ONSITE PROVING OF GAS TURBINE METERS

Daniel J. Rudroff
Flowline Meters Inc.
1322 Foxwood, Houston, Texas 77008

INTRODUCTION
With the increased use of Natural Gas as a fuel, higher
natural gas prices, and the new federal regulations,
buyers and sellers of natural gas are seriously looking at
ways to improve their natural gas measurement and
reduce the unaccounted for natural gas. An error in
measurement of only one tenth of one percent (0.1%)
on 100 MMSCF/D Natural Gas selling at $5.50/MCF will
cause an over or under billing of $200,750.00 in one year.
This will more than pay for a proving system.

They have a long history, are well documented and the

formulas, although a bit complicated, are in most flow
computers.

The Btu in one barrel of oil for example is equivalent to

approximately 5,600 cubic feet of natural gas. At $5.50
per thousand cubic feet, the natural gas equivalent of
one barrel of oil is $30.80 equal to, or more than the cost
of a barrel of oil. In the petroleum liquid industry no
custody transfer liquid measurement system would be
complete without a method to prove the meter, either as
part of the equipment or there would be connections
provided for a portable prover.
Under billing causes loss of revenue, and over billing
can cause a future correction that will cost the company
millions of dollars. For these reasons gas meter proving
is important and necessary to insure precise
measurement of natural gas that both the buyer and seller
can agree upon.

REASONS FOR PROVING A FIELD METER

Although the installed field meter has been completely
checked and calibrated at the factory, and a performance
curve developed, there are many things that can affect a
meter on site causing measurement errors.
Any meter system can have changes during operation
that will cause errors in measurement. Orifice plates can
become damaged, bearings on Turbine Meters can wear,
and dirt and trash can accumulate on flow conditioners
and in piping. Trash can accumulate on straightening
vanes, and Ultrasonic meters and other meters can
become dirty causing the meter to error.
The inputs into flow computers and other electronic devices
can be changed by mistake causing errors in measurement.

In the ASME standard MFC-7M-1987 Reaffirmed 2001

Measurement of Gas Flow by Means of Critical Flow
Venturi Nozzles it is stated The Venturi nozzles specified
in this Standard are called primary devices. Nozzles
have been used for many years to prove natural gas
meters.

New meter installations can have debris from

construction caught on the straightening vanes or in the
meter itself. Proving checks not only the meter, but also
the complete meter system.
One of the more important reasons for meter proving in
the case of Custody Transfer is to give both the buyer
and seller confidence the volumes they transfer are
acceptable to both the buyer and seller, thus eliminating
disputes
2003 PROCEEDINGS

PAGE 127

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF GAS MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

METER PROVING DEVICES

TRANSFER PROVING SYSTEMS

There are many different methods and devices available

that can be used to prove a Natural Gas Meter.

A Transfer Prover is a proving system that checks the

field meter against the Master Meter at Atmospheric
Pressure. The Master Meter and its associated piping is
placed in series with the field meter and an adjustable
flow rate blower draws air through the two meters. Air at
atmospheric pressure and at various flow rates is then
pulled through the two meters and a comparison is made
between the Master Meter and the Field Meter. A Transfer
Prover System can be used to calibrate field meters
brought into a shop or the Transfer Master Meter Prover
can be portable and taken to the field. The atmospheric
Transfer Prover is best suited for checking meters
operating at lower pressures. The disadvantage to
Transfer Provers is that many Flow Meters exhibit line
pressure sensitivity that can introduce a measurement
bias if they are calibrated at a test pressure significantly
different than their field operating pressure.

Some of them are calibrated Master Meters, Sonic

Nozzles, Bell Provers, and Volume Provers. Each device
has its advantages and disadvantages.
These proving devices can be divided into two
categories, primary and secondary. A primary
measurement device, such as a bell or volume prover is
one that has had its volumetric flow rate measurement
accuracy checked and verified against measurements
for which there are national or international standards
(e.g., mass, time, length, etc.) This device can then be
used to verify Master Meters. A Master Meter that has
been calibrated becomes a secondary standard and can
then be placed in series with a field meter to verify the
accuracy of the Field Meter. A secondary device is one
that has been checked against a primary device and is
then used to prove another meter. An example of a
secondary device is an In-Situ Meter Prover using a
Master Meter. An In-Situ Meter Prover is the Master Meter
and its associated piping that can be either taken to the
site of the meter in the field or is installed permanently
on the meter skid.
Volume provers which are relatively new, are primary
devices and very accurate. They are however very
expensive and work best at higher line pressures and
lower volumetric flow rates.
Bell provers, which are also accurate, work only at low
pressures and cannot be used for large flow volumes.
They can be used to calibrate a Master Meter, which
can then be used to prove other devices at higher
pressures and higher flows. Bell Provers are relatively
expensive to build and maintain.
The sonic nozzle although it is precise and considered a
primary standard, (+/- 0.25% total measurement
uncertainty) can only check a field meter at one flow rate
and line pressure. The sonic nozzle also causes a
permanent pressure drop in the system.

