BLM

Gas Measurement Issues

Introduction and Issues

GMT created by RPC, but there is a history
Williams Common Static
Wafer V-Cone
Purpose and Accomplishments

Current and Pending Issues

 BLM
Gas Measurement Issues

Current Team Members

Steve Klimetz, PE, Milwaukee FO

John Shufflebarger, I&E Coordinator, Wyoming SO
Gary Roth, PET, Buffalo FO
Rich Estabrook, PE, California SO (Ukiah)
Others…
 BLM
Gas Measurement Issues

The beginning…1999
Common Static/Common Temperature
Standard AGA Orifice Measurement
DP
SP Tf
Proposed Configuration DP1

Q1=(DP1, SPc, FTc)

SPc

DP2 Q2=(DP2, SPc, FTc)

FTc

DP3
Q3=(DP3, SPc, FTc)

Butterfly Valves
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

• Variance request denied

• State Director Review
• 3 years later…
 ?
Documentation
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

The team:
• PETs
• PEs
• Gas measurement expertise
• Regulatory expertise
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Criteria for approval:

• Overall measurement uncertainty < ±3%
• No significant bias
• Objective inspection procedures
• Document uncertainty and lack of bias
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Analysis approach:
• Require 3rd party testing to establish and
document uncertainty and bias

• Cooperation and communication a key

 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Result:
• Variance was approved
• COAs included operating limits established
by lab testing
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Result:
• Establish standard criteria and method for
reviewing variances
• Use this standard Bureau-wide for
consistency
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

GMT Analysis of the Wafer V-Cone

• Variance requests for Wafer V-Cones in
several Field Offices
• Use criteria developed for Williams Common
Static to review Wafer V-Cones
• API standard for testing (5.7) had major
loopholes
• GMT helped get API 5.7 changed (22.2) to
close loopholes
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

GMT Analysis of the Wafer V-Cone

• Additional testing required
• IM 2007-022 developed to offer guidance on
approval
Wafer-Cone® Flowmeter By McCrometer

Accuracy: up to ±0.5% of rate ±1% - 2%

Repeatability: ±0.1%

Turndown: 10:1

Standard betas: 0.45 through 0.85 0.65

Headloss: Percentage of differential pressure, varies

with beta ratio
Installation: Typically 0-3 diameters upstream and 0-
1 diameters downstream 5 diameters upstream (0 for
double elbow); 1-2 diameters downstream
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

Why was the GMT Created?

Enforcement
Recently:
• Recommendation of the Royalty Policy
Committee
• Recommendation adopted by the WO
• To assess new gas measurement technology
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

Historically: To address issues like:

Enforcement
 Offices were struggling with new measurement
methods
 Approval of EFCs & Wafer V-cones varied by Office
 Case by case approvals created large workloads.
 Approvals did not consider impacts to I&E.
 Need for guidance on new issues like Btu or F.C.
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

What is the Purpose of the GMT?

Enforcement
 Official Purpose (RPC): Assess new technology

• Flow Conditioners
• Btu Standards
• Alternate Primary Elements (4 hole orifice,
etc.)
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

What is the Purpose of the GMT?

Enforcement
 Other Purposes:
• To be a resource to FO, SO, WO
• Help interpret and use meas. data, specs,
protocols, etc…
• To help develop/clarify policy and regulatory issues
• Consult/assist w/ insp., audit, enfor., actions
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

Enforcement
What is the Purpose of the GMT?
Other Purposes:
• Act as BLM liaison with industry organizations &
manufacturers.
• Help establish BLM gas measurement standards
• Assist w/ civil and criminal cases upon request
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

What has the GMT Accomplished?

Enforcement
Developed WO IM 2006-233: Issuing NTL for
EFCs
Assisted issuance of State NTLs for EFCs
Developed WO IM 2007-022: Wafer cone
approval
Participating on various API Committees
 BLM
GMT Purpose & Accomplishments

What has the GMT Accomplished?

