measurIT technologies
Case Study: Leak detection - Gas & Petrochemicals
Flexim HPI Portable Flowmeter
The Enterprise family of companies is one of North
America’s largest midstream energy networks, providing
services to producers and consumers of natural gas,
natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, refined products,
liquefied petroleum gases (LPGs) and petrochemicals.
The assets of the combined entities include more
than 48,000 miles of onshore and offshore pipelines
that transport and gather natural gas, NGLs, crude oil,
petrochemicals, LPGs and refined products such as
gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Enterprise offers 200 million
barrels of NGL storage, 27 billion cubic feet of natural
gas storage, 14 million barrels of crude oil storage, 27
million barrels of refined products and LPG storage,
28 natural gas processing and treating facilities, 17
NGL & propylene fractionation facilities, and 19 refined
products terminals.
Enterprise Products Pipeline provides transportation
services to customers on a fee basis; therefore, the
gross operating margin is directly dependent upon
the volume of product transported. The Enterprise
application story starts over 3 years ago when Enterprise
approached FLEXIM looking for a solution to “Leak
Detection” which is required throughout their pipeline
system by Federal regulations.
Challenge
Enterprise must have a means for monitoring the
flow of critical segments on their pipeline between
facilities. This monitoring is typically in addition to
their custody metering, and many segments where the
monitoring is needed there is no custody metering.
MeasurIT Technologies Ltd.
Craan, Craanford,
Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland
The meters do not have to be custody quality but need
to be highly accurate. Shutting down the pipeline
to install leak detection metering is not an option.
The measurements must be “normalized” for standard
volume. This usually requires the use of a flow computer
(such as an Omni) as well as temperature and pressure
(or density) inputs. As a result, inline meter installations
tend to be very costly as well as disruptive to pipeline
operations.
Solution
The FLEXIM “HPI” meter offers the perfect solution to
this problem. It allows the measurement to be made
non-invasively eliminating any disruption in pipeline
operations. The “HPI” meter eliminates the need for a
separate external flow computer as the “HPI” meter
comes pre-configured with industry standard tables
(GPA TP-25, ASTM 1250 and 4311) which together with
temperature and pressure inputs will do the standard
volume compensation internally. The FLEXIM solution is
cost effective and non-disruptive to pipeline operations.
The initial installation was so successful, over the last 3
years Enterprise has put nearly 200 FLEXIM meters in
service throughout its pipeline system.
Flexim “HPI” Pipeline Meter - Fast Facts
• Leak Detection, Interface Detection, Check
Metering, Pig Detection, Barge & Tanker,
• Pipelines, Terminals, Chemical & Petrochemical
Plants, Gas Plants, Refineries,
• References: Enterprise Products, Exxon Mobil
Pipeline, Shell Pipeline.
email: info@measurIT.com Phone: +353 (0) 53 942 8962
www.measurIT.com Fax: +353 (0) 53 942 8963