Custody Transfer Systems for Natural Gas and Challenges in Its Measurement and Handling

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Custody Transfer Systems for Natural Gas and Challenges in Its Measurement and Handling flotek.g 2017- “Innovative Solutions in Flow Measurement and Control - Oil, Water and Gas ” August 28-30, 2017, FCRI, Palakkad, Kerala, India CUSTODY TRANSFER SYSTEMS FOR NATURAL GAS AND CHALLENGES IN ITS MEASUREMENT AND HANDLING AUTHOR Rajesh Dure GAIL India Limited, GAIL Bhavan, A.V Appa Rao Road, Rajahmundry-533103 Mobile no: +91-9997014770 E-mail ID: [email protected] ABSTRACT In Natural gas application, predominantly eliminate acoustic interference through used technologies for custody transfer flow filtering of USM frequencies from external measurement systems are: - (i) Differential noise are some of the advancements made pressure (DP) (ii) Turbine (iii) RPD (iv) to improve USM metering performance. So, Ultrasonic. Perspective of DP based Orifice objective of this paper is to primarily outline flow meters, Turbine Flow meters, RPD flow the challenges in various natural gas meters & USMs has been presented in this metering systems along with mitigation paper with emphasis on their operating criteria for the same & to finally drive out the principle, their limitations, challenges and conclusion that challenges in metering technological advancements that evolved to systems are inevitable which can be mitigate these challenges. One of the major mitigated through employing best industrial challenges in measurement & handling practices & advanced technological natural gas based custody transfer solutions. applications is under such harsh environments such as wet, rich and / or dirty KEYWORDS gas applications. Latest evolution Orifice flow meter, Turbine flow meter, RPD technology-wise in natural gas metering flow meter, Ultrasonic flow meter, with the best possible accuracy so far that limitations, challenges can cater to the redressing of various persisting challenges in natural gas 1.0 INTRODUCTION metering has been the Ultrasonic Flow Meter technology. To counter such hostile Custody Transfer in the oil and gas industry conditions such as wet, rich and / or dirty refers to the transactions involving gas applications, USM transducer probes transporting physical substance from one which are designed for wet gas are in operator to another.Custody transfer in fluid vogue. Also relocating the transducers to measurement is defined as a metering point the upper side of the meter (in case of (location) where the fluid is being measured USM) to avoid their contamination due to for sale from one party to another. In their positioning at bottom, techniques to Natural gas application, predominantly used 1 technologies for custody transfer flow addition, DP meters are sensitive to flow measurement systems are: - (i) Differential profile and require either a fairly long pressure (DP) (ii) Turbine (iii) Rotary straight run or an upstream flow conditioner. They also generate a medium-to-large Positive Displacement (iv) Ultrasonic. Unlike pressure loss, and they are not as accurate Simple volumetric flow measurement as other technologies, such as gas turbine technology is not the only consideration or ultrasonic gas meters. because the ultimate measurement—and what the customer pays for—is energy delivered. For this reason, accurate and 2.2 Challenges in DP Based Flow repeatable measurement of natural gas flow Metering requires simultaneous measurement of Typical abnormal conditions that cause several other variables, including pressure, inaccuracy of orifice measurement but are temperature, density, and gas composition. not limited to: • Rough upstream pipe wall: Gas flow 2.0 DP BASED FLOW METERING is slower along pipe walls due to FOR NATURAL GAS friction causing the entry flow profile to be more arrow shaped DP meters measure volumetric flow through • Improperly designed or installed flow a calibrated orifice (generally a flow plate), conditioner: Entry flow profile is not are inexpensive, and simple in concept. developed properly and may be Orifice flow meter works on the principle altered by abnormality that when there is a flow restriction in a • Swirling gas flow pattern challenges pipe, a differential pressure results which • Partially closed valves or other can be related to the volume flow rate similar type condition upstream of through the restriction. They are accepted meter tube broadly and are not limited in line size. • Liquid in meter tube While not the most accurate instruments • Valve ‘noise’ or pulsation available, they are acceptable for the • purposes for which they are used, and the Orifice with damaged bore • calculations for correcting to standard Obstruction in orifice bore • conditions are widely known. Meter tube shorter than AGA 3 specifications 2.1 Limitations in DP Based Flow • Orifice not centered in tube per