Wet Gas Metering

Flow Solutions for the Oil & Gas Industry

ABB Instrumentation

Wet Gas Metering

Another flow metering solution for the Oil & Gas Sector.
With many of the most economically attractive gas fields already on stream, the more-marginal fields are now being exploited, including gas condensate fields. Here the gas is the primary resource and only small amounts of hydrocarbon liquid are contained in the gas stream. Separation of the phases for well testing, etc, is often either not possible or uneconomic and there is a growing requirement for flow meters to measure the gas flow and disregard the liquid phase.

The metering of this wet gas is a difficult application that requires a special approach in both hardware and data processing. The presence of liquid in a gas stream affects the flow reading of a DP-based meter, giving a value higher than the true flowrate. This over-reading becomes greater as the LVF (Liquid Volume Fraction, or ratio of liquid volume to total volume) increases. The venturi tube is an ideal primary element to use in wet gas metering as it is less affected than most by the presence of liquid in a gas phase, as any liquid can pass easily through the meter without blockage or damage. To correct for the over-reading, a number of algorithms have been devised. The original algorithm was developed by Murdock for orifice plates and modified by Chisholm to take account of the additional effects of the gas density. De Leeuw found another correlation for wet gas measured by

venturi tubes. However all these correlations involve a coefficient called the Lockhart-Martinelli parameter, a dimensionless number which expresses the LVF in terms of the pressure drops (across the meter restriction) of the liquid and gas phases flowing alone. These algorithms rely on data about the liquid density and LVF, which is provided by the user and included in the configuration at start-up. This configuration can be updated periodically if the LVF or density should change. ABB use a venturi tube whose readings are corrected for the over-reading by these widely-accepted algorithms and provide true gas flow readings. ABB have applied the experience gained in some 115 years of Differential Pressure flow metering to this application and have added wet gas metering to their portfolio.

Flow Measurement

Flow Measurement

The system
ABB wet gas metering systems consists of the following: Venturi Tube (for flow sensing) Integral RTD element (for temperature sensing) ABB multivariable transmitter (for measurement of Differential Pressure, static pressure and temperature) Flow computer, display & retransmission module (to perform the wet gas corrections and provide corrected flow readouts/signals) The Venturi has been chosen as the flow measurement element as they have many advantages: Robust Low pressure loss Minimum wear Handle entrained liquids without blockage Established wet gas correction algorithms available Can be manufactured in a wide variety of materials to suit the application Can handle extremes of pressure and/or temperature ABB can offer a choice of flow computer formats to suit the application.

Wet Gas Computer PLC version

Flow measurement and correction for liquid content

If uncorrected, the venturi meter will over-read the gas flow rate when a liquid phase is present. The degree of over-reading is affected by the following: Operating pressure he Lockhart-Martinelli parameter (X), T which represents the LVF.

Therefore the algorithm for correction is:

where:

and: n = 0.41 where 0.5 Frg 1.5 n = 0.606 (1-e-0.746Frg) where Frg >1.5 The density of the gas and liquid phases must be supplied to ABB for the initial configuration of the system. Thereafter, following a significant change in their value(s), the client must update the system accordingly. It serves as an input into the formula for the uncorrected gas mass flow rate (as indicated by the venturi meter):

This unit is ideal for more demanding applications such as sites with multiple wet gas metering systems and those requiring bus communications such as Profibus-DP Modbus, Devicenet, CANopen, , Ethernet, etc. It can be supplied either within a wall-mounting enclosure or for rack/ panel mounting, as appropriate to the installation.

where: ml = = mg g = l =

liquid mass flow rate gas mass flow rate gas density liquid density

he Gas Froude number (Frg) T (representing the gas velocity):

Total capability
If, however, the project requires more or less than the above package, ABB are able to customize their offer to the requirements. From only the meter and transmitters being required right up to a full system including a Distributed Control System ABB can deliver. ABB are able to work with client-nominated suppliers of tracer-dilution systems to enhance the overall measurement by adding the measurement of flow rates of the individual liquids in the stream.
Description
Flow Element Field Device Remote Computer - basic Remote Computer - advanced Remote computer - advanced + liquid flowrates Full DCS

Wet Gas Computer standard version

where: g = g = D = g = l =

where: Cgas discharge coefficient of the venturi flow meter in dry gas as determined through calibration superficial gas velocity gravitational acceleration upstream pipe diameter gas density liquid density d expansibility of gas in venturi as defined by ISO 5157-1 throat diameter of the venturi flow meter (corrected for temperature)

gas gas density at upstream conditions P aw differential pressure as measured by R the transmitter R atio of d to D, the throat diameter of the venturi and the pipe diameter respectively

