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Fundamentals Of Gas Pipeline Metering

Stations
By Saeid Mokhatab, Tehran Raymand Consulting Engineers, Iran, and Greg Lamberson
International Construction Consulting, LLC, USA, Tulsa, OK | January 2009 Vol. 236 No. 1

Buyer's Guide
Compressor valves
Compressors, gas
Consulting
Fittings, pipe
Flange insulation
Flow measurement & control systems
Flow meters, gas
Flow meters, liquid
Gas measurement
Gauges, liquid level
This article looks at pipeline natural gas metering station design but does not address the
equations and empirical data used to calculate gas flow rates and volumes for custody transfer.
Nor does it cover the different standards of particular flow measuring devices, such as AGA-3
for differential pressure measurement; AGA-7 for turbine meters and vortex meters; and AGA-8
which provides equations to compute compensation factors for measured rates. Pipeline gas
metering stations are designed for simultaneous, continuous analysis of the quality and quantity
of natural gas being transferred in a pipeline, as follows:
Upper calorific value, which is the latent energy content of a gas that is released during
combustion. It is the major variable when defining the price.
Concentration of sulphur compounds. Hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans are partially
present as natural compounds and sometimes are mixed with the gas together with other
sulphur compounds as odorants.
Hydrocarbon dew point, which is a temperature at which higher hydrocarbons condense.
Liquid phase is produced in the gas pipeline if the product temperature falls below the
hydrocarbon dew point. The accumulation of liquid in the pipelines can lead to a plug
flow and may destroy the compressors in the pumping station
Water dew point is the temperature at which water condenses out. Water, together with
hydrocarbons, favors the generation of solids, in particular during the decompression of
gas from high-pressure pipelines. The solids block gas fittings, and the water is corrosive.
The fiscal effects of natural gas volume and mass flow measurement and calculations.
The system consists of a multi-path ultrasonic flowmeter, process gas chromatograph and
computer workstation installed, pre-wired and pre-piped in a special air-conditioned shelter with
all auxiliary equipment and utilities.
Each gas metering station branches off of the pipeline and is used to reduce pressure and meter
the gas to the various users. For the pressure reduction and metering stations, the main
equipment includes filters, heaters, pressure reducers and regulators, and flow metering skids. In
addition, each station is generally equipped with drains for collection and disposal, instrument
gas system and storage tanks.
Filter Separators
Natural gas filter units are installed at each station to remove any entrained liquids and solids
from the gas stream. The filters may comprise cyclonic elements to centrifuge particles and
liquids to the sides of the enclosing pressure vessel. These particles and liquids will then drop
down for collection in a sump, which can be drained periodically.
A station inlet filter-separator should be installed upstream of the meter. The filter separator is
normally a horizontal unit with a full-size, quick-opening closure and access platform for
element change out. The vessel should be equipped with level gauges, high liquid level switches
and a differential pressure transmitter across the filter elements. The filter-separator sumps
should have automatic drain valves.
A condensate tank is installed for atmospheric storage of any liquids removed by the filter
separator. Most tanks installed for this purpose are double-walled and installed on a concrete
pad. The tank should contain a level gauge and a high liquid level switch.
Flow Control
A control valve should be installed downstream of the meter run to control both the flow through
the meter and the delivery pressure. This valve will primarily operate to limit the station
throughput in order to prevent the incoming gas volume from exceeding the meter capacity or
the nominated volume but will also be equipped with a pressure override.
The control valve is generally controlled by a gas flow computer (GFC) based upon set points
provided by the gas control center. The control valve will normally operate in the fully open
position to minimize pressure losses through the station and should have a positioner, position
indicator and position transmitter.
The GFC would also monitor and control the facilities as well as perform custody transfer
quality measurement. The GFC communicates all data to a central control console via the
SCADA system.
At custody transfers, a gas chromatograph is generally used to determine the gas composition for
purposes of calculating the gas gross heating value. This data is provided to the GFC for use in
calculating the total gas heating value in the metered gas. A gas sample is taken from a
continuously flowing location on the meter and regulator skid. The gas sample is secured at low
pressure to minimize lag time utilizing a self-regulating sample probe and routed to the gas
chromatograph and moisture analyzer. The moisture analyzer is provided to measure the water
content of the gas. Depending on sulphur content of the gas, a sulphur analyzer may be required.
Meter Skid Piping
The piping configuration on the meter skid should allow for bi-directional gas flow through the
station by an appropriate piping and valving manifold. However, the gas flow through the meter
and regulator should be in one direction only.
The control valve is installed between isolation ball valves to allow maintenance. It is prudent to
install a manual bypass valve to allow continued operation during control valve maintenance
activities.

