Monitor, Verify and Trust.

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  • Copious Melbourne, New Yourk

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  • Monday to Saturday

  • +1(123) 456 567

  • support@copious.com

  • Manhattan Hall,

  • Copious Melbourne, New Yourk

  • 08:00AM - 05:00PM

  • Monday to Saturday

If it Isn’t Broke Don’t Fix It!

A South American natural gas station 4” 0.5β orifice meter was due for its Routine Scheduled Maintenance (see Figure 1). The auditor installed a Prognosis system which showed the orifice meter operating correctly (see Figure 2). However, this was the first time the operator had seen Prognosis. They insisted on a full manual audit of the orifice meter regardless.

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Fig 1. 4”, 0.5β Orifice Meter

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Fig 2. As Found Prognosis Result

After two days of work, disconnecting Pressure and DP transmitters and recalibrating them, pulling the plate, examining it for damage and re-measuring it, boroscoping the meter run to check for upstream blockages and meter run contamination, double checking the flow computer settings etc. the auditors concluded what Prognosis had told them in the first 10 minutes. There was nothing wrong with the meter.

With no verification system (powered by ‘Prognosis’) the orifice meter is effectively run blind, with the user hoping rather than knowing the meter is operating correctly. Such a user uses Routine Scheduled Maintenance, ‘RSM’, i.e. regular maintenance checks. These repeat maintenance checks are time consuming, costly, potentially hazardous, and all too often completely unnecessary. However, ‘Prognosis’ facilitates Condition Base Maintenance ‘CBM’, i.e. the practice of carrying out maintenance only once the meter is known to require maintenance. This is a more economical maintenance practice, makes technicians more efficient, and is safer. Don’t break containment if it’s not absolutely necessary. If it isn’t broke don’t try and fix it!