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Engineering Services
CEESI's staff is highly experienced and our long history in the flow measurement field include a wide range of specialty projects.
CEESI offers a wide range of engineering services including:
- Measurement uncertainty analysis
- Statistical Process Control (SPC) analysis
- Custody transfer dispute resolution
- Equipment pass-fail testing
- Troubleshoot flow measurement problems
- Flow measurement system design
- Testing of new meter types
Described below are a number of special engeering projects perfomed by CEESI.
Ultrasonic Meter Station Onsite Audit
CEESI completed an onsite audit of an ultrasonic meter station based on two twenty inch meters.
As a result of the audit several startup problems were identified and the required local government approval to operate was granted.
In addition, a number of operational recommendations were made.
The audit scope included the ultrasonic meters, flow computers, pressure and temperature transmitters and a gas chromatograph.
Records that were checked included calibration reports, meter log files, flow computer audit trails and gas accounting.
The corrections and adjustments made as a result of the audit represented four million (US) dollars per year of natural gas.
Calibration Facilities in China
Over the past twenty years CEESI has provided a range engineering services to support several calibration and test facilities located in China.
Most recently, a detailed uncertainty analysis is underway to support a very large facility for the calibration ultrasonic meters.
Ultrasonic Meter Station Consulting Services
CEESI provided consulting services that incuded an onsite audit and engineering analysis of an ultrasonic meter station based on two sixteen inch meters.
The audit identifi ed an installation effect that was ultimately shown to represent a shift in measurement of approximately 0.2%.
The engineering included an uncertainty analysis of the recalibration process and a sensitivity analysis of pressure and temperature measurements.
Ongoing Power Plant Audit
CEESI is providing independent third party performance verifi cation of pressure, temperature and flow measurements.
The power plant owns two eight inch ultrasonic meters installed on the inlets of two gas providers.
The initial audit activities identified minor transmitter adjustments, more recently the measurement processes have been found to be performing as expected.
Gas Production System Audit
CEESI provided a range of testing and consulting services to characterize the behavior of a rich gas offshore production system.
The potential for retrograde condensation raised concerns regarding the measurements and calculation of gas density.
The CEESI solution included wet gas testing, an onsite audit and uncertainty analysis.
Gas Processing Plant
This project involved an onsite visit, a meter inspection report and uncertainty analysis.
The plant measures gas receipts and deliveries using ultrasonic meters; liquid products and intermediate measurements are made with turbine and orifice meters.
A detailed report was prepared that summarized the orifice inspection results.
The uncertainty analysis began by dividing the measured flow streams into components (methane, ethane, propane ...).
The uncertainty in mass flowrate was determine for each flow measurement of each component.
The analysis included flowmeters, ancillary measurements, and gas composition.
The analysis results provided an estimate of the uncertainty associated with the plant balance.
Gas Production Allocation Process
This project involved the analysis of a wet gas production allocation system.
The objective was to determine the uncertainty associated with allocated volume of produced gas and condensate.
The production field contains nearly 100 wells, the analysis included seven years of production.
Each full well stream flow is measured with an orifice meter.
Static pressure, differential pressure, and temperature are recorded electronically.
A meter factor is used to correct the orifice meter reading for the presence of liquid.
The meter factor is determined from a well test using portable separator.
The uncertainty analysis was completed in four parts.
The first two components estimated the uncertainty in gas and liquid volumes associated with the allocation process .
The other two components estimated the uncertainty in gas and liquid volumes associated with the well testing process.
The scope of the uncertainty analysis was extensive, the results were based on daily data from each well for the entire seven year period.
The project included test results from the CEESI Wet Gas Test Facility.
The test program involved varying three parameters (meter size, gas flowrate and liquid flowrate) over range observed in the production field.
The test results agreed with the well test results obtained in the field.
The analysis also included a review of accounting records as well as a search of Texas Railroad Commission records.
Electric Power Generator
A power plant operator requested audit, evaluation and uncertainty analysis services for measurements associated with four natural gas power plants.
The ultimate objective was providing guidance to measurement upgrade program driven by return on investment metrics.
CEESI combined measurement audit results and accounting data to express uncertainties in dollars.
The analytical tools provided the capability of “what-if” analyses to evaluate the economic impact of different opportunities.
Oil Production Allocation Process
This project involved the analysis of an oil production allocation system.
Several turbine meters were used to allocate production measured by a LACT unit and barge sales.
The analysis considered the effect of oil viscosity, temperature, gravity, BS&W and shrinkage.
The calibration history for each meter was reviewed and new calibration data were obtained over a viscosity range.
Several different allocation scenarios were prepared based on the results of the analysis.