Partnership strengthens custody transfer capability.

Ensuring the timely and safe delivery of oil and gas, helping to avoid shutdowns of primary infrastructure

Danny Knoop, ABB Flow-X Computers and
Berry van Hoek ,ODS Metering Systems

ABB has announced a partnership with ODS Metering Systems, an independent manufacturer of custody transfer flow measurement solutions, that will see ABB’s Flow-X computers support an increasing number of oil and gas customers with an accurate and reliable automation platform for custody transfer.

The partnership will see the two companies combining their respective strengths: ABB with their flow computers and ODS Metering Systems with the skills to help customers transition to new solutions through further digitalization and with minimum disruption. Through their expertise, global service and maintenance capacity, ODS Metering Systems will secure the seamlesst integration of ABB flow computers in newly built systems as well as refurbishment projects.

Custody transfer is a critical part of oil and gas logistical and commercial operations and is central to risk mitigation, inventory management, quality control and regulatory compliance. The ABB Flow-X series play a crucial role within these operations by accurately measuring and recording the quantity of the oil and gas being transferred from one party to another, protecting the interests of both buyers and sellers.

The Flow-X computer systems have an unmatched accuracy of 0.008 percent over a wide ambient temperature range as well as reliable performance, with the mean time between failures longer than 100 years.

“ABB’s Flow-X computers are not only exceptionally accurate and reliable, but they offer one of the most versatile and cost-effective automation platforms for custody transfer on the market,” said Danny Knoop, General Manager, Flow-X Computers, ABB. “This partnership is really good news for customers as it will help enhance service and technical support throughout the commissioning and operations process.”

“ODS has over 40 years of experience with flow computer integration and metering automation projects. By using ABB’s state-of-the-art Flow-X flow computers we will enable customers around the world to achieve more reliable measurement and digitalization of their metering assets,” said Berry van Hoek, COO of ODS Metering Systems. “With this partnership, we are pleased to offer clients the best of both worlds”.

The partnership will extend ABB’s expertise and increase the reach of its Flow-X computers, ensuring the timely and safe delivery of energy across the globe. It will also see the two companies support customers who have faced long delays and other inconveniences due to a disturbed supply chain in recent years, helping to avoid shutdowns of primary infrastructure that can leave homes and industies without energy.

ABB’s Flow-X series works in synergy with ABB’s range of Coriolis flowmeters, pressure and temperature sensors, and its award-winning gas chromatographs, making measurement easy across industries.

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@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @AdmiralPR #PAuto #OilGas

High-precision CoriolisMaster flowmeter certified for custody transfer.

ABB’s CoriolisMaster flowmeter has received recognition for its high levels of accuracy, gaining custody transfer standards approval. The flowmeter now offers a new custody transfer application approved under OIML R 117-1 and Wellmec standards and certified for the European Measuring Instruments Directive MID.*

Accuracy and reliable measurement are paramount in the transfer of expensive commodities such as oil and gas. Custody transfer is a highly regulated area which falls under both international standards and regional regulations.

The CoriolisMaster certification complements ABB’s Flow-X series of flow computers, a single hardware and software solution that connects to flowmeters, and to temperature, pressure and density transmitters as well as chromatographs to calculate the volume at standard conditions, mass and energy following international standards. The Flow-X aims for the highest precision to protect the interest of buyer and seller. Its analog inputs have an unmatched accuracy of 0.008 percent over a wide ambient temperature range.

“This certification places ABB at the forefront of custody transfer measurement,” said Frank Frenzel, Global Product Line Manager, ABB Process Flowmeters. “We have seen significant growth in this area in recent years, with increased demand for our Flow-X computers, and customers asking for a complete fiscal metering offering. Our CoriolisMaster has never been faster or more precise in its measurements. Certification confirms that it is ideally placed to meet customers’ need for precise measurement, joining the Flow-X computer for unrivalled accuracy in custody transfer applications around the globe.”

With its distinctive lean design, the CoriolisMaster has a small footprint which reduces on-site handling, commissioning and costs by being easy to install and using less pipeline than has been traditionally required. Extensive communication capabilities provide real-time data insights for instant action, and the inclusion of the ABB Ability™ Verification for measurement devices solution allows the performance of the meter to be verified at any stage either in-situ or remotely.

Even the smallest imprecision in custody transfer can lead to big financial losses, so the high accuracy of the CoriolisMaster makes it ideal for liquid mass flow measurement. With repeatability an equally important element, the stability of ABB’s CoriolisMaster in maintaining calibration across its lifecycle is an essential element. The flowmeter also eliminates the need for an additional inline density meter, making it invaluable for product quality assurance purposes, by providing direct density measurement and improving the measurement of liquid and gas flow composition.

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* The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) is a worldwide, intergovernmental organization whose primary aim is to harmonize the regulations and metrological controls applied by the national metrological services, or related organizations, of its Member States.

@abb_automation @ABBgroupnews @OimlBiml #PAuto #Standards

The progress of US flowmeters.

