AStudy of the Orifice Well Tester and Critical Flow Prover

lOUIS B. lESEM
JOHN J. McKETTA, JR.

TEXAS PETROLEUM RESEARCH COMMITTEE

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

MEMBER AIME

GEORGE H. FANCHER
MEMBER AIME

INTRODUCTION
The proration of oil produced in
the field frequently is based partially
or entirely upon the gas-oil ratio of
wells. The measurement of the gasoil ratio is one of the more important field tests in regulatory and proration work, and the test always
should be conducted according to
standardized methods and procedure.
Obviously, the gas-oil ratio and
the volume of gas produced by a
well depend upon many factors but
should be independent of the method
of measurement and of the devices
used to measure gas and oil. Consequently, the volume of gas accompanying a barrel of oil produced by
a weI! may be measured by any reliable and accurate device or instrument. Frequently either a critical
flow prover or an orifice well tester
is used for this purpose, and for a
particular well the same rate of flow
of gas should be obtained regardless
of whether a critical flow prover or
an orifice well tester is employed in
the test.
In Texas, when using either instrument, either Capacity Table 1
or 5' is employed in making the
necessary computations. If the tables
are used, a discrepancy always is
found whenever the two instruments
are compared by extrapolation to the
Original manuscript received in Society of
Petroleum Engineers Office on Feb. 18, 1957,
Revised manuscript received July 10. 1957.
Paper presented at joint University of T'exas
-Texas A&M Student Chapter Regional
Meeting in Austin, Feb. 14-15, 1957.
lReferences given at end of paper
SEPTEMBER, ] 957

SPE-812-G

TEXAS PETROLEUM RESEARCH COMMITTEE

AUSTIN, TEX.

same conditions of flow. Clearly,

Tables 1 and 5 must be at fault in
some respects.
The orifice well tester and the Bureau of Mines type of critical flow
prover are essentially the same instrument; both devices utilize a
square-edged orifice V8 in. in diameter as the primary element, and
both freely discharge gas to the atmosphere.
Tables for the orifice well tester'
have been published in the ranges
of 0 to 15 in. of water and 0 to 40
in. of mercury (Hg) differential in
pressure. Coefficients for the critical
flow prover have been published for
differentials in pressure greater than
75 psia. An extrapolation of either
differs from the other set of data as
much as 18 per cent at some points.
No immediately obvious reasons for
the discrepancy was found, and data
available from the literature were
insufficient to effect reconciliation.
Consequently, a series (\f experiments
was performed to check the available data and to determine discharge
coefficients for the two devices in an
overlapping range of differential pressure.
The correlating equation used in
preparation of tables such as Tables
1 and 5' is the so-called hydraulic
equation,
(1)
Q = C,v'h .
The tables cover orifice sizes from
VB through 11,4 in.
A second set of tables, for use
with greater differentials in pressure,
apply only to the %, 1, and 1 Y4 -in.

orifice plates over a pressure range

of 0 to 40 in. of Hg. The correlating
equation used in preparation of the
tables is
Q

_ C

'H(29.32 + 0.3H)
G

-'~

(2)

Each of these equations is valid only

for the range to which it has been
applied, and neither equation is valid
for extrapolation.
Theoretical equations for flow
through an orifice are based upon
assumptions of fractionless flow and
an emergent jet the size of the
orifice. A multiplier, Cd' called the
discharge coefficient, is inserted into
the theoretical expression to compensate for both frictional losses and
the contraction of the jet experienced
in the plane of the orifice. Buckingham" shows that Cd should vary with
the ratio of upstream to downstream
pressure for flow of a compressible
fluid at any average linear velocity
through the orifice less than the
velocity of sound. Work published
by the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics' indicates that the
variation continues into the so-called
critical flow region until the vena
contracta coincides with the plane
of the orifice. The NACA work,
however, does not indicate a leveling off of the coefficient. The work
of the Bureau of Mines' for the critical flow prover was based on differential pressures greater than 75 psi
and indicates that the discharge coefficient, Cd, is constant in this region
at a value of about 0.86.
61

On the basis of the work which has

been cited, experiments were initiated to
determine the discharge coefficients for

the orifice well tester in those

regions where data were
missing and to check published data.

