1

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND

BUILT ENVIRONMENT
COURSEWORK COVER SHEET
FOR THE ATTENTION OF LECTURER: Dr CARLOS GAMIO-ROFFE

Student Name: DAMILOLA KUNLERE

Matriculation Number: S1419531

Year of Study: 2014/15

Programme Title: MSc ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN OIL &

GAS
Assignment Title: COURSEWORK 2
Module: MMH122108: THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Student Declaration
This piece of work is not plagiarised. It is my own original work and has not been
submitted elsewhere in fulfilment of the requirements of this or any other award.
Signature: KDami
Date: 8/1/15
Your mark could have been higher if:

Additional Marker Comments:

Marker Signature:
Marker Name:
Date:

Total Mark

Table of Contents
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................. 3
1.

Introduction............................................................................................................. 4

2. Non-Conventional Oil and Gas Flow Measurement Methods and their Benefits and Drawbacks.........4
2.1 Coriolis Flow Meter................................................................................................ 4
OPERATIONAL METHOD....................................................................................... 5
2.2 ULTRASONIC FLOW METER................................................................................6
2.3 TIME OF FLIGHT METER..................................................................................... 6
OPERATIONAL METHOD....................................................................................... 6
2.4 DOPPLERFLOW METER...................................................................................... 7
OPERATIONAL METHOD....................................................................................... 7
2.5 VORTEX FLOW METER............................................................................................. 8
3. THE RELEVANT TECHNICAL STANDARDS AVAILABLE FOR APPLICATION....................10
4. FUTURE TREND....................................................................................................... 11
Bibliography................................................................................................................ 12

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

API

American Petroleum Institute

AGA

American Gas Association

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

BSI

British Standards Institution

EI

Energy Institute

IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

1. Introduction
The petroleum business requires rigorous and precise measurements of oil and gas that is
transferred through ships, pipelines, and from one source to another. The strict measurements are
taken in regard to quantify the accuracy of fluid transfer. These methods have development
numerous ways in form of equipment to measure to flow of liquids and gases through pipelines.
The conventional and most common methods of measuring volumetric amount of fluids are
turbine flow and orifice place. Nevertheless, increased methods are required to measure the
pressure and temperature that may compensate the changes of fluid density. In todays time, the
methods such as Vortex, Ultrasonic, Multi-phase flow meters, and Coriolis are amongst the most
used methods to quantify the volumetric fluid flow rate. There are number of factors such as
cost, liquid, accuracy, technical standards and characteristic that affect which choice of method
should be selected (McAllister, 2014).
In correspondence, this report deals with the start of three different flow meters methods and
their benefits and drawbacks in terms of cost, maintenance and accuracy. Following that, chapter
three details the technical standards that are available widely for the application of method and
chapter four discusses about future trends in that concern.

2. Non-Conventional Oil and Gas Flow Measurement Methods and their Benefits and
Drawbacks.
2.1 Coriolis Flow Meter
In view of Henry et al,. (2013), Coriolis flow meter is shaped as multi-variable device that
simultaneously used to measure mass flow rate of liquid and related density, volume and
temperature. The coriolis flow meter is used because traditional flow meters are unable to
provide sufficient and appropriate volumetric flow measurement of liquids. It has been noticed
that other measurement flow meters such as magnetic flow cater the range of accuracy by 0.5%;
whereas coriolis flow meters are advanced with 0.05% to 0.1% liquid/mass flow (McAllister,
2014).
The system of coriolis consists of two major elements:

1) Oscillating flow tubes along with drivers and sensors connected to both inlet and outlet of
tubes
2) The electronic transmitter that checks and maintains the oscillations in flow tube and
takes out the information from sensors by deriving the sequence of measurements for
density.
OPERATIONAL METHOD
Miller (1996) explained that the coriolis flow meter measure the flow of mass by taking help of
sensor tubes in which the force is exerted to flowing liquid. The force exerted is perpendicular to
the direction of flow. It is often done by pulsating with the sensor tubes at the level of their
resonance frequency. At the point when liquid is streaming, approaching and active sides of the
sensor tubes oppose the differing power delivered by vibration making them turn the mass of
liquid coursing through the tubes. The inlet and outlet placed sensors precisely measure the
rotation and the flow of mass. Since, density and mass flow are measured; this method also
provides volume flow. Coriolis flow meter has been effective in (CO2) infusion for upgraded oil
recuperation where it gauges CO2 produced at lower weights and higher temperatures; in this
manner empowering the utilization of over the ground lower pressure rated piping (Casimiroet
al., 2010).