The higher pressure In-Situ Master Meter Prover is a

Master Meter usually placed immediately downstream
and in series with the operating Field Meter. It is
connected on site and is used for proving at actual
operating conditions of flow, temperature, pressure and
density. The Master Meter is either mounted permanently
on the metering equipment skid or is portable and
connected to an existing three-valve manifold when
needed.
A Portable High Pressure Proving System consists of a
number of different sized Master Meters in parallel meter
runs with provisions for installing a field meter for test
downstream of the master meter.
A sonic nozzle is placed downstream of each of the two
meters in series to limit the flow and to verify the accuracy
of the Master Meter. Since the Sonic Nozzle is a precision
mass measurement device, it works very well to
determine the mass flow at a pressure and temperature.
It can be used as a check for any variable flow Master
Meter.
Since proving with a Master Meter is currently one of
the least expensive ways to calibrate an existing field
meter we will discuss the various Master Meter systems.
It is noted that AGA Report No. 6 on Transfer Meter
Proving using Master Meters is presently being updated
and rewritten.
PROVISIONS NEEDED ON THE FIELD METER
STATION TO CONNECT THE MASTER METER
There are two ways to install a Master Meter on an
existing Field Meter skid. One way is to use a threevalve manifold downstream of the existing meter run
shown in the P&ID above. Downstream of the field meter
is the preferred location because the flow profile into the
Field Meter is not disturbed.

PAGE 128

2003 PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF GAS MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR ONSITE PROVING OF

GAS TURBINE METERS
Master Meter
The meter proving device used to check the field meter
should have an accuracy that is at least several times
the accuracy of the meter it is checking. Repeatability,
the ability of a meter to give the same answer every time,
is critical. Sonic Nozzles with no moving parts are
repeatable and accurate.

A Flow Conditioner should be installed upstream of the

Master Meter in the Master Meter prerun piping to
eliminate any problems in the flow profile caused by the
elbows and valves going into the Master Meter Run. If a
three-valve manifold is used the inline valve must be a
Block and Bleed type valve to insure all the flow is going
through the Master Meter Run. As a cost saving, extra
valves are not needed going into and out of the Master
Meter Run. Blind Flanges can be used to cover the
connections. However closing in the Field Meter and
bleeding down the pressure to install a Master Meter
without the valves is time consuming and costly.
The second method is to install a Master Meter in series
with the Field Meter on the existing Field Meter Skid.
With this arrangement it is necessary to provide space
downstream of the Field Meter for an additional
Master Meter run. The advantage of this system is that
no additional valves are required. The disadvantage is
the Field Meter run has to be closed in and bled down to
install the Master Meter.

Some Meter Systems are designed in such a way that

the Master Meter is permanently installed on the Meter
Skid. The Master Meter can then be used as the spare
meter to be put on line if there are problems with the
normal operating meters or if the flow rate exceeds the
limits of flow through the installed meters.

Flow Computers can take advantage of the repeatability

of Turbine Meters by using linearization to improve the
precision of the meter.
Flow Computer
The engineering calculations performed in the Flow
Computer should follow the procedures described in the
existing AGA and API specifications. The report from the
Flow Computer must be presented in such a way that
the calculations from raw information to final
compensated volumes can be verified using hand
calculations if necessary.
Using modern Flow Computers, the typical meter
calibration curve of a precision master meter can be
linearized. During the meter proof, the stated volume of
both the calibrated Master Meter and the field meter
being proved can be measured precisely during the prove
cycle by using Pulse Interpolation as described in the
API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards,
Chapter 4, Section 6, Pulse Interpolation.
Pressure and Temperature Transmitters
The gas pressure, temperature and differential pressure
on DP meters, must be precisely measured at the Master
Meter and at the meter being proved. Because of the
small pressure drop between the Master Meter and the
meter being proved the pressure can best be measured
with another differential pressure transmitter. By using a
Multi-variable Transmitter between the meters, any
pressure or calibration error of using two transmitters is
eliminated. The lower the line pressure the more difficult
it is to determine the difference in line pressure between
the two flow meters. With atmospheric Transfer Meter
Prover systems, a differential pressure transmitter can
be used to determine the gage pressure at the first meter.
The high-pressure port of the Differential Pressure
Transmitter is left open to atmosphere and the lowpressure port is connected to the pressure port of the
meter. Atmospheric pressure can also be a manual entry
based on weather bureau data or a precise atmospheric
pressure transmitter can be used.
The gas temperature must be measured at a point in the
line at least three pipe diameters downstream of each
meter. There will normally be a slight difference in the
gas temperature between the two meters. This difference

