Core Components of a Metering Skid
A metering skid is a skid-mounted device integrating metering, control, safety and other functions on a steel platform. Its core components can be divided into four categories: metering core, process control, safety protection, and data control. Components vary slightly for different media (natural gas, crude oil, etc.). The general core components are as follows:
I. Core Metering Components (Guarantee of Metering Accuracy)
Flow Meter
The core measuring unit of the metering skid, used for accurately measuring fluid flow.
Ultrasonic flow meters, turbine flow meters, and rotary piston flow meters are commonly used in natural gas metering skids; mass flow meters and positive displacement flow meters are often applied for crude oil and refined oil products.
Flow Computer / Flow Totalizer
Receives signals from the flow meter, performs flow compensation and data accumulation for settlement, serving as the core of metering data processing.
Upstream and Downstream Straight Pipes
Ensures stable fluid flow patterns, eliminates vortex interference, and guarantees the measurement accuracy of the flow meter.
II. Process Control Components (Fluid Conveyance and Regulation)
Filter
Removes impurities and dust from the fluid to protect precision components such as flow meters and valves.
Pressure Regulator / Reducing Valve
Essential for natural gas metering skids, regulating high-pressure fluid to a stable pressure required by downstream systems.
Valve Assembly
Includes shut-off valves, ball valves, gate valves, and reversing valves for controlling fluid on/off, switching flow directions, and regulating flow rate.
Header Pipe / Process Pipeline
Integrates fluid from multiple branches, realizes parallel metering with multiple flow meters, and ensures uniform fluid distribution.
III. Safety Protection Components (System Safety Assurance)
Emergency Shutdown Valve (ESDV)
Quickly cuts off fluid supply in case of overpressure, leakage or other abnormalities to prevent accident escalation.
Safety Relief Valve / Safety Valve
Automatically releases pressure when the system is overpressurized to protect pipelines and equipment.
Pressure / Temperature Transmitters
Monitor fluid pressure and temperature in real time, providing data for flow compensation and safety monitoring.
Odorization System (Exclusive for Natural Gas)
Adds odorant to natural gas for leak detection and improves gas supply safety.
IV. Data Control and Auxiliary Components (System Operation and Management)
PLC / RTU Control System
Realizes automatic control, data acquisition, remote monitoring and alarm linkage, acting as the intelligent core of the skid.
Prover Pipe (Exclusive for Crude Oil Export)
Used for online calibration of flow meter accuracy to ensure metering correctness.
Oil-Gas Separator (Exclusive for Crude Oil / Shale Gas)
Separates oil, gas and water phases to create conditions for accurate metering.
Steel Skid Base
Integrates and installs all components, facilitating factory prefabrication, overall transportation and rapid on-site installation.