Figure 1: Coriolis - Flow Meter diagram displaying the location of inlet and outlet sensors in the
oscillating flow tube (Adapted from McAllister, 2014)

Pros
1) It simultaneously measures the flow of volume, temperature and density of mass.
2) It yields more precise results with no change in pressure or temperature of mass of a
fluid.
3) It is appropriate to measure gases as they are more affected by pressures and temperatures
than liquids
4) No moving parts; hence no erosion and erosion; thereby low maintenance cost.
5) Highly accurate measurement reading that enhances the operational efficiency and offers
capital and business cost saving (Davis, 1990).
Cons
1)
2)
3)
4)

High capital cost; relatively expensive than other flow meter technologies
Increased cost of installation
Only Small sizes are available
It is very sensitive to fixing conditions like shock and pipe vibration (Walker, 1992).

2.2 ULTRASONIC FLOW METER

The Flow Meter of Ultrasonic is sort of volumetric flow meter device that produces ultrasonic
signs & gets them again after they have been impacted by the liquid flow in a way the outcome
can then be utilized as a guage of the flow rate (British Standards Institution, 1998)
There are 2 fundamental ultrasonic flow meters innovations that are season of flight & Doppler
meters.
2.3 TIME OF FLIGHT METER
OPERATIONAL METHOD
It is also called transit time meter consists of different transmitter and collector transducers. A
transducer situated on every side of the channel sends ultrasonic signs over the funnel at an edge
where one accepts the way things are and the other against the flow. The flow meter then
measures the time it takes for the sign to set out from single side to the next. The distinction
among the transit times is utilized to decide the flow rates. So this type of ultrasonic flow meter
is for the most part appropriate for hygienic fluid applications Miller (1996).

Figure 2: (Transit-Time Ultrasonic Flow meter). Adapted from Kalyanaraman (2012)

2.4 DOPPLERFLOW METER
OPERATIONAL METHOD
Doppler flow meter takes after same standard as the time of flight where a transducer sends
ultrasonic signs over the funnel; although; as opposed to sending signs to recipient at next side of
the channel, the signal is shown by particles in moving liquid. Since it needs presence of
particles in the liquid, it would best suit to grimy fluids applications, for example, waste water
does not work for clean liquids Kalyanaraman (2012).

Figure 3: (Doppler shift ultrasonic flow meter) Adapted from Kalyanaraman (2012).

Pros
1) Reliability for long-term; no moving parts that can cause erosion or corrosion
(Temperleyet al., 2000).
2) Low Maintenance Cost
3) Easy to install on available pipelines due to clamp-on models and different forms
4) Able to manage higher volumes and suitable for high-volume applications (FMC
Technologies, 2005).
5) High accuracy while measuring high-end products such as crude oil and gas
6) Negligible pressure drop as opposite to other types (Yodel, 2009).
Cons
1) Accuracy might be affected by size distribution of particles for flowing liquid.
2) Higher cost of installation
3) Signals can be hindered by pipe wall clamp on flow meter models.

2.5 VORTEX FLOW METER

Venugopal et al., 2011 the other name for Vortex Flow Meter is Vortex Shedding which is a
device that is based on the principle of shedding of vortices behind a bluff body placed in a flow
stream. It is an adaptable gadget that is used to measure vibrations of downstream vortexes
created by a snag in the streaming liquid of fluids, steams or gasses.
It is composed of two main elements that are
1) One element is composed of the vertex shedder (Bluff Body) and sensors.
2) Other element is made up of signal process and converter.
MODE OF OPERATIONS
If we see into the depth of vortex shedding flow meter, a bluff body (obstruction) that aggravates
the liquid stream is situated amidst the funnel. From the bluff body downstream, there is a sensor
which keeps the littlest pressure distinction in the stream. At the point when the liquid is flowing,
vortices are bit by bit shaped which are segregated alternately on the both sided of bluff body and
then diverted by streaming liquid Miller (1996). Additionally, the contrasts in pressure coordinate
the recurrence of the crossing vortices and then they are enrolled by sensors. Since, the distance

between the two successive vortexes compare to a characterized volume of fluid. In this way we
can figure out the total flow by tallying the vortices that pass through it.