AGA Metering 3 specifications • Protrusions in upstream piping DP meters measure only differential head. To measure either mass or volumetric flow, In case of conventional orifice based they must be corrected for density (mass) or metering systems - paddle type orifice temperature, pressure, and gas composition plates designed to be used with orifice to obtain a standard reading. They have low flanges , the often encountered challenge is turndown unless the orifice plate is orifice plate alignment and eccentricity issue changed. In addition, they are subject to with regard to orifice plate i.e. ensuring the fouling, which can partially obstruct the concentricity of the plate with respect to orifice plate and cause the meter to read meter tube & possibility of plate deflection. high. The only way to counter fouling in a With the evolution of single chamber & dual DP meter is to send someone out chamber orifice fittings, this challenge has periodically to inspect the orifice plate, become addressable. Orifice plate which is expensive in terms of labor and can alignment is one of the most significant mean an interruption in production. In factors in reducing measurement 2 uncertainty. Orifice plate holder which designed such that it reduces measurement carries the orifice plate is concentrically uncertainty. (Refer fig.1) Figure 1: Orifice plate holder • Single Chamber Orifice fittings: to make plate changing quick and Allows quick and economical easy at installations where line inspection and replacement of orifice movement from flange spreading is plates with minimum downtime. The undesirable. (Refer fig.2) single-chamber fitting is engineered Figure2: Single chamber orifice fitting • Dual Chamber Orifice fittings: Allows simple method of changing orifice easy orifice plate replacement with plates under pressure without flow no down time. It provides fast and interruption. (Refer fig. 3) Figure 3: Dual Chamber Orifice Fitting 3 3.0 TURBINE & RPD FLOW have the greatest effect on meter life METERING FOR NATURAL GAS expectancy. Meter oil change frequency will depend upon cleanliness Turbine flow meters & RPD flow meters are of the gas being measured. Oil has to used to measure gas flow, particularly for be changed when the color darkens or clean, medium-to-high steady flow of low- when the level increases, indicating an viscosity fluids. The turbine meter accumulation of moisture. measures volumetric flow based on fluid • A change in the meters internal flowing passed a free-spinning rotor, with resistance can affect the rotary meter each revolution agreeing with a specific accuracy. Any significant increase on volume of fluid. PD meters differ from the meter’s internal resistance to flow turbine meters in that they handle medium will increase the pressure drop and high-viscosity liquids well. In the case of between the inlet and outlet of the RPD meter, two figures "8" shaped lobes, meter, thus increasing the differential. the rotors(also known as impellers or Therefore, the meter differential pistons), spin in precise alignment. With pressure appears as a prime indicator each turn, they move a specific quantity of of meter condition. Establishing base gas through the meter. The rotational line curves – developing an original movement of the crank shaft serves as a differential or baseline curve is primary flow element and may produce recommended at the time of meter electrical pulses for a flow computer or may initial installation. At least 3 test points drive an odometer-like counter. Compared are required at gas flow rates between with orifice-type meters, PD meters require 25% to 100% of meter capacity. Plot very little straight upstream piping since the points on a graph and then connect they are not sensitive to uneven flow the points to form a curve. This distribution across the area of the pipe. provides baseline data for comparison to later tests. 3.1 Limitations in Turbine & RPD • In case of both Turbine & RPD meters, Flow Metering operating flow below Qmin can lead to Certainly, both the turbine and RPD meters increased measurement errors; have moving parts which is always a operating flow above Qmax can be limitation, and the user needs to consider detrimental to the metering system. the cleanliness of the gas. There is also the This challenge can be meted out chance of damage because of over- through appropriate sizing of metering speeding these meters. system with due emphasis on process conditions. 3.2 Challenges in Turbine & RPD • Flow Metering Turbine & RPD flow meters which are flanged end-to-end & misalignment • In both Turbine & RPD flow meters, during installation can pose critical measurement accuracy and life issues such as zero shift. This expectancy can be impeded by challenge can be mitigated by ensuring excessive deposits of dirt or other type proper flange-to-flange alignment.
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