Gas Measurement and Orifice Metering
قياس الغاز وعدادات الفتحة
- Next date
- Available in-house
- Fees from
- —per delegate
- Formats
- In-house training0 sessions
- Duration
- 5 daysCertificate
Overview
Natural gas is bought and sold on the basis of measured volume and energy, so accurate gas measurement directly affects revenue, royalties, taxes and contractual obligations. Orifice meters remain one of the most widely used technologies for gas flow measurement, alongside ultrasonic, turbine and Coriolis meters. Small errors in meter design, installation, calibration, gas composition or calculation can create large financial differences over time, and measurement disputes between buyers, sellers and governments are common. Measurement staff therefore need a sound understanding of both metering principles and good measurement practice.
This course provides a practical understanding of natural gas measurement with a strong focus on orifice metering. Participants learn gas properties, compressibility and the calculation of standard volumes and energy, and the principles of differential pressure flow measurement. The course covers orifice plate, meter tube and fitting design, installation requirements, flow conditioners, and the AGA 3 and ISO 5167 calculation methods. It also introduces ultrasonic, turbine and Coriolis meters, flow computers, secondary instruments, gas chromatographs and sampling, as well as meter inspection, calibration and verification, uncertainty analysis, lost and unaccounted-for gas and measurement audits.
Objectives
- Explain gas properties, compressibility and standard volume calculations
- Apply differential pressure principles to orifice flow measurement
- Specify orifice plates, meter tubes, fittings and flow conditioners
- Perform orifice flow calculations using AGA 3 and ISO 5167 methods
- Compare orifice, ultrasonic, turbine and Coriolis gas meters
- Use flow computers, transmitters and gas chromatographs correctly
- Inspect and verify meters, estimate uncertainty and investigate losses
Who should attend
Measurement engineers and technicians, instrument staff, gas accounting and allocation personnel, and auditors involved in gas custody transfer.
Training methodology
The course combines explanation of measurement principles with worked calculations, real metering station drawings, flow computer reports and audit findings. Participants calculate compressibility, standard volumes and energy, carry out orifice flow calculations by hand and with spreadsheets, and examine orifice plates for damage and dimensional errors. Inspection and calibration records are reviewed to identify bias and measurement errors. Uncertainty budgets are prepared for typical metering stations. Case studies of measurement disputes and lost gas investigations are analysed in groups, and each day ends with a short quiz and review.
Programme outline
Day1Gas Properties and Measurement Basics
- The commercial importance of gas measurement for sales, royalties, taxes and allocation
- Gas composition, density, molecular weight and their effect on measured quantities
- Compressibility, the real gas law and AGA 8 methods for calculating gas properties
- Base conditions, standard volumes and the conversion from line to standard conditions
- Heating value, energy measurement and the role of gas composition in billing
- Measurement standards, contracts and the responsibilities of buyers and sellers
- Practical exercise: converting measured gas volumes to standard volume and energy
Day2Orifice Metering Principles and Design
- Differential pressure flow measurement and the physics behind the orifice meter
- Orifice plates, beta ratio, edge sharpness and other critical plate dimensions
- Meter tubes, orifice fittings and senior fittings used for gas custody transfer
- Straight length requirements, flow profile and the effect of upstream disturbances
- Flow conditioners and tube bundles and how they improve measurement accuracy
- Pressure taps, impulse lines and the correct installation of differential pressure transmitters
- Practical exercise: specifying an orifice meter run for a given gas flow range
Day3Orifice Flow Calculations
- The AGA 3 and ISO 5167 orifice flow equations and the terms they contain
- Discharge coefficient, expansion factor and velocity of approach factor explained clearly
- The effect of temperature, pressure and density errors on calculated flow rate
- Flow computer configuration, input checks and the independent verification of flow calculations
- Common calculation errors and how to detect them in measurement reports
- Rangeability, plate changes and the use of stacked differential pressure transmitters
- Practical exercise: calculating orifice flow by hand and checking a flow computer result
Day4Other Meters and Secondary Instruments
- Ultrasonic gas meters, their diagnostics and their growing use in custody transfer
- Turbine and rotary meters for gas measurement and their calibration requirements
- Coriolis meters for gas service and their advantages and practical limitations
- Pressure and temperature transmitters, their calibration and their effect on accuracy
- Online gas chromatographs, sampling systems and the calculation of gas properties
- Flow computers, audit trails, alarms and data management in metering systems
- Practical exercise: comparing meter types for a new custody transfer station
Day5Inspection, Uncertainty and Loss Control
- Orifice plate inspection, measurement of plate condition and meter tube checks
- Calibration and verification schedules for gas meters and their secondary instruments
- Measurement uncertainty, including its sources, calculation methods and reporting requirements in contracts
- Lost and unaccounted-for gas, system balances and the investigation of differences
- Measurement audits, witness testing and the resolution of commercial disputes
- Group exercise: preparing an uncertainty budget for an orifice metering station
- Final assessment and discussion of measurement issues at participants' own facilities
Dates and fees
There are no scheduled dates for this course at the moment. Request it as in-house training, or ask us about the next date.
Certificate
Every delegate who attends the full programme receives a Harfard Technology certificate of completion stating the course title, duration, dates and venue.
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