Success in measuring the flow of the most viscous oil in Brazil at the North Capixaba Terminal
Transpetro's North Capixaba Terminal (TNC), in São Mateus-ES, transfers the heavy oil produced and treated in the Fazenda Alegre Field, in addition to receiving the light oil drained through the São Mateus Pipeline. This oil has very peculiar characteristics, with a viscosity of up to 3000 Cp, which makes its measurement difficult.
In March, Controletron's ultrasonic flow meters were commissioned by Fluxo engineers in the heavy oil lines of Transpetro's recently opened North Capixaba Terminal (TNC). The Controletron application was the only one to obtain Petrobras approval. The perfect functioning of the 1010PV type meters highlighted Controletron as the only supplier qualified for flow measurements of fluids with high viscosity levels.
Controltron's clamp-on, non-intrusive model 1010PV is designed to achieve custody transfer accuracy with better performance than traditional intrusive flowmeters. With the patented “Wide-Beam” technology, the transducers generate a strong and stable signal, which extends along the contact between the transducers and the piping. This mechanism allows flow measurement of different types of liquids, with high viscosities and varying temperatures, without the need to reposition or recalibrate the transducers.
The 1010PV meters are of the “non-intrusive” type, that is, mounted on the piping and without contact with the fluid. This feature prevents pressure loss in the system and eliminates costs with valves, flanges, bypass lines, among others.
At TNC, the meters are installed on the heavy oil receiving lines in Fazenda Alegre, for measuring oily water and for exporting to the monobuoy. In this last installation, the equipment performs the measurement of light and heavy oil, in a 20” diameter pipe, and remains stable and accurate in its measurement, regardless of the wide variation in viscosity and fluid mixture.