Thermal Mass Flow Meters for Oil & Gas Applications

Beyond traditional oil and gas extraction techniques, the Oil & Gas Industry has been booming in the United States and around the world since the demand for shale oil has led to horizontal fraction drilling all over the world and even in several regions of the U.S. This drilling is happening both on and offshore to tap into vast quantities of resources trapped in the porous shale deposits deep underground and under the seabed. The flowback from shale oil plays has many different components that must undergo a process of separation in order to isolate the resources for use. Once separated, the byproducts are often stored in tanks before being transported for distribution and sale.

Thermal mass flow meters have been used to measure tank vent and flash gas during storage. VOC emissions from these tank batteries are required to be reported for regulatory purposes. The accurate monitoring of leaks from these tanks is another common use of thermal mass flow meters.

Thermal Mass Flow Meters
(Fox Thermal)

The flowback from fracking well heads must go through separators in order to separate the
water/chemical solution from the oil and gas components that the water has forced out of the shale formations. The gases processed by the separators exit the separator unit from its own outlet that must be accurately measured for accounting and allocation purposes. Furthermore, flow of water, oil, and gases from the separator equipment must be measured to determine how productive the resources from the gas well head are. Over time, the well heads produce less and less gases and owners must determine when to decommission them.

Due to the often remote locations of these gas wells, there are not always local utilities available to power the equipment needed at the well site. Fuel gas to the equipment is needed to measure and monitor consumption.

Exhaust and vent gas from compressor packing cases is required to be monitored for environmental impact.

Some common gases and applications:

Compressor Packing Case Exhaust Flow Measurement
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Monitoring Flow Meters
Continuous Emissions Monitoring
Flow Meters for EPA and Other Emissions Regulations and Protocols
GHG Flow Meter
Sub meters for Natural Gas Measurement
Tank Vent / Flash Gas Station Monitoring
Natural Gas Totalizers
Methane Flow Measurement
Propane Flow Measurement
40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO Reporting
40 CFR Part 98 Subpart W Reporting
CO2e Reporting
Flare and Combustor Gas Measurement
Separator Gas Measurement
Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) Gas Measurement
Fuel & Combustion Gas Measurement
Other Pure and Mixed Gas Applications

For more information on applying thermal mass flow meters in the oil and gas industry, contact Classic Controls at 863-644-3642 or visit https://classiccontrols.com.