Portable Verification System And Method For Use In Verifying A Gas Pipeline Flow Meter When In Field

A method of verifying a first in-field gas flow meter when connected to a first main pipeline section transporting natural gas, the first in-field gas flow meter connected to the first main pipeline section by a first in-field gas flow meter run having a first piping geometry, the first in-field gas flow meter previously calibrated for use with the first piping geometry, the method comprising;

• completing a circuit between the first in-field gas flow meter run, a portable verification system, and the first main pipeline section;
• permitting the natural gas to flow from the first main pipeline section through the first in-field gas flow meter run and into and through the portable verification system and back into the first main pipeline section;
• and
• measuring an amount of natural gas flowing through the first in-field gas flow meter run and through the portable verification system;
• wherein the portable verification system comprises:
• a wheeled trailer;
• a reference meter run having a second different piping geometry and including a single meter tube, the reference meter run mounted on the wheeled trailer and independent of that of the first piping geometry;
• and
• an ultrasonic gas flow meter contained by the single meter tube and calibrated for use with the second different piping geometry;
• and
• a field adjustable piping section having a third different piping geometry;
• the third different piping geometry further including:
• an inlet piping of effective length for use in ultrasonic gas flow measurement and connected at one end to an inlet end of the single meter tube;
• an outlet piping of effective length for use in ultrasonic gas flow measurement and connected at one end to an outlet end of the single meter tube;
• and
• the fourth different piping geometry including
• an adjustable inlet piping connectable at one end to the inlet piping of the reference meter run and at another end to a downstream end of the first in-field gas flow meter run;
• and
• an adjustable outlet piping connectable at one end to the outlet piping of the reference meter run and at another end to the first main pipeline section;
• the adjustable inlet and outlet piping configured for adjustment in horizontal length, vertical height, and clock position relative to a horizontal plane, said adjustment not affecting a gas flow measurement of the ultrasonic gas flow meter of the reference meter run;
• wherein the completing the circuit includes adjusting the field adjustable section, the field adjustable section when in a connected state not affecting a gas flow measurement of the ultrasonic gas flow meter of the reference meter run.