Orifice meter

and
Barton recorder

by Wang Wenqi

Well Testing Company

GWDC
2013-5

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 contents
Part 1: Preface(3-5)
Part 2: Orifice meter(6-31)
Part 3: Barton recorder(32-38)
Part 4: Orifice meter operation(39-46)

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Part 1:
Preface

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Gas measurement methods
• orifice meter ( 孔板流量计 )
• orifice well tester ( 垫圈流量计，又译锐孔测试器，国内又称低压放空测气
法)
• critical flowmeter ( 临界流速流量计 )
• choke nipple ( 节流油嘴 ), similar with critical flowmeter
• flow nozzle ( 喷嘴流量计，又译流量喷嘴 )
• Venturi tube ( 文丘里管 )
• Pitot tube ( 皮托管 )
• elbow meter ( 弯管流量计，又叫离心式流量计 )
• turbine flowmeter ( 涡轮流量计 )
• mass flowmeter ( 各种质量流量计 )
• positive displacement meter ( 容积式流量计 )
• liquid displacing in vertical separator ( 立式分离器排液测气法 )
• friction way ( 管线摩阻法 )
• obturation way ( 密闭测气法 )
…

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 common methods

• orifice meter ( 孔板流量计 ) , most useful

• orifice well tester ( 垫圈流量计 )
• critical flowmeter ( 临界流速流量计 )
• choke nipple ( 节流油嘴 ), similar with critical
flowmeter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Part 2:
orifice meter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Varieties of orifice meter

• Daniel, common used

• North Star (→Nu Flo). Wespro & Porta-Test separators
• China National, SY standard

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Daniel orifice meter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 North Star orifice meter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 installing
position
of
orifice
meter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Daniel
orifice
meter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Daniel orifice meter
and recorder
2013 well testing training, Tarim, China
 carrier seal Orifice plate

Daniel
orifice
meter

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Orifice plate
API standard

The upstream edge of the orifice

plate bore shall be square and
sharp.

The orifice plate bore edge is

considered too dull for
accurate flow measurement if the
upstream edge reflects a beam of
light when viewed without
magnification or if the upstream
edge shows a beam of light when
checked with an orifice edge
gauge.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Orifice plate
SY/T 6143
standard

The upstream edge of the orifice

plate bore shall be square and
sharp.

If d≥25mm, the upstream edge

can’t reflects a beam of light when
viewed without magnification;

if d ＜ 25mm, need rk≤0.0004d,

otherwise, add a modificatory
factor bk in calculation formula.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Two kinds of seal (holder)

rubber

Teflon: H2S

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 Daniel orifice meter: dissected

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Daniel
orifice
meter:
structure

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 USA: pressure taps
American Gas Association: Report No. 3,
Gas Processors Association: GPA 8185-00,
API: Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 14.3

Three types of taps to take flowing pressure

• Flange taps( 法兰取压 ). Be used on all kinds of CNLC’s
separators
• Vena contracta taps( 缩流取压，理论取压 ). Used rarely
• Pipe taps. ( 管子取压 )

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 The diameter of the pressure tap holes
shall be 3⁄8 inch for pipe with a
Flange Taps nominal diameter of 2 or 3 inches;
shall be 1⁄2 inch for pipe with a
API standard
nominal diameter of 4 inches or more.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Flange Taps API standard

Flange taps are a pair of tap holes positioned as follows :

• The upstream tap center is located 1 inch upstream
of the nearest plate face.
• The downstream tap center is located 1 inch
downstream of the nearest plate face.
• The upstream and downstream taps must be in the
same radial position.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Orifice Tapping Location

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Vena contracta taps & Pipe taps

Flange Taps
Vena contracta taps
Pipe Taps

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 China: pressure taps
SY/T 6143 － 1996: standard orifice measurement methods for natural gas flow
Two types of taps to take flowing pressure
• 角接（角节？）取压： angular pitch taps
 单独钻孔取压 : independent hole taps
 环隙取压 : annular slot taps
• 法兰取压 Flange taps. Same with API standard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Other types of taps used in non-SY standards:
• 缩流取压 Vena contracta taps. D—0.84D ～ 0.34D when d ／ D=0.l 一
0.8. Used in some homemade meter, but not mentioned in SY/T 6143
• 径距取压 D － D/2 taps. Used by some homemade meter, but not
mentioned in SY/T 6143
• 管子取压或管接取压 Pipe taps. （ 2.5 D — 8 D ）

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Flange taps The diameter of the
pressure tap hole shall be
SY/T 6143 － 1996 smaller than 0.13D and
13mm

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Flange Taps SY/T 6143 － 1996

Flange taps are a pair of tap holes positioned as follows:

• The upstream tap center is located 1 inch upstream of the

nearest plate face.
• The downstream tap center is located 1 inch downstream
of the nearest plate face.
• The upstream and downstream taps must be in the same
radial position.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 角接取压
（单独钻孔取压和环隙取压）
SY/T 6143 － 1996

When diameter ratio (d/D)

