flowmeters compete with volumetric flowmeters in this regard. One of its benefits over turbine flowmeters is that it excels at dealing with 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 most popular over rivals similar to Coriolis flowmeters, primarily because volumetric flowmeters wouldn’t have the business approvals required for subject purposes.
Oil and gasoline flow meter choice
The major elements to consider in choosing an acceptable flowmeter embody: fluid characteristics, flowmeter traits necessities, set up situations, environmental situations, and value.
In addition, the number of circulate meters can not fully pursue high efficiency and excessive precision, which not solely will increase the acquisition value, but in addition will increase the price of spare elements. It can also be necessary to consider the calibration and upkeep of circulate meters.
Accurate measurement and regulation of fluid circulate is the basis for making certain the security of petrochemical manufacturing course of, improving product high quality and reducing vitality consumption. Due to the complexity and diversity of flow measurement media, there isn’t any universal type of flowmeter, no flowmeter could be utilized to any different circumstances of every kind of media. Each type of flowmeter has its benefits and limitations of measurement, different principles, completely different structures, different functions of the flowmeter of their respective applicable scope play a job. Therefore, the selection of flowmeter needs to comply with the usual specs and choice rules on the same time complete consideration of various elements affecting circulate measurement.
Extended reading:
Solvent move meter
Sewage flowmeter
Ultrasonic move meter working precept
Liquid move meter
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For years, people concerned within the oil and fuel trade have been innovating and creating ways to get correct measurements. From extraction to supply of these raw supplies, everybody in the business has invested a substantial amount of effort to acquire the most correct measurements.
As a result, scientists and engineers have been working hard to search out new strategies and techniques to make more environment friendly metrology techniques. Thanks to their onerous work, the creation of different flow meters was potential and due to this, the oil and fuel business continues to be strong right now.
These circulate meters are utilized by business (especially gas and oil) to calculate the mass flow or quantity move of fluids. Such functions outline the capacity and kind of move meters. Gases, liquids and fluids are measured based mostly on mass flow and volume circulate.
From corrosive subsea environments, offshore production platforms, onshore oil fields or refineries, we’ve the flow expertise to tackle these powerful jobs. Difficult oil and fuel move metering challenges similar to excessive pressures, pulsating flows, corrosive media and harsh environments are our every day business. We work with many of our upstream and downstream customers to develop customized circulate solutions for their toughest challenges, dealing with probably the most demanding chemical compounds in their most remote and unsafe areas. We work with you to improve process efficiency, scale back expensive manufacturing downtime, and establish real-time monitoring and control.
Table of Contents
Where and how are oil and gas formed?
Ultrasonic flow meter
Coriolis move meter
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Vortex move meter
Turbine circulate meter
Thermal flow meter
Differential circulate meter
Positive displacement move meter
Oil and gas flow meter choice
Where and how are oil and fuel formed?
Before discussing the totally different move meters generally used in the oil and gasoline industry, it may be very important first perceive the process of how the business collects uncooked materials.
Both of these uncooked materials exist in several geological sources. For the most half, natural gas and oil fields exist on sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and limestone. The primary reason for this is that these materials move easily by way of the rock, making them easier to accumulate. The capability of the discovered reservoirs could be determined by their porosity, whereas the production capacity is proportional to their permeability.
To start the circulate, they drill inside these rocks, which can make the fluid easier to extract. To provoke, improve or sustain circulate, water is pumped into the rocks, that are normally located underground. High strain water is pumped into these rocks, which is able to increase the circulate fee and increase fluid extraction. A circulate meter known as an Apure electromagnetic flow meter is used to precisely measure the quantity of water pumped inside the rock.
However, in some cases, drilling and pumping is not enough to acquire this material. Most of the oil or gasoline present in impermeable rocks can’t be formed in the conventional method. These materials are referred to as “unconventional hydrocarbons,” and so they embrace shale oil, coalbed methane and shale gas. Because of the very low permeability of the rocks, accumulation should be stimulated to start the flow and enable the extraction course of. To do this, a method called “hydraulic fracturing” is required.