Flow Research has been following the ultrasonic flowmeter market since 2000, and we have seen many changes occur during that time. It's been more than three years since their most recent study of this market was published - the 5th Edition. A new study "The World Market for Ultrasonic Flowmeters, 6th Edition." has now been issued.

This study consists of three separate studies which are now available:

• Core Study: The World Market for Ultrasonic Flowmeters, 6th Edition • Module A: The World Market for Inline Ultrasonic Flowmeters • Module B: The World Market for Clamp-on and Insertion Ultrasonic Flowmeters

These gathered data for both 2019 and 2020 and gives a clear picture of the market in 2019, along with data on how the pandemic affected the market in 2020. With conditions gradually improving, this study gives a sound footing for the rebound that is already occurring in 2021 and is likely to continue through the forecast period of 2024. In the past few days oil prices have reached a two year high and are now near $70 per barrel. Demand for natural gas is growing, and the next few years should be strong ones for ultrasonic flowmeters. Ultrasonic flowmeters will also be a major factor in the growth of renewable energy.

The ultrasonic flowmeter market has proved, along with Coriolis, to be one of the fastest growing flowmeter markets in the past 20 years. Ultrasonic flowmeters are unique in that they have three distinct mounting types: Inline, Clamp-on, and Insertion. This gives them a versatility that other flowmeters lack, and makes them ideal for check metering, measuring flare gases, and highly accurate Inline flow measurement. What ultrasonic meters are perhaps best known for is their ability to measure custody transfer of natural gas and petroleum liquids.

New Product Developments in Inline Meters
The Inline Ultrasonic market is especially important because these meters are used for growing custody transfer applications for both oil and natural gas. Ultrasonic meters are holding their own against competing turbine and differential pressure flowmeters because these other flowmeter types still present challenges for certain applications. Inline meters offer greater security and typically greater accuracy than clamp-on and insertion meters, and they are the largest market of the three types. Many of the new developments, like twin transmitters and more accurate multipath measurement, are occurring with inline meters.

Insertion and Clamp-on Markets: A Critical Part of the Picture
The insertion and clamp-on markets are also an increasingly important part of the ultrasonic picture. Insertion meters are widely used to measure flare and stack gas emissions. These meters are increasingly important in a world of tightening environmental regulations. They also are more economical than inline meters, since they can be hot tapped or cold tapped and do not have a meter body.

Clamp-on meters have the unique feature that they can measure flow with no pipe penetration - they simply clamp on to the outside of a pipe and send ultrasonic signals to a receiver on the other side of the pipe. Clamp-on meters are widely used as check meters and to spot check flows where inline meters are not needed or are impractical. The technology of clamp-on meters continues to improve.

Module B presents the data for insertion and clamp-on meters in their own separate dedicated chapters, complete with their own growth factors and detailed segmentation. Companies that only manufacture clamp-on or insertion flowmeters will find this module especially attractive.

The Ultimate Package: Putting it All Together
The Core Study takes the most critical data from Modules A and B and puts it together into a picture of the entire ultrasonic flowmeter market. The Core Study allows you to compare inline, clamp-on, and insertion meters in terms of market size, growth rate, and market shares. It also contains all the company profiles from both Modules A and B, and also the product analyses. The Core Study is great as a standalone study, but even better together with Modules A and B.

Flow Research is making a special offer on the ultrasonic studies they call the "Ultimate Package" that enables ordering of all three studies for the price of two. With this order, they offer a substantial discount on their new study, published in April, called "Flowmeters in the Oil & Gas Industry."

@flowresearch #PAuto #Research

Tank gauging system has NMi and TUEV approval

Additional approvals certify custody transfer accuracy and overfill prevention of Emerson’s Rosemount® Raptor tank gauging system 

The Dutch Metrological Institute NMi, has approved Emerson Process Management’s Rosemount® Raptor tank gauging system for custody transfer accuracy, and the German DIBt / TÜV Nord has tested and approved the system in accordance with the rules for overfill prevention. These national standards with traceability to international standards are essential for customer confidence in the performance and safety of automation equipment like tank gauging.

The Raptor system is a complete tank gauging offering that includes high precision radar gauges, and temperature and pressure measurement instruments. The NMi certificate is written according to the current International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) requirements which require at least 1 mm accuracy for level. The approval means that the Raptor 5900 radar gauge with 0.5 mm accuracy can be used for automatic custody transfer operations within the Netherlands. 

The German DIBt / TÜV Nord has tested and approved the 5900 radar gauge in accordance with the rules for overfill prevention. DIBt is the institute responsible for certifying overfill protection equipment according to the requirements stated by the German Federal Water Act (WHG) concerning water protection. The Raptor 5900 gauge passed the comprehensive reliability test that consisted of 5,000 overfill situations over the temperature range -40 to +70 °C.

The Raptor 5900 radar level gauge has also been approved by metrological authorities for legal custody transfer in a number of other countries. The system has been certified for overfill prevention according to IEC 61508 international safety standard according to SIL 2 and SIL 3 requirements.