β≤0.65, 0.005D≤a≤0.03D;
β ＞ 0.65, 0.01D
≤a≤0.02D

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 pressure taps for orifice meter( 孔板流量计取压方式一览表 )
D: meterrun ID, d: orifice size
American Gas Association:Report No.3, China petroleum
upstream some
取压方式 downstream hole center Gas Processors Association:GPA 8185-00, & gas industry CNLC
hole center homemade
pressure taps to orifice API:Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, standard: separators
to orifice meters
Chapter 14.3 SY/T 6143

单独钻孔取压
角接取
independent hole
压
taps?
angular 0.5 tap 0.5 tap ●
环隙取压:
pitch
annular slot
taps?
taps?
法兰取压
1 inch 1 inch ● ● ●
Flange taps
理论取压（缩流取压） 0.84 D～0.34 D
D ● ●
Vena contracta taps (when d／D=0.l～0.8)
径距取压
D 0.5 D ●
diameter distance taps
管接取压(管线取压、
2.5 D 8 D ●
管子取压）pipe taps

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 目前取压方式有如下五种
1. 角接取压法：上下游侧取压孔中心至孔板前后端面的间距各等于取压孔径的一
半；如果用环室取压时等于环隙宽度的一半。
2. 法兰取压法：上下游取压孔中心至孔板前后后端面的间距均为 25.4±0.8mm 或
叫作“ 1 英寸法兰取压法”
3. 理论取压（缩流取压）法：上游的取压孔中心至孔板前端面距离等于管道内径，
下游的取压孔中心至孔板前端面的间距取决孔板孔径与管道内径比值  d ／ D ，
如  d ／ D 在 0.l 一 0.8 时取压孔位置分别在 0.84D ～ 0.34D 范围内变动。
4. 径距取压：上游取压孔中心至孔板前端面的间距为 D ，下游取压孔中心至孔
板前端面间距为 D/2 。
5. 管接取压法：上游取压孔中心至孔板前端面为 2.5D ，下游取压孔中心至孔板
后端面为 8D 。

—— 《 传感器与仪表论坛》

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 straightening vanes

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 straightening
vanes:
cross section

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Part 3:
Barton recorder

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Barton
recorder

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Daniel orifice meter
and recorder
2013 well testing training, Tarim, China
 Barton
Recorder
with
Differential
Pressure
Unit

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Barton
Recorder

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Differential
Pressure
Unit

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Differential Pressure Unit

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Part 4:
Orifice meter operation

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Steps to Install a Selected Orifice Plate

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Daniel
orifice
meter:
structure

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Install a selected orifice plate
14 Open Barton manifold valves to equalize the pressure across the Barton.
15 Install a orifice plate to gas meter, follow the below steps (suppose the carrier is
in upper chamber):
15.1 Make sure the sliding door is closed.
15.2 Make sure the equalizer valve is closed.
15.3 Open the bleeder valve to relieve pressure in upper chamber.
15.4 Lubricate with Daniels grease to make a seal between top valve and valve strip.
15.5 Loose the bar screws and draw off the clamping bar.
15.6 Rotate the upper shaft (counter clockwise) to lift up (or free) sealing bar and
gasket.
15.7 Remove clamping bar, sealing bar and gasket.
15.8 Rotate the plate carrier completely out. Take out plate.
15.9 Install a new plate correctly in holder.
15.10 Install the plate holder correctly in the carrier.
15.11 Place the carrier evenly into upper chamber and engage with upper shaft and
pinions.
15.12 Rotate the plate carrier down with the upper shaft (clockwise) until carrier is
just below where the sealing bar and gasket will sit.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Install a selected orifice plate (continued)
15.13 Inspect the gasket and make sure it is in good shape, replace after every third
operation.
15.14 Replace the gasket, sealing bar and clamping bar.
15.15 Tighten down the clamping bar screws in a staggered pattern.
15.16 Make sure the bleeder valve is closed.
15.17 Open the equalizer valve to allow pressure into the top chamber.
15.18 Open the slide valve gate.
15.19 Rotate the upper shaft to move the carrier down and engage the bottom shaft.
15.20 Rotate the lower shaft to move the plate carrier completely down into the
meter run.
15.21 Close the sliding door.
15.22 Close the equalizer valve.
15.22 Open the bleeder valve to relieve pressure in the top chamber.
15.24 Lubricate if necessary.
15.25 After the pressure is relieved, close the bleeder valve.
16 Close the Barton manifold valves and observe differential pressure point on
recorder range of 30%-70%.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Note
Before changing choke bean at choke manifold,
ensure lift orifice plate and by pass separator. After
the flow is stable, pass it to separator and make
sure the suitable orifice.

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

 Steps to change orifice plate
14 Open Barton manifold valves to equalize the pressure across the Barton.
15 Install a selected orifice plate to gas meter, follow the below steps:
15.1 Close the bleeder valve.
15.2 Open the equalizer valve to allow pressure into the upper chamber.
15.3 Rotate the lower shaft to move the plate carrier up and engage the up shaft.
15.4 Rotate the upper shaft to move the carrier up to the upper chamber.
15.5 Close the sliding door.
15.6 Close the equalizer valve.
Following steps are same with above 15.3--15.24
…
16 Close the Barton manifold valves and observe differential pressure point on
recorder range

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China

2013 well testing training, Tarim, China