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Okoro Emeka et al., Innov Ener Res 2017, 6:2
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DOI: 10.4172/2576-1463.1000163
Innovative Energy & Research
ISSN: 2576-1463

Mini Review Open Access

Offshore Gas Well Flow and Orifice Metering System: An Overview

Okoro Emeka E1*, Igwilo Kevin1, Mamudu Angela2, Onuh Charles1 and Ekeinde Bose Evelyn3
1
Petroleum Engineering Department, Covenant University Ota, Nigeria
2
Chemical Engineering Department, Covenant University Ota, Nigeria
3
Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract
This research presents a concise account of offshore surface well test from objective, organization, to
practical approach and in relation to orifice metering system of natural gas; against the perspective of regulatory
standards. With reference to reliability, availability, affordability and including control measures governing
the design, the orifice meter sometimes called a head loss flow meter is chosen most often because of its
reputation in the oil and gas industry. Alternative metering system of natural gas, including robust and cost
effective innovations within the industry which addressed some key limitations of orifice meter was examined.
The advanced flow computer with transducers suited for orifice measurement installations is a cost effective
electronic flow real time measurement system. It has telemetry features and improved accuracy under fluctuating
flow conditions based on functional differential pressure root mean squared volume calculation principles. These
new developments and their capabilities have reduced the market share of the mechanical orifice chart meters.
Except that Electronic flow meters has environmental limitations; thus, the proven mechanical orifice metering
systems are still an effective solution for many flow measurement applications.

Keywords: Well test; Orifice metering system; Innovative metering 3. Flow rate
system 4. The required maintenance of the metering system
Introduction 5. Compactness
The cost of exploration activities, drilling and completions, surface 6. Conformance with accepted standards and regulations
and subsurface production operations would be futile if the wells are
not specifically and routinely tested within its productive life. The Initially, there was a strong emphasis on the areas of accuracy
understanding of the actual well flow rates and other critical factors will and conformance with standards and regulations. Currently, it has
enhance production allocation, well management and optimum field become necessary to weigh needs in different areas against each other.
development. In Nigeria, many of the new findings in oil and gas fields This is because there has been a number of changes in the area of field
are on deep water. Accurate metering of gas flow rates is an important economy and field development. This research reviews the emerging
issue in offshore production. developments in offshore field practice with technical illustrations and
insights into natural gas metering system with particular reference to
Surface flow meter is fundamentally changing the way we measure the orifice plate flow obstruction device.
complex flow from producing wells. Most of these transformations are
driven by new technology that can accurately measure rapid variations Objectives of Surface Well Testing
associated with gas flow. The ability to measure gas flow in real time
will increase operational efficiency by saving both time and money. The frequency of planned production flow test increases as the oil
According to Leigh [1], metering costs are often included in the tariff and gas field mature. A properly conducted well test can be defined
that field pays or may be allocated on a shared basis amongst different as a temporary completion of a well to acquire dynamic rate through
fields as part of an operating services agreement. It was also noted that time, pressure and fluid property data. The well test often indicates how
this approach affects the way future value can be generated. It was the well will perform when it is subjected to various flow conditions.
suggested that, ensuring a linkage between metering cost and field After well test, the performance of each producing well string under
cost helps reinforce the link between the commercial and technical different back pressure conditions, Well Head Choke Size and
management of the asset and so will assist in future development metering can be comprehensively determined through computer well
options. test report programs. From the results obtained and documented for
immediate or future improved drilling, completion and production
The measurement of gas purchases and deliveries is made on a decisions can be made on the well and other wells in the field. When
flowing stream of gas. Accurate measurement of the total quantity of
gas that has passed through a given section of pipe over a period of time
is of utmost importance to the gas industry [2,3]. The type of differential *Corresponding author: Okoro Emeka E, Petroleum Engineering Department, Covenant
metering system often used in Nigeria gas fields is the orifice meter. University Ota, Nigeria, Tel: +2341454 2070; E-mail: [email protected]
This metering system consists of a thin flat plate with an accurately Received December 04, 2017; Accepted December 11, 2017; Published December
machined circular hole that is centered in a plate holding device in 18, 2017
a straight section of smooth pipe. The selection of the measurement Citation: Okoro Emeka E, Kevin I, Angela M, Charles O, Evelyn EB (2017) Offshore
method or system to be used should be made only after careful analysis Gas Well Flow and Orifice Metering System: An Overview. Innov Ener Res 6: 163. doi:
of several factors, which includes; 10.4172/2576-1463.1000163

Copyright: © 2017 Okoro Emeka E, et al. This is an open-access article distributed

1. Accuracy desired under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
2. Expected useful life of the metering system original author and source are credited.

Innov Ener Res, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 2 • 1000163

ISSN: 2576-1463
Citation: Okoro Emeka E, Kevin I, Angela M, Charles O, Evelyn EB (2017) Offshore Gas Well Flow and Orifice Metering System: An Overview. Innov
Ener Res 6: 163. doi: 10.4172/2576-1463.1000163

Page 2 of 4

conducting routine internal flow test, the equipment will not alter from taps and the meter tube. They are all designed to produce a
the standard field development top-side production facilities originally difference in pressure as the flow increases. Provided that the
designed and laid out after an initial assessment of reservoir potentials, standard mechanics of construction are followed no further
production philosophy and field development plan or conceptual calibration is required for the orifice plate.
studies transformed into reality (Figures 1 and 2).
2. The secondary element: This section is the differential pressure
Orifice Metering System transmitter. It is designed to measure the differential pressure
produced by the primary element as accurately as possible
The orifice metering is an extremely well documented and regulated (Figure 4).
metering system in gas industry. There are two main standards
for Orifice plate metering; American Gas Association (AGA) and Natural Gas metering stations are designed to minimize the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The primary probability of liquid carry over into the metering section and from
consideration in the design, fabrication and field installation of gas any condensation or separation that would have a significant effect on
orifice metering system is accuracy (Figure 3). measurement uncertainties.

