Utilising CFD to Understand and Improve Performance of a Wet Gas Flow Meter

GM Flow manufacture a unique flow meter for use in both the oil & gas and emerging hydrogen industries. The product utilises a patented internal sliding sleeve (GB2538805), to change the internal geometry and so vastly improve the usable flow range of gas flow meters. This unique advantage is being grapsed by Saudi Aramco to reduce the amount of capital spending, increase flow measurement accuracy and reduce risk to personnel. It does this by using the meter's wide flow range, to extend the useful life of a flow meter, which would otherwise become redundant as the gas flow rate reduces over time. When the well flow rate reduces, it drops below the range of existing meters and requires them to be repeatedly replaced with smaller sizes. It is estimated that Aramco can save around £200,000 per well, for each meter they do not have to replace prematurely, in hundreds of wells across Saudi Arabia.

In order to capitalise on this advantage, Aramco wish to deploy the meter in what are termed "wet gas" wells, i.e wells which produce mostly gas but with some entraned liquids (condensate and water). Conventional design (but limited flow range) venturi type meters have been adaped to use an additional an differential pressure reading to determine the amount of liquid and gas in the flowing stream. Aramco wish to help GM Flow to develop wet gas capability within our meter and have depolyed a test unit in the field to gauge its reaction to wet gas environments. To optimise and fully commercialise this advanced design, GM Flow wish to use Computational Fluid Dynamics to understand the unique flow properties of our device, in order to enlarge its operational wet gas window in conjunction with its superior flow range, and at the same time, increase its operational accuracy. By understanding how fluids behave within the meter, we can optimise geometrical shapes and surface finish to optimise performance and maximise its effectiveness and applicability.