Enforcement
Developed criteria for analyzing new
measurement device
Conducted training sessions throughout BLM
Offices
Developed Uncertainty Calculator
Laid ground work for revision to OO5
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Current/pending issues
• BTU sampling, analysis, reporting
• Allocation/Commingling/Beneficial Use
• Need for Low flow policy
• Volume statement verification
• New measurement devices
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Current/pending issues, con’t

• Flow Conditioners
• EFC NTL status
• API update
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

BTU/Gas Gravity
 20
Royatly Error, %

15

BTU
10

5
Gravity
0
0 5 10 15 20

Gas Sampling/Analysis Error, %

 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

BTU/Gas Gravity Sampling

• 1 sample per year for BTU required by OO5
• No sampling standards
• No analysis standards
• No requirement of where sample is taken
• Potential for bias is significant
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

BTU reporting
3 methods of reporting:
• Dry
• Wet (saturated)
• Real
 BTU “Dry” basis

Sales Volume = 100 Mcf x

1000 MBTU/Mcf =
100 MMBTU

100 Mcf natural gas:

1000 MBTU/Mcf

Total Volume = 100 Mcf

 BTU “Wet” basis

Sales Volume = 98.26 Mcf x

1000 MBTU/Mcf =
98.261 MMBTU
1.74 Mcf water vapor*

98.26 Mcf natural gas:

1000 MBTU/Mcf

Total Volume = 100 Mcf

* at 14.73 psi & 60ºF
 BTU “Real” basis

Sales Volume = 99.5 Mcf x

1000 MBTU/Mcf =
0.5 Mcf water vapor
based on analysis 99.5 MMBTU

99.5 Mcf natural gas:

1000 MBTU/Mcf

Total Volume = 100 Mcf

 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

BTU reporting
3 methods of reporting:
• Wet (saturated)
• Dry
• Real
BLM “policy” is wet, which results in up to a
-1.74% in royalty
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Allocation & Commingling

 Lease measurement:
• POM for each lease/CA/PA
• POM = OGOR = royalty point
WYW XXX STATE CA FEE
• BLM stops at POM

CA
FED

FEE STATE

Fuel
WYW
XXX

MASTER METERS
GAS HANDLING &
COMPRESSION

GAS HANDLING &

COMPRESSION Fuel
 Allocation measurement:
• BLM must inspect every meter
• Ensure beneficial use is proper
WYW XXX STATE CA FEE and allocated correctly
• Account for complex allocation
CA schemes
FED
• Back-allocation of liquids
FEE STATE
• Jurisdictional issues

Fuel
WYW
XXX

MASTER METERS
GAS HANDLING &
COMPRESSION

GAS HANDLING &

COMPRESSION Fuel
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Approval of Allocation & Commingling

Must ensure its in the public’s interest and not
just for operators convenience:
• Production Accounting/verifiability
• Must identify all POMs involved!
• Ensure BLM authority and access
• Ensure Beneficial Use is allocated
appropriately
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Low Flow Policy

Many wells flowing at very low rates:
• CBM
• Casing head gas
• Depleted producers
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Low Flow Policy, con’t

What measurement standards should apply?
What should the threshold be?
Leniency since risk of significant mis-
measurement is low
Include in OO5
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Volume Statement Verification

• Goal: Recalculate volumes for accuracy
• Rely on verifiable data and calculations
• “Raw” data: DP, SP, Tf, flow time, IV
• Independent calculation of IMV
• V = IMV x IV
• “Red flag” threshold > 0.3%
 BLM
Gas Measurement Team

Volume Statement Verification

• Must require IV in audit request
• Must issue written order if operator unable to
provide IV
• Beware of 3rd party data services
 BLM
Issues: New Meters

• Wafer V-Cone
• Rosemount 4-hole orifice
• Precision V-Cone
• Verabar (Accelabar)
• E-tube
• Ultrasonic
Wafer-Cone® Flowmeter By McCrometer