TABLE 1 - CAPACITIES FOR 2 IN. ORIFICE WELL

TESTER'; Mel/DAY, PRESSURE BASE, 14.65 PSIA SP.
GR. 0.60; BASE AND FLOWING TEMPERATURE, 60F
Pressure,
Inches of
Woter

1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.4
J.6
3.8
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
22.
24.
26.
28.
30.
32.
34.
36.
38.
40.
42.
44.
46.
48.
50.
52.
54.
~6.

58.
60.
62.
64.
66.
68.
70.
72.
74.
76.
78.
80.
82.
84.
86.
88.
90.
92.
94.
96.
98.
100.

EXPERIMENTAL
EQUIPMENT

Orifice Size, Inches

'/.

'I.

.379
.415
.499
.480
.509
.536
.562
.587
.611
.635
.658
.679
.700
.720
.740
.759
.805
.850
.891
.931
.969
1.01
1.08
1.14
1.20
1.27
1.32
1.38
1.43
1.48
1.53
1.58
1.62
1.67
1.71
1.80
1.88
1.96
2.04
2.11
2.19
2.26
2.32
2.39
2.46
2.52
2.58
2.64
2.70
2.76
2.82
2.87
2.93
2.98
3.04
3.09
3.14
3.19
3.25
3.30
3.35
3.40
3.44
3.49
3.54
3.59
3.64
3.69
3.73
3.78
3.83
3.87
3.92
3.96
4.00

'/2

3f4

6.08
6.67
7.20
7.70
8.16
8.61
9.03
9.43
9.81
10.2
10.6
10.9
11.2
11.6
11.9
12.2
12.9
13.6
14.3
14.9
15.6
16.2
17.3
18.3
19.3
20.3
21.2
22.1
22.9
23.8
24.6
25.3
.26.1
26.8
27.5
28.9
30.2
31.5
32.7
33.9
35.1
36.2
37.3
38.4
39.4
40.4
41.4
42.3
43.4
44.2
45.2
46.1
47.0
47.9
48.8
49.5
50.4
51.2
52.1
52.9
53.7
54.5
55.2
56.0
56.8
57.6
58.3
59.1
59.9
60.6
61.4
62.1
62.8
63.5
64.2

13.9
15.2
16.4
17.6
18.6
19.6
20.6
21.5
22.4
23.3
24.1
24.9
25.6
26.4
27.1
27.8
29.5
31.1
32.6
34.1
35.5
36.9
39.4
41.8
44.1
46.3
48.4
50.4
52.3
54.2
56.0
57.8
59.4
61.1
62.7
65.9
68.9
71.7
74.5
77.2
79.9
82.4
84.9
87.3
89.7
92.0
94.3
96.4
98.7
101.0
103
105
107
109
111
113
115
117
118
120
122
124
126
127
129
131
133
134
136
138
139
141
143
144
146

3/.

1.51 3.41
1.66 3.74
1.79 4.04
1.92 4.32
2.03 4.58
2.14 4.83
2.25 5.07
2.35 5.29
2.45 5.51
2.54 5.72
2.63 5.92
2.72 6.12
2.80 6.31
2.88 6.49
2.96 6.67
3.04 6.84
3.22 7.25
3.40 7.66
3.57 8.03
3.72 8.39
3.88 8.73
4.03 9.07
4.31 9.70
4.5710.3
4.82 10.9
5.06 11.4
5.29 11.9
5.51 12.4
5.72 12.9
5.93 13.3
6.12 13.8
6.32 14.2
6.5014.6
6.69 15.1
6.86 15.4
7.20 16.2
7.53 17.0
7.85 17.7
8.16 18.4
8.45 19.0
8.74 19.7
9.02 20.3
9.30 20.9
9.56 21.5
9.82 22.1
10.1 22.7
10.3 23.3
10.6 23.8
10.8 24.3
,11.0 24.8
11.3 25.4
11.5 25.9
11.7 26.4
11.9 26.9
12.2 27.4
12.4 27.8
12.6 28.3
12.8 28.8
13.0 29.2
13.2 29.7
13.4 30.2
13.6 30.6
13.8 31.0
14.0 31.5
14.2 31.9
14.4 32.3
14.6 32.8
14.7 33.2
14.9 33.6
15.1 34.0
15.3 34.5
15.5 34.9
15.7 35.3
15.9 35.7
16.0 36.0

