TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory has launched data analytics service to help oil and gas operators minimise flow meter downtime and maintenance, a move that aims to significantly lower operating costs
The total cost of calibrating an offshore flow meter is estimated to be in the region of US$50,000 or more, once all costs incurred are accounted for. Traditionally, irrespective of whether a flow meter is deviating from its required operating parameters it will be routinely scheduled for recalibration and operations stopped unnecessarily.
TÜV SÜD’s data analytics service aims to enable operators to move away from this time-based calibration approach to condition-based calibration, by using statistical modelling techniques to predict meter performance based on live and historical data. In addition, diagnostics information can be used to understand what may be negatively impacting a meter by analysing hidden patterns to identify specific fault conditions. This could include incorrect installation, instrument damage, particle deposition, the presence of an unexpected second fluid phase and upstream or downstream flow disturbance.
Gordon Lindsay, head of the digital R&D group at TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory, said, “Data Analytics service uses data in real-time to detect when a meter is not performing to specification and identify the cause of this failure. This means that end-users can avoid shutting down production to remove a device from the pipeline before a solution to a fault can be found. Recalibrations are both costly and labour intensive, so proactively determining the optimal calibration date delivers increased measurement confidence, reduced downtime and cost savings.”
