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Gas measurement by orifice meter
• Orifice Plate. The plate is usually made of 304 or 316
stainless steel or monel according to the specifications listed
in Figure 11‐7. The upstream edge [ e ] shall be flat to within
0.01 inch per inch of the dam height—(D ‐ d)/2.
• The max edge thickness [max e ] is define by e < D/ 50 or
e < d / 8 which is smaller
• The thickness of the orifice plate are as per on the next
table
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The meter consists of an orifice plate with pressure sensing
taps both upstream and downstream of the orifice plate.
The plate itself may be changed without interrupting gas flow.
The sloped edge is installed down stream the flow.
The Beta ratio is taken as 0.15 to 0.75 for flange tap , but is
pipe tap is used the Beta ratio is taken from 0.2 to 0.67
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8ppipe
p diameters N
Not dependent
p on d/D
/ ratio.
2½x D ffrom
2½
Pipe taps from upstream Pressure drop = net pressure loss.
upstream face
face Take up a lot of space.
If the orifice is used for liquid
measurements the two taps
are installed downward (
i t ll d d d(
below the orifice ) not as the
gas measurements which
installed nearly above the
orifice
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Length of pipe required for
accurate measurements is
based on the Beta ratio
Straightening vanes reduce
the required lengths of
upstream pipe, and this is
especially welcome for large
diameter pipe when space is
limited, e.g., offshore.
Occasionally, vanes can
cause plugging problems.
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Straightening Vanes — The purpose of straightening vanes is to eliminate swirls and cross
currents set up by the pipe fittings and valves upstream of the meter tube.
The specifications which follow apply particularly to the type of vanes shown in Fig. 3‐14.
In the construction of vanes, the maximum transverse dimension "a," Fig. 3‐14, of any
passage through the vanes shall not exceed one‐fourth (1/4) the inside diameter, "D,"
of the pipe.
, , "A,"
Also, the cross‐sectional area, , of any passage within the assembled vanes shall not
yp g
exceed one‐sixteenth (1/16) of the cross‐sectional area of the containing pipe.
It is not necessary that all the vane passages be of the same size, but their arrangement
should be symmetrical.
The length "L" of the vanes shall be at least ten (10) times the largest inside
"a” dimension.
Calculating Gas Flow Rate
the fundamental equation for gas measurement is:
Qh=C‘ hw pf
where
h
Qh = quantity rate of flow at base conditions in cu ft/hr
hw = differential pressure in inches of water
Pf = absolute static pressure, psia
C' = orifice flow constant
Assume the flowing temperature is constant
C'=Fb.Fr.Y.Fpb.Ftb.Ftf.Fgr.Fpv.Fa.Fam.Fw1.Fwt.Fpw1.Fhgm.Fhgt
Using AGA3 for gas calculations
C:\Users\Eng\Desktop\GAS .exe
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Some important facts when Calculating Gas Rates!
Pressure: When calculating pressure you must be consistent with
which of the pressure format you use, either psig (gauge
pressure) or Psia (pressure at atmospheric conditions) when
calculating gas pressures we use Psia, converted from psig.
What is temperature measured in for calculation?
Rankin
Where Rankin is oF + 460
Hw, What is it? Differential pressure in inches of water
Pf, What is it? Absolute Static Pressure.( P in Psig + 14.7 )
d What does it mean? The diameter of the orifice in inches
Fu, What is this? A correction factor which is dependent upon the
standard conditions If the base pressure and temperature are14.73
Psia and 60oF and the rate is to be reported in cubic feet per day,
Fu will equal 24
Fg What is this? equals 1 divided by the gas gravity and
determining the square root of the result 1 / G
hw Pf, What is this? This factor is obtained by multiplying the
differential (hw) in inches of water times the absolute static pressure
(Pf) in Psia
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Fb What is this? The basic orifice factor depends upon:
the location of the differential taps; the diameter of the orifice, d;
and upon the internal diameter of the pipe, D.
Fpv, What is this? correction factor to account for the deviation of
the natural gas from the ideal gas laws compressibility is a function
of pressure, temperature and gas composition.
Y2, What is this? The expansion factor Y2 is taken from the
downstream pressure tap to obtain a pressure correction for the
density of gas.
The meter usually reads zero to 100 inches of water. This
means that the hole in the orifice plate is sized to obtain
a pressure drop of about 3.5 psi (28 inches of water
equals 1 psi) at the maximum anticipated gas rate.
1 atm = 10.4 meters of water = 409.45 inches of water = 14.7 psig
So 1 psi = 27.8 inches of water so if the range of the
orifice meter is 100 water inches that means that the
orifice plate will obtain 3.5 psi pressure drop.
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Gas field balances
The operator of one large producing district was concerned that
metered gas sales at custody transfer points could not be
reconciled with the daily wellhead production figures reported
by operating personnel.
An investigation revealed the following:‐
Calculations used to determine daily wellhead gas flows did not
include correction factors for temperature or compressibility.
We can increase the measuring range from 100 water inch to 200
water inches which will increase the range with 41.4 % ( i.e.√
200/100) duplication of the range will not duplicate the measuring rate
where the gas flow rate is proportional with the square roots of the
differential press. (Qg = C √∆P*P/ T)
1‐ Pulsation effects
so to check
so to check if this error
if this error is due to the pulsation or not
is due to the pulsation or not an isolation
an isolation
valve (preferred to be globe valve) is throttling to create from 5 to 10
psi pressure drop if the pulsation the reasons of the high reading the
reading will be drop to the normal.
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when the possibility of pulsation is anticipated in a meter
run, the tubing lines should be coiled.
This coiling will soothe the pressure pulsation effect on the
tubing connections themselves but will not eliminate the
tubing connections themselves, but will not eliminate the
incorrect high reading
If the compressor's cylinder valves are in good condition,
the calculated flow should be 5% to 10% greater than the
metered flow.
2‐ Location meter runs too close to elbows or piping reducers also
can alter recorder flows.
3‐ Plugged orifice:‐
if the orifice is plugged the
differential pressure is
differential pressure is
reading more than normal
and indicating higher gas
flow rate.
4‐ Eroded orifice plat:‐
will cause lower readingg
where this will decrease
the pressure drop which
will indicate lower reading
than actual.
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Gas field balances
A standard specific gravity of 0.65 was being used in wellhead
gas flow calculations, while actual specific gravity measurements
indicated 0.62
indicated 0 62 gravity.
gravity
Brine or condensate, which is entrained out of the high pressure
separator and carries through the meter run, will result in an
erroneously high measurement of gas flow, This is due to the
higher pressure drop which will be created by the entrained
liquid.
Measurement Problems. These include freezing, pulsating flow,
slugging, and sour gas. Commonly implemented solutions are shown
below
Freezing
• Install line heaters, heated meter house
• Dry gas, use hydrate inhibitors
• Enlarge meter piping to 0 5 in
• Enlarge meter piping to 0.5 in
Pulsations
• Locate meter away from reciprocating compressor
• Insert capacity, restriction, or filter in line
• Operate at as high as possible hw
Slugging
• Remove liquids in slug catchers
Remove liquids in slug catchers
• Dry gas
Sour gas
• Use 316 stainless static spring
• Use Teflon bearings for differential pen shaft
• Avoid copper piping, mercury manometers
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