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An industry-focused research project that will bring significant benefits to gas production companies and meter manufacturers has been submitted as a Joint Research Project (JRP) to the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR).
The proposed project, which has already successfully progressed through two review steps, focuses on wet-gas Venturi meters. NEL is the lead organisation for the JRP, which will involve collaboration with other National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) across Europe, as well as joint working with end users, regulators and standards organisations.
“Currently there are two ISO standards relating to the use of wet-gas Venturi meters,” says Flow Measurement Engineer, Emmelyn Graham. “However, they have limited application for actual field conditions as they are restricted to two-component conditions and ideal installations. This is a real barrier to the uptake of this important measurement technology.”
“The research will provide data and models to allow a revision of the ISO standards for the use of wet-gas meters,” Emmelyn explains. “It is hoped that the project will deliver a three-fold reduction in well production measurement errors.”
If the research goes as planned, it will provide industry with robust standards that are fit for field conditions. This will enable the use of cost-effective meters that can monitor production and produce data that can be used to optimise reservoir management to increase production while ensuring accurate measurement.
The project aligns with current cost reduction strategies that are being implemented to enable the exploitation of marginal gas reserves in Europe. The work on the ISO Standards could also be of benefit to the shale gas industry, which is in an early stage of development in Europe.
The project has been developed because of the growing importance of subsea wet-gas meters, which enable producers to accurately monitor and manage production. This technology has significant potential to facilitate the development of gas production in the EU and, in particular, to help get smaller fields (such as those in the North Sea, the Mediterranean or the Black Sea) into service.