In hydraulic fracturing, a combination of sand and water is pumped into the rock. Due to the high stress, small cracks (fractures) are created, which can allow the material to move freely inside the muse. Hydraulic fracturing is completed by inflicting these fractures to open to permit the fabric to move, which is the place the sand is obtainable in; opening these fractures, leading to high permeability. To accurately measure the blending of fracturing fluid and additives in the combination, Apure’s electromagnetic move meters are used.
Now that we have explained an overview of how the oil and gasoline trade gets these uncooked materials, the following step is to know how they’re measured using different sorts of metering systems.
Ultrasonic move meter
Ultrasonic move meters measure the velocity of a fluid flowing through a pipe through the use of sound waves. Once the speed of the fluid slowly increases, a linear change in its frequency turns into obvious.
Ultrasonic move meters can be utilized to measure the move rate of fluids inside and outside 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 models are much less correct than inline fashions. As a end 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 suitable for many different things and is sturdy. Not to say, it requires little or no maintenance.
Coriolis move meter
The technology utilized in Coriolis move meters just isn’t the newest in measuring pure substances in the oil and gasoline industry. The first industrial patents for Coriolis flow meters date again to the Nineteen Fifties. However, it was not until 1970 that the applying of this expertise on this subject began. Until now, nothing has changed, 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; nonetheless, the practicality of the mannequin was the primary issue due to its vibration downside. To remedy this problem, the design was modified to a two-tube design as a substitute of 1.
Despite going via totally different designs, the primary principle of Coriolis move meters never changed. As material flows through them, inertia is created through the oscillating tube and the tube twists. The variety of twists is proportional to the mass move price. This is then measured by the flowmeter transmitter and sensor to supply a linear flow signal.
There are a number of advantages to using a Coriolis flow meter. One of them is that it is very correct. These move meters are extra generally used to measure numerous petroleum merchandise corresponding to crude oil and natural gasoline. The major level of the flow meter is that it primarily measures mass flow quite than volume. It is best suited to measuring petroleum merchandise because the primary concern in measuring these merchandise is warmth quite than quantity.
Typically, this sort of circulate meter is appropriate for pipes with diameters of 1 to 4 inches. Today, however, larger models are more readily available than ever earlier than. The only drawback of the Coriolis flowmeter could additionally be that it is more expensive than other types of metering systems. This is price it as a end result of it’s less expensive to maintain than other move meters.
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Electromagnetic circulate meter is predicated on Faraday’s regulation of electromagnetic induction precept of manufacturing a flowmeter to measure conductive liquids, from its measurement principle can be seen in its limitations: can not measure steam and gas, the measured medium must be conductive, and the conductivity cannot be less than 5μs/cm. Its benefit is that it can measure dirty, viscous and corrosive fluids, similar to pulp, slurry, sewage, and so forth.. No stress loss attributable to move detection, massive move range, wide 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 choose the suitable electrode and lining supplies.
Vortex flow meter
One of probably the most versatile circulate meters, the vortex circulate meter, can simply 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 approved a draft normal for the usage of this flowmeter. Since that time, a number of firms within the trade have been actively working with API to further develop the standard and its approval.
The normal is relevant to liquid, vapor and gas flows and was expanded for further use in 2010. Although there’s an uncertain future, the design is evident for the presence of gases and liquids. In current years, vortex flowmeters have had a restricted impression in the marketplace, however the desire for future companies is steadily growing. However, due to different competitors such as ultrasonic, differential pressure and turbine flow meters, it has had little influence on the gas trade delivery market.
Turbine flow meter
Turbine circulate meters use a mechanical rotor which is attached to a shaft inside a pipe. It is then used to measure the volume of the gasoline, fluid or steam passing by way of the pipe. As the substance passes via the pipe, the rotor rotates at its speed, depending on the pace at which the substance is passing through the pipe. The rotational speed ensuing from the rotation of the rotor is decided by means of a sensor or other mechanical methodology.
Typically, magnetism is used to allow the sensor to take readings from the rotor, with the magnet situated on the surface of the pipe. Through the use of a sign, the sensor and transmitter determine the volume of material flowing in the pipe.
