Field Trials and Pragmatic Development of SONAR Flow Meter Technology by Bill Pearson, BP AGT and Nigel Webster, Expro Meters Inc.
Contents Requirement for retrospective fit, non-intrusive measurement devices Scope of application ActiveSONAR field installations Measurement performance characteristics ti ActiveSONAR operation description Technology development Technology dashboard
Retrospective, non-intrusive measurement requirements For the cases described, two principle causes: Changing fluid characteristics Project CaPex savings on equipment redundancy Interventions can require complex isolations significant events in risk averse operation - inherently hazardous Consider life cycle costs Operate phase intervention very costly any non-intrusive option is relatively cost effective SONAR based technology non-intrusive, relatively high turndown, previous experience Retrofit measurement assurance
Scope of application Estimated 200+ Class 2 meters mass balance type meters - pseudo single phase, integrity related measurements
ActiveSONAR field installation field cabling transmitter mounting clamp transducer module cover assembly ActiveSONAR meter, Ex d Zone 1 installations
Simple summary statistics gas trial dataset a dataset b post spike filter set a average difference: -0.3±13 mmscfd (2σ) set b average difference: -1.1±4 mmscfd (2σ)
Simple summary statistics - oil trial dataset c dataset d set t c average difference: set d average difference: 57±112 m 3 /h (2σ) 145±98 m 3 /h (2σ)
Dataset c insight Set C Trend histogram
Dataset d insight Set d differences histogram 250 200 150 100 50 0 Set d Trend histogram sonar usm 2357.174805 2376.169238 2395.163672 2414.158105 2433.152539 2452.146973 2471.141406 2490.13584 2509.130273 2528.124707 2547.119141 2566.113574 2585.108008 2604.102441 2623.096875 2642.091309 2661.085742 2680.080176
ActiveSONAR SONAR Technology Flow Measurement Exploits naturally occurring phenomena coherent vortical structures. Vortical structures propagate uniformly through the pp pipe. Coherence is maintained over multiple pipe diameters. SONAR meter introduces ultrasonic pulses orthogonally to the direction of flow Ultrasonic pulses are modulated by the vortical structures. Flow meter tracks the modulation over the sensor array determining flow velocity
Sonar Meter Signal Processing Scheme
Sensor Signal Data Processed with Original Method Sensor Signal Data Processed with ihdifferent Parameters
Application of a Spike Filter
Flow Studio Diagnostic Dashboard Displays diagnostic data and parameters used to determine the validity of the reported flow rate Screen Shot From Sangachal Flow Meter
Quality Metric Parameter which provides information on the degree of coherence of the vortical structures in the flow.
Flow Signal to Noise Ratio Parameter which provides information on the strength of the fluid borne signal.
Channel Gain Parameter for each transducer channel which provides information on the uniformity of the received fluid borne signal.
Flow Signal Arrival Time Parameter used to ensure correct measurement of the fluid borne signal.
Conclusions Clamp-on SONAR technology, as a non-intrusive retrofit meter technology, is comparable with other type of meter technology such as ultrasound or differential pressure producer meters Sonar flow meters have powerful diagnostic parameters which will allow for the determination of the validity of the flow measurement. It would be beneficial to the customer to be able to make this determination without having the vendor on site. Currently these diagnostic parameters are available to allow for trending along with the reported flow rate. A Conditional Flow Measurement Assurance Utility is currently under development which will provide a graphical representation of the diagnostic parameters similar to what is seen in Flow Studio.