Coriolis flowmeter for custody transfer

The CNGmass Coriolis flowmeter series from Endress+Hauser is approved by NTEP in the U.S. and five other international standards organizations for custody transfer of compressed natural gas (CNG) and for fueling vehicles with CNG.

Available in three common sizes from 3/8 to 1 in., the CNGmass measures mass flow up to 330 lb/min (150 kg/min) at fluid temperatures up to 257F (125C) and pressures to 5,080 psi (350 bar). The instrument measures direct mass or corrected volume flow with 0.5% accuracy to meet custody standards. It also outputs temperature and density. Because the Coriolis flowmeter is a balanced two-tube design, it is insensitive to pipeline vibrations, and can be installed without taking inlet or outlet runs into consideration.

When used for custody transfer, the flowmeter is verified on site using reference measurements approved by the local authority for legal metrology controls. The flowmeter must be locked for custody transfer measurements and sealed by authorized personnel, but it can easily be converted back to normal measurements. The flowmeter is approved for custody transfer by NTEP (U.S.), PTB (Germany), NMi (Netherlands), METAS (Switzerland), BEV (Austria) and MC (Canada).

The CNGmass flowmeter carries approvals for use in hazardous areas from UL, ATEX, FM, cCSAus and NEPSI. The transmitter housing is powder-coated aluminium, the sensor housing is acid-and alkali-resistant 304 stainless steel, and all process connections are 316 or 316L stainless steel.

A multi-color LED on the transmitter housing indicates, by various colors and flashing intervals, the status of the instrument and the process conditions—such as creepage, system working/not working, custody transfer mode started, or explicit Modbus messages.

Output options for the CNGmass 8DF/8FF include pulse/frequency signal, 4-20mA current with HART, 30Vdc status output for fault or power supply failure, or MODBUS RS485 output in accordance with the EIA/TIA-485 standard designed for custody transfer applications in dispensing or fueling in the compressed natural gas industry. The MODBUS output contains flow rate, totalizer, temperature and density information, system or process notifications, and security status identification.

Four configuration methods exist for this product. Endress+Hauser’s FieldCare software can be used for on-site configuration, verification and diagnostics. The instrument can also be configured via HART, manually via the local display, or with a plug-in EEPROM

Cryogenic fluid custody transfer

Coriolis flowmeters have European, Asian, Australian and U.S. approvals for cryogenic fluids in custody transfer applications

Accurate mass-flow measurement
for Cryostar LNG fuel dispensers

Micro Motion® Coriolis flowmeters from Emerson Process Management are being used by Cryostar in its fuel dispensers for liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vehicles. This company is a leading provider of advanced technologies for LNG applications and they chose the Micro Motion flowmeters not only for their inherent accuracy, but also because regulatory organisations in Europe, Asia, Australia and the U.S. have approved the meters for measuring cryogenic fluids in custody transfer applications.

“When we were designing our fuel dispensers, we looked at various measurement technologies and several potential suppliers,” said Philippe Fauvel of Cryostar. “Emerson’s Micro Motion Coriolis flowmeters have all the approvals we need for our growing markets, as well as providing the accurate and reliable data that this fiscal application demands.”
The Cryostar dispenser, which has a 99.5 per cent accuracy, has been approved by the relevant Weights and Measures departments in many world areas to the appropriate standard. These include MID (Europe) and Nederlands Meet Instituut (NMI) for Australia and Asia. Cryostar is also seeking National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) approval for North America.

“This project has been very much a joint development with Emerson,” continued Fauvel. “Emerson helped with obtaining MID approval, and we used their valuable LNG knowledge and experience to achieve the best possible design – making our dispensers among the most accurate and reliable on the market.”

MID certification means that when Emerson’s compact flowmeters are used as a component of a complete measuring system, such as the Cryostar fuel dispenser, it is not necessary for the dispenser manufacturer to type test and certify the devices – saving both time and money.

The Cryostar dispenser uses a Micro Motion ELITE® CMF100 flowmeter to determine mass flow, eliminating the separate fluid density compensation required by traditional volumetric technologies. This reduces costs and measurement uncertainty while simplifying installation. Additionally, Micro Motion meters do not require straight pipe runs or flow conditioning devices, enabling compact and efficient skid-based metering designs.

Micro Motion meters are ideally suited to cryogenic applications for dispensing LNG fuel to motor vehicles. They have no moving parts, enabling the meters to deliver improved system reliability and increased plant availability. Using Micro Motion Coriolis meters for LNG dispensing provides operators with accurate, real-time, in-line measurement data, while meeting the ATEX safety limitations.

“Emerson’s full range of Coriolis measuring instruments has MID approval for LNG applications,” said Denis Henrot, Vice President for Emerson’s Micro Motion line in Europe. “This makes our highly accurate Coriolis flowmeters ideally suited to low flow applications such as in fuelling dispensers, in addition to established high flow applications in pipelines, tankers and storage systems.”