Application Cases of Gas Flow Meters in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian market, as a global hub for the energy industry, primarily applies gas flow meters in oil and gas production, processing, utilities, and industrial sectors. The requirements for equipment accuracy, reliability, and ability to withstand extreme environments are exceptionally high.

Core Application Case: A Large Gas Processing Plant in Saudi Arabia

Project Background:
A coastal gas processing plant operated by Saudi Aramco or one of its partners, responsible for treating raw gas from offshore and non-associated gas fields. The plant needs to purify, desulfurize, and dehydrate the raw gas, separate LPG and condensate, and finally produce dry gas that meets pipeline transmission standards.

Application Scenarios and Flow Meter Selection:

Throughout this process, the gas medium and working conditions vary significantly across different sections, necessitating the use of various types of gas flow meters:

1. Inlet Raw Gas Measurement (High Pressure, Large Diameter)
   • Scenario: High-pressure raw gas from the gas fields enters the processing plant via large-diameter pipelines, requiring fiscal-grade total flow measurement.
   • Preferred Flow Meter: Ultrasonic Flow Meter or Gas Turbine Flow Meter.
   • Reasons:
     • Ultrasonic Flow Meter: No moving parts, withstands high pressure, wide rangeability, and high accuracy (up to ±0.5%), making it ideal as a “master meter” for custody transfer. It accurately measures wet gas, which may contain droplets or particles before treatment.
     • Gas Turbine Flow Meter: Mature technology and high accuracy, but bearings are prone to wear in dirty gas, typically requiring upstream filters/separators.
2. Process Control & Monitoring (Medium Pressure, Various Pipe Sizes)
   • Scenario: Precise control of chemical injection and monitoring of treatment efficiency at the inlets and outlets of desulfurization (amine scrubbing) and dehydration (molecular sieve) units.
   • Preferred Flow Meter: Coriolis Mass Flow Meter.
   • Reasons:
     • Directly measures gas mass flow, unaffected by temperature and pressure changes.
     • Simultaneously provides density readings, helping monitor changes in gas composition.
     • High accuracy and reliability, making it ideal for process control and internal accounting.
3. Fuel Gas Distribution Measurement (In-plant Utilities)
   • Scenario: Distributing fuel gas to gas turbines, boilers, and heaters within the plant. This cost needs precise internal accounting.
   • Preferred Flow Meter: Vortex Flow Meter.
   • Reasons:
     • Rugged construction, no moving parts, low maintenance.
     • Cost-effective with sufficient accuracy for cost allocation in medium/low pressure, stable flow conditions.
     • Well-suited for dry, clean fuel gas.

Integrated Data Solution:
For comprehensive plant management, flow meters can be part of a larger system. A complete set of servers and software with wireless module, supports RS485, GPRS, 4G, WiFi, LoRa, and LoRaWAN connectivity, enables real-time data transmission from these critical measurement points to a central control room, facilitating monitoring, early fault detection, and data analysis.
For more sensor information, please contact:
Honde Technology Co., LTD.
Email: info@hondetech.com
Company website: www.hondetechco.com
Tel: +86-15210548582

4. Final Dry Gas Export Metering (Custody Transfer)
   • Scenario: Dry gas meeting pipeline specifications is exported via pipeline to the national grid or end users. This is the most critical custody transfer point.
   • Preferred Flow Meter: Ultrasonic Flow Meter.
   • Reasons:
     • Internationally recognized standard for natural gas custody transfer. Its high accuracy and reliability are crucial for protecting the interests of both buyers and sellers.
     • Typically paired with an online gas chromatograph for real-time compensation of heating value (Wobbe Index) and density, calculating the standardised energy value (e.g., MMBtu) for fiscal settlement.

Other Key Application Cases in the Saudi Market

1. Associated Gas Recovery & Utilisation
   • Scenario: In oil fields, associated gas previously flared is now being recovered on a large scale. Flow meters must measure this gas with fluctuating composition separated from oil wells.
   • Application: Ultrasonic Flow Meters and Coriolis Mass Flow Meters are also widely used here due to their insensitivity to changes in fluid properties and strong adaptability.
2. Industrial Gases & Utilities
   • Scenarios:
     • Desalination Plants: Fuel gas measurement for massive gas turbines (Vortex Flow Meters).
     • Petrochemical Plants: Measuring process gases like ethylene, propylene, and hydrogen (Coriolis Mass Flow Meters are preferred).
     • City Gate Stations: Measurement at city gate stations and for large industrial/commercial users (Turbine or Ultrasonic Flow Meters).
3. Water & Wastewater Treatment
   • Scenario: In wastewater treatment plants, measuring the airflow blown into aeration tanks to optimise the biological treatment process and energy consumption.
   • Application: Differential Pressure Flow Meters (Orifice Plate, Annubar) or Thermal Mass Flow Meters are commonly used, as they are suitable for large pipe, low-pressure air measurement and are cost-effective.

Key Considerations for the Saudi Market

• Extreme Environment Adaptation: With extreme summer temperatures and frequent sandstorms, flow meters must have high-temperature design, high ingress protection (at least IP65), and be resistant to sand and dust.
• Certifications & Standards: Clients, especially Aramco, often require international certifications like ATEX/IECEx for explosion protection, OIML, and API standards to meet safety and metrological regulations.
• Local Support & Service: Given the massive scale of industrial projects and high cost of downtime, suppliers must provide strong local technical support and responsive after-sales service, including spare parts depots and well-trained engineers.
• Technical Advancement: Saudi clients, particularly the national oil company, are keen to adopt the latest technology to enhance production efficiency and measurement accuracy. Flow meters offering smart diagnostics, remote monitoring, and digital communication (HART/Foundation Fieldbus/Profibus PA) are more competitive.

In summary, the core application of gas flow meters in Saudi Arabia is serving its vast oil and gas industrial ecosystem, from upstream fields to downstream petrochemical plants, demanding extreme accuracy, reliability, and compliance. The key to succeeding in this market lies in providing high-quality products that meet international standards, can withstand harsh environments, and are backed by strong local support.