Turbine circulate meters are very cheap by means of pricing. In addition, they provide more accurate results when the substance being measured is a gasoline or another materials that is free of particles at low circulate rates.
One drawback of utilizing a turbine flowmeter is that it does not adapt properly to changing flow charges, because the mechanical elements can put on heavily and have to be changed immediately. In addition, turbine meters work greatest when measuring the mass of a gasoline with unknown traits.
In addition to its uses, it’s commonly used as a billing meter to measure fuel or water in business, industrial and residential buildings. In this respect, however, it competes with volumetric circulate meters. The latter is more appropriate for measuring pipes of 1.5 to 10 inches in dimension, while the turbine flow meter is best suited to pipes of 10 inches or extra in measurement.
Thermal circulate meter
In its major sense, a thermal move meter measures the speed at which warmth dissipates as it’s injected immediately right into a gasoline stream. In most circumstances, thermal move meters are used solely to measure gases.
The warmth dissipation is determined by the composition and temperature of the gas. When the composition or temperature is minimized or this level of accuracy is inside acceptable parameters, the thermal flowmeter is your finest option.
Differential move meter
Like its distant relative, the ultrasonic circulate meter, it also measures the flow by way of the pipe. It differs from different flowmeters in that it uses Bernoulli’s equation. In addition, differential circulate meters use constriction to slow the move and stress of material in the pipe.
As the flow strain slowly increases, the magnitude of the pressure drop increases proportionally. The information from this occasion is transmitted over different sets of pressure readings. Using this data, it’s possible to calculate the pressure differential to measure the volumetric circulate fee.
Differential flow meters are usually low-cost. And there are additionally different variations for different substances to make accurate measurements for each fluid. However, gases are a particular case as a outcome of so as to get correct readings for a particular fuel, differential circulate meters ought to be utilized in combination with different sensors for various factors similar to temperature, stress, fuel composition and gasoline density.
Although it is a superb flowmeter in its own right, business prefers other types of metering techniques. This is principally because of its inaccuracy in terms of other elements corresponding to temperature, pressure, and so forth. In addition, to have the ability to acquire probably the most correct fuel measurements, it needs to be utilized in combination with different sensors or a different model of differential strain flowmeter altogether. Due to the above elements, it’s difficult to acquire accurate readings. This is mainly the explanation why the oil and fuel business prefers other forms of metering, especially when dealing with gases.
Positive displacement circulate meter
There are several types of positive displacement flow meters: oval gear, piston, rotary, diaphragm, chapter-actuated disc and screw.
Volumetric move meters can be used for quite so much of things involving business, industrial and residential functions. They are most commonly used to measure gasoline flow. However, turbine flowmeters compete with volumetric flowmeters on this regard. One of its advantages over turbine flowmeters is that it excels at handling a gradual move in pipes 10 inches in diameter or smaller.
Both diaphragm and rotary volumetric flowmeters are typically used to measure gasoline move. The latter is preferred over opponents similar to Coriolis flowmeters, primarily because volumetric flowmeters wouldn’t have the industry approvals required for area functions.
Oil and gas circulate meter selection
The major elements to think about in selecting a suitable flowmeter embrace: fluid traits, flowmeter characteristics necessities, set up conditions, environmental situations, and price.
In addition, the selection of flow meters can’t totally pursue high efficiency and high precision, which not only will increase the acquisition price, but additionally increases the price of spare parts. It is also essential to suppose about the calibration and upkeep of flow meters.
Accurate measurement and regulation of fluid flow is the basis for making certain the security of petrochemical production process, improving product high quality and decreasing vitality consumption. Due to the complexity and diversity of flow measurement media, there isn’t any common sort of flowmeter, no flowmeter may be utilized to any totally different circumstances of all kinds of media. Each sort of flowmeter has its advantages and limitations of measurement, completely different ideas, different constructions, completely different capabilities of the flowmeter of their respective relevant scope play a task. Therefore, the number of flowmeter must comply with the standard specs and choice principles on the similar time complete consideration of various factors affecting flow measurement.
Extended reading:
Solvent flow meter
Sewage flowmeter
Ultrasonic move meter working principle
Liquid circulate meter