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.

Fox Thermal Instruments Releases New Gas Flowmeter Targeted at Oil and Gas Operations

The FT4X thermal mass flow meter accommodates
inline, insertion, and retractor installations.
Image courtesy Fox Thermal Instruments, Inc.

Keeping up to date on the latest product information....

Fox Thermal Instruments, an acknowledged innovator in thermal mass flow technology and instruments, has released a flow meter targeted for gas flow measurement in the oil and gas industry. The FT4X delivers a long list of advanced and useful features for flare and waste gas monitoring, gas studies, royalty and allocation, and general gas flow research.

The instrument utilizes a constant temperature differential technology to measure gas or air mass flow, employing two precision RTD sensors. One temperature sensor follows the media temperature, while the other is heated by the instrument electronics to maintain a constant temperature differential between the two sensors. The amount of applied heat to maintain the differential is proportional to the mass flow rate. A linearized 4-20mA output signal is the final output of the transmitter.

The flow meter is available for inline or insertion installation, along with another variant that features retraction of the instrument from the line without flow interruption. Various probe lengths accommodate line sizes to 70 inches. Flow bodies, flow conditioners, and other accessories are available to customize the instrument assembly to fit each application.

There is a wealth of additional information provided in the brochure included below. Share your flow measurement challenges and requirements for process measurement specialists. Leverage your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Thermal Mass Flow Meter for Oil & Gas Applications from Classic Controls, Inc.