2003 PROCEEDINGS

PAGE 129

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF GAS MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

will be due, in part, to the pressure drop between the

meters. Since this pressure drop is very small, typically
only a small change in gas temperature will occur.
Extremely precise and well calibrated temperature
sensors and transmitters must be used to measure this
precise differential.
MAXIMUM GAS VELOCITY
Care must be taken not to exceed the safe maximum
velocity of the gas through the proving systems and the
field measurement system. Exceeding the maximum
velocity will cause erosion and wear of the piping and
the components resulting in an unsafe system.
The weight of 0.6 Sp.Gr. Gas at 1,440 psi is approximately
5.727 lbs./cu.ft. The max velocity recommended by API
RP 14E is 78 ft/sec. Excess velocity will cause pipe wear
especially at elbows and bends.
PIPING PER AGA 7
Piping for both the master meter and field meter preruns
and post runs should be configured per the specifications
that apply. Usually the axial lengths of the post-run of
the first meter and the pre-run of the second meter (in
series) can be combined making the minimum axial
length separating the two meters a total of the required
pipe diameters. If any piping manifolds, elbows or bends
are located upstream of either the Master Meter or the
field test meter, as is the case when connecting to a
three-valve manifold, a high performance flow
conditioner should be installed upstream of the meter in
accordance with the flow conditioner manufacturers
recommendations.
IN-SITU PROVING WITH A MASTER METER PLACED
IN SERIES WITH THE FIELD METER
The performance of the Master Meter and the Field Meter
should be compared on a mass flow rate basis. For most
turbine flow meters, the measured flow rate is expressed
in terms of volumetric flow rate. The line pressure (and,
probably, the gas temperature) will be slightly different
at the two meter locations, so the actual volumetric flow
rates measured by the two meters will not be equal. As
an alternative to comparing the field turbine meter and
the prover on a mass flow rate basis, the volumetric flow
rates recorded by the two meters can be adjusted to
standard conditions and then compared. Standard
volumetric flow rate is essentially a mass flow rate that
has been referenced to arbitrary temperature and
pressure conditions (e.g., a predetermined pressure and
temperature, such as 14.73 psia and 68F, respectively)
for the flowing gas composition. Standard volumetric flow
rate is proportional to mass flow rate through the
application of standard gas density and is, therefore,
conserved from the upstream to the downstream meter
locations.

PAGE 130

2003 PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF GAS MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

A calibrated Master Meter run of sufficient size and

pressure rating is connected to a three-valve manifold
located upstream or downstream of the meter to be
tested. Tests have shown that some of the commonlyused turbine meters are relatively insensitive to upstream
piping effects. However since piping and field conditions
may vary it would be good practice to follow the standard
piping configurations shown in AGA Report No. 7 for
any turbine meter run. The use of a flow conditioner
upstream of the Meter Run is recommended if there is
the possibility the Master Meter piping might have an
adverse effect on the Master Meter. The Master Meter
run must be complete with a Flow Computer, pressure
and temperature transmitter and differential pressure (DP)
transmitter.
When needed the pressure, temperature and differential
pressure are available from one multivariable device. It
is possible for some resolution to be lost by the method
used to connect transmitters to the flow computer.
Devices are available to convert the digital signal from
transmitters directly to Flow Computers.
The Master Meter, its associated piping, and electronics
must be calibrated as an assembly. Test at various
pressures can be done and correction factors established
for any shift in performance.
The field meter to be tested and the pressure,
temperature, and DP transmitters associated with it are
connected to the proving Flow Computer in such a way
that the existing measurement is not affected.
Normally the signals from the meter come from a parallel
connection and the analog signals from the pressure and
temperature transmitters are connected in series. A
device that can measure the gas density, either a Gas
Chromatograph or a Correlative device also needed to
determine the mass flow. With a Gas Chromatograph
the density of the gas is determined by its composition.
A Correlative device uses other means such as speed of
sound, thermal conductivity etc. to determine the gas
density.
HIGH PRESSURE PROVING WITH INLINE METERS
High Pressure proving at various flow rates and pressures
can be accomplished with a High Pressure Master Meter
Proving system. This system is located where there is
sufficient pressure and flow to check all the meters in
the system individually. For example the best location
for High Pressure Proving in a distribution system is
where gas enters the distribution pipeline. The system
here can serve two functions. It can measure the gas
being purchased and it can be used to prove all the high
pressure meters used downstream in the distribution
system.
Routing the flow through the other meters in the system
can vary the flow rates through the meter being tested.

