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Future of Flow Measurement in Gas and Oil

In the search for energy sources around the world there has been an increasing focus on gas flow measurement. For years oil has dominated the global energy markets, but recently natural gas has upped the ante in the popularity stakes.

As supplies of crude oil continue to decline, it’s only natural that the industry moves towards alternative fossil fuels. It’s predicted that vast reserves of natural gas remain undiscovered around the world, and estimates suggest there is enough below ground to fuel the world for another 75 years. An increasing number of natural gas explorations and extractions have shifted the whole energy industry in an effort to meet demands.

The custody transfer process of natural gas – the transportation of the fuel from one operator to another – has seen flow measurement move away from traditional technology to meet the needs of the gas industry. Ultrasonic and Coriolis meters are beginning to replace differential pressure (DP) meters, which for a long time have been used in the custody transfer process. DP flowmeters have for a long time been used in this process, but for the measurement to happen they need to reduce pressure within the meter. Ultrasonic flowmeters cause little pressure-drop and are generally more reliable.

Hailed as the bridge between fossil fuel and renewables, the use of natural gas is expected to continue rising in America, Europe and the Middle East in particular.