The “Not So Small” Small Volume Prover

Name: Steve Stewart

Company: Flow Management Devices, LLC

Lo que no se mide no se puede controlar, lo que no se controla no se puede mejorar

The “Not So Small” Small Volume Prover
Innovative Prover Technology
For High Flow Rates & Large
Bore Meter Market
AGENDA:
• Basics of SVP
• Basics of Ball
Provers
• Benefits of SVPs
• Cost Comparisons
• Myths about SVPs
Basics of SVP
 Small Volume Prover
AKA: Ballistic Prover, SVP, Compact, UCDP
Definition of Provers
Devices with “known traceable volume” designed to calibrate (prove)
liquid flow meter’s accuracy and repeatability under actual operating
conditions in the field or calibration laboratories.

API SVP Definition

the term SVP applies to any prover that collects < 10,000 pulses
between detectors

API’s Updated Definition - Unidirectional Captive Displacement

Provers
refers to type of displacer and switches Unidirectional Captive
Displacement Prover In 2010 FMD was granted the first of six patents
for prover design innovations.
 Unidirectional Captive Displacement Provers
Designed to calibrate/prove a liquid flow meter’s accuracy
and repeatability under actual operating conditions in the
field or in calibration laboratories

Today we offer 14 Prover models with flow

rates ranging from 142 BPH to 35,000 BPH.
FMD Prover Information
FMD Prover Information
 “Technological Leader in
Captive Displacement Provers”
Six Patents on Innovative Design
Optical Sensor Section Support Shafts
(Retrofitable)
Electronics – PIM
Flow Computer Interface
Drive End Assembly Pulse Interpolation
Motor & Drive Belts
(Retrofitable) Flow Tube (Barrel)
Precision Machined SST Alloy
 SVP Design Criteria
• Meter Size / Flow Rate
• Viscosity
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Density
• Materials of construction (304SS or 316SS)
One pre-designed model for each maximum flow rate. One
prover can cover multiple meter sizes due to the 1200 to 1 turn
down. Special customer requests are only changes to standard
designs.

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 Certifications
• ISO 9001/2008
• ISO 17025
• CSA/US Class 1 Div. 1
• CRN
• ATEX
• GOST (Russia)
• Kazakhstan Metrology
 Flow Tube (Barrel)
FMD Flow Tube, Piston, & Piston Shafts Technology
▪ Precision-machined from superior metal alloys
▪ High performance elastomers & seals for piston and shafts
▪ Provide Longer Life & Higher Precision
Basics of Ball Provers
 Ball Provers 1950 - Present

1950s --- first pipe Prover, a

mile long, between two oil
refineries
Benefits of SVPs
 Benefits of SVP vs Ball Provers
• Benefits
– Smaller in size
– Easier and less expensive to service
– No Prover ball w/ all of the accessory equipment
– No need for 4-way valve not actuator
– Faster proving runs means shorter time to find the correct K-factor
with less product used (Save$$)
– Water draw volume repeatability
– Gravimetric Water draw on all sizes can be completed
– Water draws are more repeatable. (proven to be 3-4 time better)
(Continuous $$ Savings)

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 Footprint Comparison
Comparing FMD-200 complete prover versus General four-way valve
 Quick Comparison
Criteria Bi-directional Ball Prover Flow MD SVP
Turn down 5 to 1 1200 to 1
Displaced Volume 100 pulses b/t switches = 56.76BBL 75 gal (1.78 BBL)
1050 pulses b/t switched= 90.91BBL
Dimensions Approx. 70 ‘ x 16’ x 15’ FMD90 16’ x 4.5’ x 5.5’
4 Way Valve yes no
Pre run Length 29 feet of 30” pipe on each side 1’
Approx. Distance 54 feet of 30” Pipe b/t switches 3.5’
between
Switches
Type of Displacer Use a liquid filled prover ball Self seal piston design
(pressurized + 3-6% pipe size) (0pen until proving )

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 FMD Prover Typical Sizing

Typical 12” Turbine Meters have Max Flow of 18,000 BPH

FMD 130 – Up to 18500 BPH

FMD 200 – over 28,000 BPH

FMD 090

Small Meters/Portable Provers ---- 6”/8” 8/10” 10/12” 12/16”

 Conventional Prover Sizing
30” Diameter Prover
36” Launch Chamber
24” 4-way Valve w/ Actuator
15’ X 45’ Footprint
150 BBL Total Volume

Quad 12” Turbine Meter Skid

> 1,000,000 BBL/Day
C/W Typical Ball Prover
Cost Comparisons
 Flow MD SVP Cost Advantages over
Conventional Provers
A. Maintenance Costs

1. Cost of water disposal

2. Cost of product disposal
3. Time cost for water draws
4. Costs for re-build of a conventional prover
5. Cost of volume switches
 Flow MD SVP Cost Advantages over
Conventional Provers
B. Initial Cost Savings

1. SVP has a much lower installation cost than

conventional Prover
2. SVP requires much less real estate than
conventional Prover
3. FMD Provers have such a trouble-free history
that warranty period has been increased to 4
years

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 Flow MD SVP Cost Advantages over
Conventional Provers
C. Other Advantages

1. Ability to check for seal integrity at any positon of

piston travel
2. Optional FMD Prover Validation advantage
eliminates unnecessary water draws, diagnoses
the volume changes, diagnoses the optical switch
failure and reduces the trouble shooting time to
minutes
3. Better water draw repeatability
Myths about SVPs
 MYTHS
SVP Technology is Good, but…….