1
25.6
28.1
~0.4

32.5
34.4
36.3
38.1
39.7
41.4
43.0
44.5
45.9
47.4
48.7
50.1
51.4
54.5
57.5
60.3
62.9
65.5
68.1
72.7
77.1
81.4
85.5
89.2
93.0
96.5
100.0
103.0
107
110
113
116
121
127
132
137
142
147
152
156
161
165
169
173
177
181
185
189
192
196
200
203
207
210
214
217
220
224
227
230
233
236
240
243
246
249
252
255
258
261
264
266

1'I.
44.0
48.3
52.1
55.7
59.1
62.2
65.3
68.2
70.9
73.7
76.3
78.8
81.2
83.5
85.8
88.0
93.3
98.5
103.0
108
112
117
124
132
139
146
152
159
165
171
176
182
187
192
197
206
216
225
233
241
249
257
264
272
279
286
293
299
306
312
318
324
330
336
342
347
353
358
364
369
375
380
385
390
395
400
405
410
415
420
425
430
434
439
443

The experimental setup

used for the determination
of discharge coefficients was
a 2-in. orifice meter run with
flange taps designed to AGN
specifications and a commercial orifice well tester discharging freely to the atmosphere and located approximately 20 pipe diameters
downstream from the metering orifice. A 2-in. air line
supplied compressed air. Flow
was controlled by a gate
valve III the air line. Differential in pressure was measured with either mercury or
water manometers as required, and a Bourdon-type
pressure gauge was used to
check the upstream static
pressure at the meter. Four
different sets of orifice well
tester plates were tested: brass
plates VB-in. thick, aluminum
plates lis -in. thick, brass
plates 1/16-in. thick, and
thin-edged stainless steel
plates designed according to
ASME-AGA specifications.
EXPERIMENTAL
PROCEDURE
A meter plate of appropriate size was selected to maintain differential III pressure
across the metering orifice
such that the flow through
this orifice would be treated
as that of an incompressible
fluid. The orifice to be tested
was installed in the tester and
flow established. After equilibrium had been achieved

'1.75 in. ID.

TABLE 2 - CAPACITIES FOR 2 IN. ORIFICE WELL
TESTER'; Mel/DAY, PRESSURE BASE, 14.65 PSIA SP.
GR. 0.60; BASE AND FLOWING TEMPERATURE, 60F
Pressure,
Inches of
Mercury

1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8

62

;-;-_-;-;-_O=-rc:-ifie.-,c:..::e--=S",iz=:eC'-,-,Ine.-c:.ch:;:.-es=--~

Vs

114

1.41 5.65
1.48 5.92
1.55 6.19
1.61 6.45
1.67 6.69
1.73 6.94
1.79 7.18
1.85 7.40
1.90 7.62
1.96 7.84
2.01 8.04
2.11 8.46
2.21 8.84
2.30 9.21
2.40 9.59

3/8

12.7
13.3
13.9
14.5
15.1
15.6
16.2
16.7
17.2
17.7
18.1
19.0
19.9
20.7
21.6

112

3/4

22.6
23.7
24.8
25.9
26.9
27.8
28.8
29.7
30.6
31.4
32.3
33.9
35.5
37.0
38.5

51.6
54.1
56.6
59.0
61.2
63.4
65.6
67.6
69.6
71.6
73.5
77.3
80.8
84.2
87.6

95.3
99.9
104.0
109
113
117
121
125
128
132
135
142
149
155
161

163.0
170
178
185
192
199
206
212
218
224
:lJO

241
252
262
272

~120

~800

40

ro

UPSTREAM PRESSURE,lNCttES Of MERCURY

~
A8S0LUfE

FIG. I-TYPICAL CAPACITY

CURVE, D/T = 2.

TABLE 2 (Continued)
Pressure,
Inches of

Orifice Size, Inches

Mercury

V8

3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.

