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Gas Flowmeters

The Hoffer Flow Controls Inc. Premier Gas Series of
turbine flowmeters with electronics options.

The Hoffer Flow Controls Inc. Premier Gas Series of turbine flowmeters provides gas-flow measurement through pipelines. This flowmeter provides high-accuracy measurement for many applications, including fiscal measurement. The meters provide wide flow turndown ranges, multiple rotor assemblies for optimum performance, multiple coil outputs, and significantly lower pressure drop compared with conventional turbine flowmeters. Natl. Inst. of Standards and Technology traceable-gas calibrations are available with uncertainties to ±0.25%. The meters use hybrid ceramic-ball bearings for extended operating life. These meters measure the volumetric flow of gas. Gas flowing through the meter turns the turbine rotor at an angular velocity that is proportional to the velocity of the gas being measured. As the turbine rotor turns, the rotor blades pass a nonintrusive pickup coil that generates an electrical signal, referred to as a pulse. Each pulse represents a specific volume of gas. Totaling these pulses results in the total volumetric flow. The total volume can be converted to mass-flow total by use of reference conditions and base density or by applying various correction techniques with a microprocessor-based flow computer. The meters operate at pressures of 150 to 2,500 psi and at temperatures of -450 to +350°F.

For additional information, e-mail info@hofferflow.com.

Dissipation Array System

The Dissipation Array System from Lightning Eliminators and Consultants
Inc. prevents lightning strikes by lowering the electrostatic-field intensity.

The Dissipation Array System from Lightning Eliminators and Consultants Inc. prevents lightning strikes by continually lowering the electrostatic-field intensity, within a site under storm-induced charged clouds, to a level well below that required for lightning termination, even in worst-case storms. The system has reduced induced voltages by up to 98.6% in protected zones, thus reducing the lightning-strike risk. In one storm, the system lowered electrostatic strength to near 0.0 kV/m in a 157-ft-radius zone around the building, while electrostatic strength ranged from +32 kV/m to -35 kV/m outside the zone. In another storm, the system lowered electrostatic strength to near 0.0 kV/m in the protected zone while electrostatic strength ranged from +52 kV/m to -38 kV/m outside the zone. Systems have been installed in many applications worldwide ranging from communications towers to petrochemical-storage tank farms, electrical power lines, and public buildings. The system has been used to protect facilities as large as 740 acres and structures as high as 1,700 ft.

For additional information, visit www.lightningeliminators.com.

Coordinate Drilling Programs

Digital Oilfield Inc. has introduced its ProjectAccelerator, a software technology to coordinate details of single projects and multiproject programs, including drilling programs. This Web-based application provides a shared, collaborative environment for access to critical project information. The application allows all parties to share schedules and technical requirements, to track project status and task assignment/completion, and to provide project visibility. Users can manage processes across the entire oilfield lifecycle, from initial exploration to final tie-in and production. The ability to visualize progress and resources is provided through a graphical resource and rig-scheduling capability. A graphical view of all of the phases of the project also is available. The graphical capabilities are tied to the underlying database, allowing quick and easy updating.

For additional information, visit www.digitaloilfield.com.

Drillbit Design

Smith Bits’ IDEAS is used to design
roller-cone and fixed-cutter bits.

Smith Bits’ Integrated Dynamic Engineering Analysis System, IDEAS, is used to design roller-cone and fixed-cutter bits. The system recognizes the significant effect on bit performance of the drillstring and its components and takes into account specific parameters of the entire drilling assembly in a given application. As a result, the design works synergistically with the drilling system to optimize performance. These bits go from concept to field use faster than bits developed with traditional design regimens. The process uses a simulation model that predicts real-world behavior of the bit. Therefore, testing of the new design is done in a virtual environment instead of the multiple field-trial iterations. The bits are designed to be dynamically stable within the specified operating and application envelope. Once the actual rock and cutter data are obtained, the results are integrated into a full bit-design model to simulate the characteristics of the bit in actual drilling conditions. This model analyzes the rock/cutter interface, bottomhole-assembly (BHA) configuration, drillstring behavior and directional response, dynamic analysis of projected bit behavior, and how changes in operating parameters affect performance. In the roller-cone-bit simulation, the individual inserts of a roller-cone bit and the bottomhole pattern they create can be seen. The fixed-cutter-bit simulation shows the polycrystalline-diamond-compact (PDC) cutter area in contact with the formation and the load on each cutter. The full-drillstring simulation analyzes the PDC bit and associated BHA and drillpipe. Bottomhole-pattern simulation enables observation of the pattern created in the rock by the same bit before and after use of the system.

For additional information, visit www.smithbits.com.

Seismic Acquisition

Vibtech Technology Ltd. has launched its Unite, a cable-free remote data-acquisition and -transmission system. The seismic-acquisition system has unlimited channel capacity without the use of digital cables and connectors or very-high-frequency radio transmission. The system uses lightweight standalone single-channel units, each of which operates independently of any other. It uses the company’s Cellular Seismic acquisition system, which divides the survey area into a certain number of radio cells, each controlled by a cell access node. The result is massive bandwidth for data transmission. For onshore seismic-data acquisition, the system provides a complex network in hostile environments (e.g., dense jungle and hilly areas) and reduces the weight of the system, vehicle movement, environmental disturbance, and emissions, and there is no need to deploy the systems in regular patterns. Global-positioning-system technology is used in each unit for positioning and synchronization. The high-density memory records several days of acquisition. If real-time data recording is required, users can deploy either wireless or fiber-optic links between the cells. If it is not critical, users can receive a reduced bit record for quality control and display in real time at the recorder while writing the full data to memory for subsequent harvesting, or they can record the data to memory with alarms for individual-unit performance failure.
For additional information, visit www.vibtech.co.uk.

Crude-Oil Sampler

Jiskoot Ltd. Co-Jetix sampling system
safe-area Insight controller

The Jiskoot Ltd. Co-Jetix sampling systems measure the water content of crude oils having viscosities ranging from 2 to 200 cSt. The sampling system consists of a combination of a JetMix and a fast-loop arrangement. The sampling systems use the company’s safe-area InSight controller and a CanWeigh performance-measurement system with automated alarming as required by sampling-system standards. The systems have been proved in accordance with the American Petroleum Inst. water-proving standard. The sampling system is used in custody-transfer applications in 8- to 52-in. pipelines and has a small measurement uncertainty and bias of -0.025%. The main-loop off-take is a “quill” inserted directly into the pipeline through a valve and seal housing, allowing removal under line conditions. Flow is returned to the main pipeline upstream of the quill. Loop velocity is sufficiently high to maintain homogeneity at all times. The receiver housing in the loop includes a full-bore cell sampler, flow indicator, and isolation valves. The cell sampler isolates and discharges a grab sample directly through the bottom of the sampler into a sample receiver.

For additional information, e-mail jmoreau@jiskoot.com.

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