1. Small Volume Provers are for small meters

2. Don’t work on crude oil
3. “Self-destruct” at high flow rates
4. Don’t work with manufactured pulse technologies
5. Are only used as portable applications

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 MYTH
SVP Technology is Good, but…….

Small Volume
Provers are for
small meters

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 Meter Types and Flow Rates
Smith Caldon UltraSonic Flow MD
Sentry Turbine Flow MD Flow Rates
Flow Rate Model BBH Prover
Model BPH Prover LEMF-280-12 12,710 90
K2DJ – LEMF-280-14 15,100 130
10” 12000 90 LEMF-280-16 19,910 200
K2DK – LEMF-280-18 25,540 200
12” 18000 130 LEMF-280-20 31,075 Future
K2DL –
16” 27000 200 Micro
K2DM – Motion Coriolis Flow MD
18” 35000 Future Model Flow Rate Prover
K2DN – CMFH3 8400 90
20” 42,000 Future CMFH4 12800 90
Smith PD Flow MD
Model Flow Rate Prover
KB12 7200 60 or 90
M16 12500 90

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 Small Volume Flow MD Provers
Flow MD Prover Model Numbers
MAX FLOW MAX FLOW DISPLACED FLANGE
MODEL MAX FLOW
RATE RATE VOLUME SIZE
NUMBER RATE M³/HR
GALONS/MIN BARRELS/HR GALLONS (STANDARD)

FMD-001 100 142 23 1 1"

FMD-003 300 428 68 2 2"
FMD-007 700 1,000 150 5 3"
FMD-015 1,500 2,100 330 10 4"
FMD-025 2,500 3,570 560 20 6"
FMD-C25* 2,500 3,570 560 20 6"
FMD-035 3,500 5,000 790 25 6"
FMD-A35 3,500 5,000 790 25 8"
FMD-060 6,000 8,500 1,350 40 10"

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 Large Volume Flow MD Provers

Flow MD Prover Model Numbers

MAX FLOW MAX FLOW DISPLACED FLANGE
MODEL MAX FLOW
RATE RATE VOLUME SIZE
NUMBER RATE M³/HR
GALONS/MIN BARRELS/HR GALLONS (STANDARD)

FMD-90 9,000 12,850 2,000 75 12"

FMD-130 13,000 18,500 2,900 90 16"
FMD-200 20,000 28,000 4,500 140 20"
FMD-245 24,500 35,000 5,565 168 20"

11/1/2017 Flow Management Devices 29

 MYTH
SVP Technology is Good, but…….

Doesn’t work on
crude oil

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 Crude Oil Applications w/ Sand & Particulate
Contamination
Sand/Trash are a legitimate concern, but….

Solution: SST Chrome Plated flow tube & piston design is

significantly more durable than lined or unlined sphere
provers

Field Repairs: MD Provers can be repaired and calibrated

in 1-day.

History: SVPs have 2 decades of successful crude

applications
 Product Compatibility
If you can pump it or meter it, we can prove it!

• Crude Oil (Light, Intermediate, and Heavy)

• Hot Bitumen
• Refined Product
• NGLs (Ethane, Propane, Butane, etc.)
• LNG (High Pressure & Atmospheric Cryogenic)
• Ammonia
 MYTH
SVP Technology is Good, but…….

“Self-destruct”
at high flow
rates

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 Flow MD Quality Construction

• Four Year Factory Warranty!!!

• Smooth drive assembly operation

• Minimal flow disruption
• No sudden changes in flow velocity
 MYTH
SVP Technology is Good, but…….

Doesn’t work
with
manufactured
pulse
technologies

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 Pulse Interpolation
Pulse Interpolation (used in lieu of 10,000 pulses)

▪ Computer Assisted High Speed Microprocessor Based

Timer that enhances:
(1) meter whole pulses,
(2) time to collect whole pulses,
(3) prover calibrated volume (known),
(4) prover transit time (time between detectors).
▪ Also used w/ Helical Turbines & Conventional Provers
▪ Reduces the number of pulses required
 Prover Compatibility
Evolution of Flow Meter Technologies

PD Meters Turbine Meter Coriolis Meters Ultrasonic Meters

1940’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s
(Mechanical/MiP) (Mechanical/MiP) (MiP) (MiP)

FMD Provers are compatible with all types

of custody tansfer flow meters
 MYTH
SVP Technology is Good, but…….

Are only used

as portable
applications

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Stationary FMD Provers
Stationary FMD Provers
Stationary FMD Provers
 Let’s Evaluate…
PRICE – PERFORMANCE - SERVICE
CAPEX (Front End Cost) Benefits
• Competitive Price - FMD Factory Tech Start Up - Small Footprint
OPEX (Operational Expense) Benefits
• Simplified Field Calibration - 4 Hour Gravimetric
• Factory Commissioning – Expert on Site
• Four Year Factory Warranty!!!
Performance & Service
• Greater Accuracy (Utilize Gravimetric Certification)
• Smooth Drive Assembly Operation
• Operational Range of 1000: 1 turndown
• Minimal flow disruption, no sudden changes in flow velocity
• Ease of Access to All Components
Software & Electronics Package
• Internal Self Diagnostics & Self Verification Options
Questions?

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