Automatic Shutdown Valve
An automatic shutdown valve is normally installed at the pipeline connection. This valve should
be remotely operated from the main operating system and equipped with local pneumatic
controls, a hydraulic manual override and open/close limit switches.
Blowdown of the meter station piping is accomplished by a vent stack located on the station inlet
piping and vents on the meter skid located downstream of the meter and downstream of the flow
control valve. Vent stacks may or may not include silencers, depending on the noise levels at the
closest noise sensitive area (NSA).
Heaters

Natural gas heaters are installed to avoid the formation of hydrates, liquid hydrocarbons, and
water as a result of pressure reduction. The gas heater is designed to raise the temperature of the
gas so that after pressure reduction, the temperature of the gas will be above the dew point
temperature at operating conditions and maximum flow. The heater is a water bath natural
circulation type maintained at a temperature between 158-176 degrees F. Where gas cost is high,
an alternative is to use high-efficiency or condensing furnaces for the purpose of preheating the
gas rather than the water bath heater.
Pressure Reduction And Regulation
The pressure-reduction system controls the supply pressure to the gas users at a regulated value.
Each system consists of at least two trains of pressure reduction - one operating and the other
standby. Each train will normally comprise two regulator valves in series.
Regulator valves should be sized for the maximum anticipated volumes at the minimum
anticipated inlet pressure during those times of maximum volume. For stations serving multiple
residential customers or other non-interruptible services, sufficient regulator capacity needs to be
provided so the failure of one regulator valve run will not reduce the facility capacity below
required demand. Regulator valves in custody transfer stations are typically of the type that fail
in the open position.

Sound Pressure
Sound pressure levels at all service conditions should be considered. High noise levels (generally
defined at greater than 110 dbA) can result in damage to regulators, control valves, control valve
accessories, instrumentation and downstream piping. Following are standard measures that can
be taken to reduce sound pressure levels or to reduce the effects in the path:
Install noise attenuating trim or diffusers on the regulator,
Install heavy wall pipe,
Install insulation,
Install silencers,
Bury the regulators.
Overpressure Protection
Stations do not require an overpressure relief device if a monitor regulator is installed in series in
each regulator run or if a monitor regulator is installed in series with and common to all regulator
runs.
Station relief device capacity should be the largest relief capacity requirement determined from
the following criteria using the flow and pressures:
Failure of the single or largest capacity run that does not include a monitor regulator, or
Failure of all runs in which the regulators would fail to open upon failure of a single
common instrument or instrument line.
Minimum relief device capacity for the failed regulator(s) should be the maximum total flow at
the differential pressure between the inlet and outlet of the regulator(s), in the case where inlet
pressure is the upstream line MAOP or maximum source pressure, whichever is less, and the
outlet pressure is the downstream MAOP plus allowed overpressure.
Metering System
The flow rate of the gas has to be measured at a number of locations for the purpose of
monitoring the performance of the pipeline system and more particularly at places where custody
transfer takes place. Depending on the purpose for metering, whether for performance
monitoring or for sales, the measuring techniques used may vary according to the accuracy
demanded.
Potential for future expansion should be considered when sizing the meter skid length.
Typically, a custody transfer metering station will comprise one or two runs of pipe with a
calibrated metering orifice in each run. Should an ultrasonic meter be required, it should be
designed to meet or exceed the requirements established for ultrasonic meters in AGA-9.
Typically, the ultrasonic meter will be a multi-path meter and the meter tubes will be equipped
with a flow conditioner. The fully assembled meter tubes should be calibrated at line pressure
and full-flow conditions prior to use. Normally, the ultrasonic meter tubes will be designed for a
minimum 10D upstream length from the flow conditioner to the meter and 5D lengths
downstream of the meter. Further, the meter tube should be honed.
Pulsation
The elimination of pulsation through the use of pulsation control devices is an important step to
take. Pulsation has a tendency to introduce meter errors. Computer analogs are used in the design
of pulsation-control equipment. There are several methods of determining if levels of pulsation
will cause meter errors, but assessment of square-root error remains the best rule of thumb in
determining if pulsation-control equipment is needed to improve absolute accuracy.
The square-root error is very predictable and is always positive. This error will always indicate a
flow that is greater than the actual flow. Instability errors (which are pulsations that change the
orifice coefficient) can vary in magnitude and can also be either positive or negative. A system
with severe pulsation only needs a slight change in frequency (as little as a few Hz) to result in
an error of several percent.
Cathodic Protection
It is typical to separate the cathodic protection systems of the pipeline and meter station. This is
normally done by installing insulation kits at the flange connections at the meter skid. Buried
piping within the meter station, either upstream or downstream of the meter skid, should be
cathodically protected from the associated pipelines cathodic protection system.
Buildings
When conditions or regulations require a building to be utilized, typically a pre-engineered type
building designed in accordance with the International Building Code is used and is mounted on
the meter skid to enclose the ultrasonic meter and flow control valve area only. Normally, the
building will not be heated or insulated. Buildings are sized to allow use of a meter-sensor
removal tool.
The EFM and GC buildings are normally two separate buildings mounted on a common skid. As
opposed to the meter building, the EFM building should be climate controlled (heated and air
conditioned) and sized for the flow-control equipment and associated uninterrupted power
supply (UPS). The GC building is not required to be climate controlled, but should have a
hazardous gas detector with warning strobe light.

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