Today, Australia is the second largest exporter for LNG in the world with high growth rates in gas production. The Roma gas field was one of the first discovered fields in Australia. The field covers approximately 3000 km². Since the 60’s gas has been produced from the field. Originally the gas was extracted from lime stones, but since 1988 it is produced from coal seam formations. Since than the gas production has continuously expanded. The produced gas from the Roma field is transported via pipelines to the LNG Terminal in Curtis Island, near Gladstone. There the gas is liquefied and shipped via LNG tanks mainly to Korea and Japan. One of the main gas producers in the region is company Santos. Since 1954 Santos invests in production, processing and transport of natural gas from the Roma field.
Santos relies on metering systems solution competence from SICK
In 2018 the production capacity was increased – once again. A new pre-processing plant was built. The central element of the facility are two metering skids; one for internal allocation and one for custody transfer measurement, exporting the gas to the LNG terminal.
The metering systems are particularly designed to meet the requirements of the Australian market for gas measuring systems. The process pressure is between 17 and 22 barg. The flow rate goes from 13 to 132 MMSCFD (15.000 – 155.000 Nm³/h). Both measuring skids are equipped with 16” (DN400) FLOWSIC600-XT ultrasonic gas flow meters in Class 300. The gas is measured after the first compression but before the final cleaning and liquification.
The first FLOWSKID600 metering skid is used for internal allocation and uses a FLOWSIC600-XT Quatro. The principle of having two metering systems, two independent 4-path meters, in one meter body allows redundancy at minimal space. The skid was designed very compact but ensuring measurement availability at all times.
The second metering skid is used for custody transfer and designed in a Z-configuration. Two FLOWSIC600-XT 4-path meters are used. The gas can still be dirty and contaminated with small coal seam particles, condensate or oil droplets. However, the robust ultrasonic technology copes with the gas properties and ensures reliable measures.
Measurement data and efficiency always under control
On both skids the measured data from the meters, pressure and temperature transmitters and the gas chromatograph is gathered and normalized by the flow computer FLOW-X.
For both FLOWSKID600 metering skids, Santos trusted in SICK. The collaboration during the design phase, as well as delivery and commissioning of the two complete metering skids was close and always timely. The early involvement of the supplier ensured a most economical skid design and professional project accomplishment.
Flow metering systems from SICK: Lowest uncertainty. Precise measurement.
Flow metering systems from SICK incorporate leading ultrasonic metering technology and are delivered as customized turnkey solutions in the form of metering skids or metering runs. The use of the ultrasonic flow meter, as the heart of the system, ensures precise measurement of the gas. The requirement for lowest measurement uncertainty will fulfill all requirements for custody and non-custody transfer purposes.
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