Figure 4: (Vortex - Flow Meter Principle) Adapted from Instrumart (2014)

Pros
1) Vortex Flow Meter is versatile; it can be used to measure the flow of liquid, gases and
streams.
2) It has a relatively low cost of upkeep and installation.
3) It has no any dynamic part which is prone to corrosion or erosion having low cost of
installation and maintenance.
4) Vortex Flow Meter is insensitive to physical properties of fluid such as viscosity and
density thereby which makes them versatile.
Cons
1) Meter does not work properly on fluid which contains the solid impurities.
2) It is not compatible with the rates of low flow due to irregularity of composition of
vortices to be picked up accurately (Yoder, 2001).
3) It can drop some pressure because of presence of bluff body.

3. THE RELEVANT TECHNICAL STANDARDS AVAILABLE FOR APPLICATION.

There are numerous different specialized standards that characterize the requirement of the
measurement framework in petroleum business. They might be national or territorial as they are
used worldwide and characterized as international standards. Because of the basic way of precise

10

and accurate estimations, the flow meters are intended to utilize for estimations must need to be
according to the standards that are made. Since, standards are made to explain the accurate
requirements for the array of operating conditions including, Piping configuration, flow rates,
pressure, viscosity, temperature etcetera FMC Technologies (2005).
3.1 Ultrasonic Flow Meter
Referring to the above inherent qualities, it can be used for the numerous fluid applications, such
as custody transfer, leak detection, checks meter and allocation measurement. (Gamio, 2014;
BS1, 2012) explained in their researches that different standards have been made and used for
the different types of flow meters that are standards ISO/TR 12765, BS 7965 specified for gases,
AGA 9 specifies for gases and ANSI/API MPMS 5.8 is used for liquids which analyze the liquid
flow measurement performance, calibration and other output qualities and have to face with the
different installation and upkeep circumstances. There are many standards which covers different
perspective of different things but these two standards cover the both in and on line flow meter of
ultrasound framework. Additionally, these standards are widely used specially for the natural gas
and custody transfer of petroleum liquids
3.2 Coriolis Flow Meter
Different standards are developed and adapted worldwide, ISO 10790, API MPMS Chapter
14.9 / AGA 11 (Gas) and ANSI/API MPMS 5.6 (Liquids) are the standards which are available
and used for Coriolis flow meter. Two different papers were published on this meter by API that
are titled as Measurement of Crude oil by Coriolis Meters and Measurement of Single phase,
Intermediate, and Finished Hydrocarbon Fluids by Coriolis Gulaga (2014).
3.2 Vortex Flow Meter
Different standards are also developed for Vortex Flow meter that include a draft copy of
ANSI/API 5.8 and two documents are also published for different measurements with the title
Vortex Shedding Flow Meter for measurement of Hydrocarbon Liquids & Measurement
Canada provisional Specification PS-G-07 Rev 1 especially for custody transfer of Natural Gas
Gulaga (2014).

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4. FUTURE TREND
There are many different applications inside of oil and gas industry requests precise
measurement utilizing a scope of metering advances. It is seen that they have gained worldwide
acceptance in the business in the context of the different meters including coriolis, ultrasonic and
vortex metering technologies. It is being adapted and implement due to the standardization of the
system and published data by ISO. In todays world the pattern is prone to transform from the
utilization of customary opening plate and turbine stream meter techniques to non-traditional
metering innovations tended to in this report because of their exact mass and volumetric stream
rates measurement of oil and gas consequently upgrading proficient production.

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