It is habitual to consider a complete orifice metering system as Operating principles of gas orifice metering system
composed of two major elements. The orifice flow meter consists of a thin, flat plate usually clamped
1. The primary element: This section consists of the orifice plate, between a pair of socket or weld-neck flanges known as orifice Flange
the plate holder with its associated differential pressure sensing Union or installed in a dedicated mechanical fitting. The plate has a
precise sharp-edge orifice and bored concentric with the pipe axis.
Applying the principle of Daniel Bernoulli conservation of energy, a
constriction of orifice plate installed or inserted in a pipe will reduce
the cross sectional area of the flow stream. The change across the
orifice produces a differential pressure which is a function of the gas
flow rate. It continues to drop until the “vena contracta” is reached
and then gradually increases until at approximately 5 to 8 diameters
downstream a maximum pressure point is reached that will be lower
than the pressure upstream of the orifice. The pressure drop across
the orifice increases when the rate of natural gas flow increases and is
proportional to the square of the flow velocity. Thus, the flow rate of
natural gas is proportional to the square root of the pressure difference
across the line obstruction.
Orifice flow meters have been extensively used offshore and it is the
most popular meter type for both liquid and gas [4]. Other meter types
Figure 1: Typical choke manifold with adjustable and fixed choke boxes for using newer technology, such as ultrasonic and coriolis meters are now
multi-rate well test. widely specified in preference to orifice meter types [5].

Figure 2: An offshore field layout and process flow diagram showing a test separator.

Innov Ener Res, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 2 • 1000163

ISSN: 2576-1463
Citation: Okoro Emeka E, Kevin I, Angela M, Charles O, Evelyn EB (2017) Offshore Gas Well Flow and Orifice Metering System: An Overview. Innov
Ener Res 6: 163. doi: 10.4172/2576-1463.1000163

Page 3 of 4

Figure 3: Gas orifice metering system.

Figure 4: Pipe fitted orifice plate with pressure taps connected to the secondary elements.

Innovations in Natural Gas Metering System or fluid and primary element into a signal that can be converted into
volume, weights or rates of flow and indicates or records the results.
Considering design limitation of orifice metering system of This same combination of primary and secondary elements will be
natural gas and in order to minimize uncertainties, errors and enhance observed in almost all other types of meters.
reliability of fiscal flow measuring system and acceptability of measured
volume; the search for alternative metering system remains a critical Presently, alternative metering systems flourish but they are not as
preference and decision. industrially accepted as the orifice metering system.
Fluid meters are divided into two functional groups. The first Direct inferential metering system
measures quantity (positive displacement); while the second measures
This group of metering systems eliminates the requirement to
rate of flow (Inferential). All metering system consists of two different
quantify gas at flow conditions; that is, it eliminates the need to measure
parts, each of which has different functions to achieve. The first is the
flow pressure, temperature and calculate a flowing compressibility.
primary element, which is in contact with the gas or fluid, resulting in
some form of interaction. This interaction may be that of imparting The most common cause of damage in rotating or oscillating
motion to the primary element; the fluid may be accelerated etc. The element of flow meters is high rates of change which causes over
second or secondary element translates the interaction between gas speeding. This over speeding often causes mechanical damage or

Innov Ener Res, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 2 • 1000163

ISSN: 2576-1463
Citation: Okoro Emeka E, Kevin I, Angela M, Charles O, Evelyn EB (2017) Offshore Gas Well Flow and Orifice Metering System: An Overview. Innov
Ener Res 6: 163. doi: 10.4172/2576-1463.1000163

Page 4 of 4

loss of measurement in the use of rotary and oscillating metering moving parts and they are less likely to experience mechanical failures
systems. Most of these alternative and innovative metering systems are or challenges. Many innovative technologies depend on sensors in the
constructed with high blend metal alloys. These materials prevent the flow stream. These sensors can be destroyed or filled with liquids which
metal material from being eroded by moisture in the gas. can cause loss of signal.
The justification for designing or proposing the use of these The orifice metering system has served industry well over the
innovative metering systems over traditional gas metering systems are years, and it will continue to do so in applications that do not require
based on improved materials that reduced eroding rate, installation wide range of now, and can afford shutdown or by-pass lines. In other
and calibration/maintenance cost. Most of the innovative metering applications, predominantly metering for energy accountability,
systems have a significant advantage because of their; innovative metering system with actual or observed volume flow
meters should be applied.
1. Large turndown
References
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University, Florida.
Conclusion
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Flow measurement is a complex and application related discipline. area of flow measurement.
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Conference on Mechanical Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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harsh environment of wet gas. The most vital reason will be due to no

Innov Ener Res, an open access journal Volume 6 • Issue 2 • 1000163

ISSN: 2576-1463