Accuracy: up to ±0.5% of rate

Repeatability: ±0.1%

Turndown: 10:1

Standard betas: 0.45 through 0.85

Headloss: Percentage of differential pressure, varies

with beta ratio

Installation: Typically 0-3 diameters upstream and 0-

1 diameters downstream
Wafer-Cone® Flowmeter By McCrometer

Accuracy: up to ±0.5% of rate ±1% - 2%

Repeatability: ±0.1%

Turndown: 10:1

Standard betas: 0.45 through 0.85 0.65

Headloss: Percentage of differential pressure, varies

with beta ratio
Installation: Typically 0-3 diameters upstream and 0-
1 diameters downstream 5 diameters upstream (0 for
double elbow); 1-2 diameters downstream

Approved with conditions

 Rosemount 1595 Conditioning Orifice Plate
The Rosemount 1595 Conditioning Orifice Plate simplifies installation by
eliminating the need for long straight-run required for accurate flow
measurement.

•Designed to provide superior performance in short

straight pipe run, tight fit applications and upstream flow
disturbances

•Comprehensive offering is consistent with ISO-5167,

AGA and ASME standards

•Requires only two pipe diameters (2D) while delivering

+0.5% accuracy

Withdrawn by manufacturer
 Precision V-Cone

Testing nearly complete

Inquiries from manufacturer
 e-tube

Inquiries by manufacturer
 Ultrasonic

Case by case approval

 BLM
Issues: Flow Conditioners

Flow Conditioner Types:

 Tube bundles/straightening vanes
 Isolating flow conditioners (“flow
conditioners”)
Requirements for Upstream Piping
• Onshore Order 5: Requires compliance with AGA 3 (1985)
• AGA 3 (1985) allows straight pipe
and straightening vanes
 BLM
Issues: Flow Conditioners

Isolating Flow Conditioners

CPA 50E (flange)
CPA TBR (tube bundle replacement) (set screw)
(CPA = Canada Pipeline Accessories)
Daniel Profiler
Savant pFC
 Set screw

Straightening Vanes
Orifice
Tube bundle
 Set screw

Flow Conditioner Orifice

Flow Conditioner Orifice
 BLM
Issues: Flow Conditioners

General Information
• Flow conditioners are not approved by AGA 3 (1985) 

• Require variance from Onshore Order 5

• They behave differently than straightening vanes 
• AGA 3 installation diagrams do not apply
• Also not approved by AGA 3 (2000) (testing protocol only)
• BLM reviewing test data and will develop IM similar to wafer
V-Cone IM (6 months)
• Interim guidance (1 month)
 BLM
Issues: Flow Conditioners

Enforcement Action
If there is no variance on file:
• Write INC using Onshore Order 5, III.C.3 as a reference
• Corrective action: submit variance request
 BLM
Issues: Flow Conditioners

Approval
• Interim recommendation:
• give provisional approval using manufacturer specs as a
condition;
• warn operators that this may change pending final review
and guidance;
• operator must identify make and model of flow conditioner
on-site
 BLM
Issues: NTL Status

State Office Jurisdiction NTL status (5/22/08)

Alaska None

California Approved April 16, 2007

Colorado Approved December 21, 2007
Eastern States Comment period closed
Montana Approved May 4, 2007
New Mexico Approved January 29, 2008
Utah Approved August 27, 2007
Wyoming* Approved April 23, 2004*

*the Wyoming NTL is slightly different from the model NTL

 BLM
Issues: API Update

API 21.1 – Electronic Gas Measurement

• Status: Under revision
• Better define Integral Value
• New calibration requirements
• Better defined reporting requirements

API 14.3.1 – Concentric Square-edged Orifice Meters

• Status: Revision balloted and approved: new Y factor
 BLM
Issues: API Update

API 22.2 – Testing Protocol for Differential Meters

• Status: Under revision
• Better define testing requirements

API 22.4 – Testing Protocol for Transmitters

• Status: Under development

API 22.5 – Testing Protocol for Flow Computers

• Status: Under development

 BLM
Issues: API Update

API 20.1 – 20.6 – Allocation Measurement

• Status: Under revision