The pressure in a High Pressure Proving System can be

varied as long as the Master Meter System has been
proved at that pressure and it does not affect the
downstream system.
CONNECTING A PORTABLE MASTER METER RUN
TO THE FIELD METER SKID
1. Connect the Master Meter Run to the three valve
manifold using either new gaskets or gaskets that
are suitable for multiple uses.
2. Connect the electrical cables from the Master Meter,
Pressure Transmitter and Temperature Transmitter
to either the existing Flow Computer or Connect the
Field Meter, Field Pressure Transmitter, and
Temperature Transmitter signals to the Flow
Computer on the Master Meter Run.
3. Slowly fill the Master Meter Run with gas by opening
a small valve usually a needle valve or small ball valve
that connects the line pressure piping to the Master
Meter. As a rule of thumb pressurization of the line
should not exceed one PSI per Second. It is also a
good practice to check for leaks with an approved
leak detection method while the Master Meter Run
is filling. Checking at a low pressure first before the
line is completely filled and checked at line pressure
can save time and gas if a leak is detected.
4. Open the upstream valve connected to the Master
Meter Run.
5. Slowly open the downstream valve that connects
the Master Meter Run to the Field Meter Run.
6. Slowly close the Block and Bleed valve downstream
of the Field Meter on the three valve manifold putting
the Field Meter and Master Meter in series with one
another.
7. Follow the Master Meter Proving Procedures usually
supplied by the Company for Proving a Master Meter.
8. When the Proving has been completed open the
Block and Bleed Valve downstream of the Field
Meter.
9. Close the valves connecting the Master Meter Run
to the Field Meter and slowly bleed down the
pressure on the Master Meter Run. One PSI drop
per second is always a safe pressure drop rate.
10. Disconnect the Master Meter Run from the Field
Prover Skid.
ONSITE MASTER METER PROVING PROCEDURES
1. After the Master Meter has been properly installed
on the three-valve manifold, the system must be
checked for leaks.

2. The precision of the Master Meter should be verified

before each prove.
3. The manufacturer of the Master Meter will have a
procedure on how to verify the meter is still in
calibration. When the Master Meter condition is
verified its condition should be recorded on the prove
report.
4. Enter the tracking information from the Master Meter
or select a Master Meter whose information has
already been entered into an existing database.
5. Enter all the information for the Field Meter to be
proved or enter the serial number for the information
to be entered automatically if it already exists in a
database.
6. Prove runs are normally done at 10%, 25%, 50%,
75% and 95% of the maximum rated flow rate of
the meter to be proved. These are recommendations
only. The test flow rates requested by the end user
should be used wherever possible. If the required
flow rates cannot be obtained the Field Meter must
be proved at the available test flow rates.
Proves can be done based on time or on volume. Either
method if performed properly, can produce a good prove.
In this example we will use proof runs based on time.
7. Set the time and number of proves for the prove
runs. The number of pulses generated by the meters
will determine the time for each flow run. The time
must be long enough for a statistically significant
number of pulses to be generated by the lowest
frequency output. If the Flow Computer is capable
of Pulse Interpolation the time of each run can be
shortened in accordance with the API Manual of
Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 4,
Section 6, Pulse Interpolation.
8. The number of proofs at a specific flow rate depend
on the client. However, it is recommended that a
minimum of three runs be made at each test flow
rate to determine if the meter being proved is
repeatable.
9. Start the prove. The Flow Computer will automatically
stop and start each run, based on the time entered
into the Flow Computer. On the first run allow time
for stabilization of the flow rate through the meters
before beginning the data acquisition.
10. When the prove runs for the specified time and the
run is successful, the information is saved in the Flow
Computer and/or can be printed out. If the flow rate
of the station can be changed, it is recommended
that the first test run be performed at maximum flow
rate setting. If the meter repeats and is within
specifications at the maximum flow it is an indication
that it may prove at the lower flows. Proves at all

2003 PROCEEDINGS

PAGE 131

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF GAS MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY

flow rates and operating pressures specified must

be done to insure the field meter is operating
properly.
11. At any time during a prove run or cycle, the prove
can be stopped (Aborted). Aborting the prove stops
the proving run. An aborted prove report should be
stored or printed.
12. When the prove for all flow rates is complete, the
flow control valve closes to the meter run closes,
the prove report is printed, and all information is
saved electronically in a file for that prove.

REFERENCES
ASME/ANSI MFC-7M-1987 Reaffirmed 2001
Measurement of Gas Flow by Means of Critical Flow
Venturi Nozzles.
A.G.A. Report No 7, Measurement of Fuel Gas by
Turbine Meters.
API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards,
Chapter 4, Section 6, Pulse Interpolation.
AGA. Report No 6, Methods of Testing Large
Displacement Meters.

CONCLUSION
Using available knowledge, products and equipment
natural gas meter proving in the field and in the shop
can be used to verify the accuracy and repeatability of
natural gas measurement systems.

Edgar B. Bowles, Onsite Proving of Natural Gas Turbine

Meters. Southwest Research Institute, ISHM 2001.

Daniel J. Rudroff

PAGE 132

2003 PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF GAS MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY