more zed competition out there every dayIn-situ oil sands extraction is expensive, and requires a lot of steam. To ensure optimal gas flow and steam temperature, mechanical flow meters known as orifice plates or 'differential pressure' meters have been the industry standard for years. But this type of meter inhibits the gas flow and is powered by electricity - likely not the safest option when dealing with a flammable product.
Optical technology - using light beams to measure gas flow - might be the wave of the future in this industry. Optical devices measure the time it takes tiny, naturally occurring particles in the gas stream to pass between two parallel, low-power lasers directed into the stream. There are no moving parts, no mechanical wear, no wires and, most importantly, no sparks. It also involves little time-consuming field calibration for installation or maintenance. Photon Control President Robert Blair estimates, "light technology lowers the installation costs and can save companies as much as two-third the cost of mechanical technologies."
Another benefit of light versus mechanical is that light can measure low pressure gas deposits, such as that from coalbed methane and shallow or associated gas as well as casing gas from oil wells. Coalbed methane, in particular, is low pressure and low volume, thus the lower the cost and restriction of the flow meters, the more economical these deposits will become.
Vancouver-based Photon Control (TSX: V.PHO) is developing this laser-based technology, and says that light can distinguish gas and liquid fractions in the flow of steam due to their distinct optical properties. Dr. Ivan Melnik, Photon's Chief Technical Officer, says "these microscopic particles are distinguishable by laser much like dust particles are when you shine a light on them - you see them sparkle." Dr. Melnik has a Ph.D. in Optics from the National Technical University of the Ukraine and has held positions at the Institute for Laser Technology and Measurement Techniques in Ulm, Germany and at Simon Fraser University.
Photon's optical steam meter is undergoing trials with a number of the big oil sands producers, says Photon President Robert Blair. Blair, former chairman of Nova Corporation, argues that the steam meters are ideal for the oil sands industry, as the light readings would likely be effective in keeping temperatures at optimal levels, reducing the amount of wasted natural gas.
John Wearing, Vice President of Operations at Quadrise Canada Fuel Systems Inc., is familiar with Photon's technology in his company's dealings with Deer Creek Energy (TSX: T.DCE), which was recently acquired by French giant Total SA. Wearing says Photon has an "interesting idea," and that the company "might be able to monitor and control what steam is going where." He explained that the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process used with the in situ oil sands recovery is optimal when there is about 80% steam and 20% liquid. Otherwise, the temperature is too hot and natural gas is wasted. Photon 's optical steam meter, he says, could also provide time savings for the end-users since there be would be little need for manual intervention. Mr. Wearing is a Professional Engineer with 30 years experience in managing and directing all aspects of oil and gas engineering and field operations.
Light, though, isn't the only way to measure gas flow. A turbine meter is another mechanical means, made by companies such as Flowstar Technologies of Edmonton. Yokogawa, of Japan, produces a magnetic flow meter. Schubert & Salzer Control Systems manufactures a flow meter that uses ultrasound technology. And, CiDRA Corporation makes a flow meter using sonar.
Global market demand for measuring natural gas flow through pipes is estimated to be US$500 million annually, this according to Flow Research, a market research firm in the U.S. that conducts studies of the worldwide flow meter market. The "new technology" flow meter market was "nearly US$1.4 billion in 2000 and increasing at an average annual rate of 8.8% through 2005." (Flow Research & Ducker Worldwide, 2003)
The U.S Department of Energy estimates that consumption of natural gas in the United States is growing at faster rate than any other primary source of energy and has increased 35% during the past decade. The Alberta Energy Board's decision to corral a significant volume of natural gas to ensure it will be available for oil sands use will undoubtedly add to the demand/supply imbalance in North America.
The natural gas pipeline market worldwide is estimated at US$7 billion dollars a year and growing. The National Petroleum Council in the United States estimates that 38,000 miles of new interstate gas transmission lines and 255,000 miles of new gas distribution lines could be required to meet future natural gas demand by 2015, requiring investment approaching $1 trillion. Global construction of pipelines is expected to accelerate demand for meter manufacturing capacity worldwide, as China begins a rapid program of gas pipeline infrastructure construction in the upcoming decades.