De Leeuw correction
The over-reading ( ) is the ratio of the uncorrected gas flowrate to the real gas flowrate:

Device
Venturi + RTD MVTx/DPTx /TTx/PTx SensyCalG - Wet gas version AC 500 PLC AC500 PLC + Tracer-dilution inputs AC800 DCS

Level
1 2 3 4 5 6

The De Leeuw correlation is based on the use of Venturi meters with a gas stream containing hydrocarbon condensate. The De Leeuw correlation specifies that the over-reading ratio is given by:

Available for mounting via wall, panel, DIN rail or 19" rack, this unit is ideal for standard wet gas metering and/or those where a single computer per metering point is appropriate.

Wet gas is a gas stream with liquids present; it is however treated as single-phase flow measurement, in that it is predominately gas and it is measurement of the gas phase only that is required. The Gas Volume Fraction (GVF) is typically no less than 90-95%, unlike in two-phase metering where the gas fraction can be very much lower (i.e. the liquid fraction can be very much higher). Wet gas metering is differentiated from two-phase flow metering by the LVF.

4 4

Flow Measurement

Flow Measurement

ABB Wet Gas Meter system

The ABB solution to wet gas metering is based on the following: luid: Wet gas with a Lockhart-Martinelli F parameter in the range 0.0 - 0.3. Higher values of this parameter indicate a higher liquid content. iquid Volume Fraction (LVF) between 5% L and 10%. Flow regime of the mist type. orizontal pipe run with a flow velocity of H typically 15 m/sec or higher, to keep the liquid suspended in the gas. he flow meter primary element is a classical T Venturi Tube with a machined convergent, designed and constructed as a single phase meter in accordance with ISO 5167: 2003. he over-reading correction is in accordance T with the De Leeuw algorithm; wet gas correction is performed by a separate unit (either a flow computer or a PLC). The uncertainty target is +/-10%.

he LVF must be estimated or determined T empirically on site for application to the De Leeuw algorithm.

Applications
Wet gas meters are used in a number of applications, including: Development of marginal oil and gas fields rocess metering P - where gas contains hydrocarbon liquid or water or a mixture of the two llocation metering A - enabling individual well control Well management ell testing W - reducing CAPEX in evaluation of new wells Production optimisation

ABB offers testing of the materials used to produce the meter. The complete meter can optionally be tested on water, gas or wet gas. ABB have used the wet gas test facilities at CEESI (Colorado Engineering Experiment Station) in the USA for wet gas meter testing. ABBs extensive range of certification and testing is supported by comprehensive customer documentation packages. The data dossiers are tailored to the requirements of the project but include meter bore calculations, welding qualifications, drawings, NDE certificates & procedures, material certificates and quality plans.

he venturi is supplied with a single tapping at T each of the standard upstream and throat locations as per ISO 5167. An additional pressure tapping is also supplied, located in a pipework section within the wet gas meter assembly but downstream of the venturi tube itself. This allows measurement of the downstream pressure after full recovery and, hence, the total pressure loss incurred. Significant variations in LVF value can be detected by changes in the overall pressure loss incurred, signalling the need for re-testing/ re-estimation of the LVF value being used in the correction algorithm. n RTD element is located 5D downstream of the A venturi, in accordance with ISO 5167, to supply the temperature input. ABB transmitters for Differential Pressure, pressure and temperature are supplied fitted to the meter assembly. Dual DP transmitters (set to different ranges) can be supplied for larger flow turndown requirements. ABB multivariable transmitters can be supplied where necessary in place of separate DP , pressure and temperature transmitters.

Certification, testing & documentation

ABB wet gas meters are supplied with comprehensive certification and documentation and are subject to stringent testing. Material traceability certificates are supplied to ensure the quality and suitability of the material used in the manufacture of the flow elements.

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ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 111,000 people. www.abb.com/instrumentation

The Companys policy is one of continuous product improvement and the right is reserved to modify the information contained herein without notice. Printed in the UK (04.2008) ABB 2008

UK ABB Limited Salterbeck Trading Estate Workington Cumbria CA14 5DS Tel: +44 (0) 1946 830 611 Fax: +44 (0) 1946 832 661

PB/WETGASMETERING-EN