2.48 9.93
2.57 10.3
2.65 10.6
2.73 10.9
2.81 11.2
2.89 11.6
3.07 12.3
3.25 13.0
3.42 13.7
3.59 14.3
3.75 15.0
3.90 15.6
4.20 16.8
4.48 17.9
4.75 19.0
5.02 20.1
5.2721.1
5.52 22.1
5.76 23.0
5.99 24.0
6.23 24.9
6.44 25.8
6.67 26.7
6.89 27.6
7.1028.4
7.31 29.2
7.51 30.1
7.71 30.8
7.91 31.6
8.10 32.4
8.31 33.2
8.50 34.0
8.70 34.8
8.90 35.6
9.10 36.4
9.29 37.2
9.49 38.0
9.70 38.8
9.89 39.6
10.1 40.3
10.3 41.1
10.5 41.9
10.7 42.7
10.9 43.5
11.0 44.2
11.2 44.9
11.4 45.7
11.6 46.5
11.8 47.2
12.0 48.0
12.2 48.7
12.4 49.5
12.6 50.2
12.8 51.0
12.9 51.7
13.1 52.5
13.3 53.2
13.5 53.9
13.7 54.7
13.8 55.4
14.0 56.1
14.2 56.8
14.4 57.6
'14.6 58.3
14.7 59.0
14.9 59.7
15.1 60.4
15.3 61.2
15.5 61.8
15.6 62.6
15.8 63.2
16.0 64.0
16.2 64.6
16.3 65.4
16.5 66.0
16.7 66.7
16.9 67.4
17.0 68.1
17.2 68.8
17.4 69.5
17.6 70.3
17.7 70.9
17.9 71.7
18.1 72.4
18.3 73.1
18.4 73.8
18.6 74.4
18.8 75.2
19.0 75.9
19.1 76.5
19.3 77.2
19.5 78.0
19.7 78.6
19.8 79.3
20.0 80.0
20.2 80.7
20.4 81.4
20.5 82.1
20.7 82.9
20.9 83.5
21.1 84.2
21.2 85.0
21.4 85.6
21.6 86.3
21.8 87.1

1/4

22.4
23.1
23.9
24.6
25.3
26.0
27.7
29.3
30.8
32.3
33.7
35.1
37.8
40.4
42.8
45.2
47.4
49.7
51.8
53.9
56.1
58.0
60.1
62.0
64.0
65.8
67.7
69.4
71.2
72.9
74.8
76.5
78.3
80.1
81.9
83.6
85.4
87.3
89.0
90.8
92.5
94.3
96.0
97.8
99.4
101.0
103
105
106
108
110
111
113
115
116
118
120
121
123
125
126
128
130
131
133
134
136
138
139
141
142
144
145
147
149
150
152
153
155
156
158
160
161
163
164
166
167
169
171
172
174
175
177
178
180
182
183
185
186
188
189
191
193
194
196

39.8 90.7
41.2 93.8
42.6 96.9
43.9 99.8
45.1 103.0
46.3 105
49.3 112
52.2 119
54.9 125
57.5 131
60.1 137
62.6 142
67.3 153
71.9 163
76.2 173
80.4 183
84.5 192
88.5 201
92.3 209
96.0 218
99.8226
103.0 234
107 242
110
250
114 258
117
265
120
272
124
280
127
287
130
292
133
299
136
306
139 313
142
320
146
328
149
334
152
342
155
349
158
356
161
363
164
370
168
277
171
384
174
391
177 398
180
405
183
411
186
418
189
425
192
432
195
439
198
445
201
452
204
459
207 465
210
472
213
479
216
485
219
492
222
498
224
505
227
511
230
518
233
525
236
531
239
537
242
544
245
550
247
~'6
250
563
253
569
256
576
258
582
261
588
264
594
267
600
270
607
272
613
275
620
278
626
281
632
284
638
287
645
289
651
292
658
295
664
298
670
301
677
303
683
306
689
309
695
312
702
315
708
317 714
320
720
323
727
326
733
328
739
331
746
334 752
337
758
340
765
343
771
345
777
348
784

~3f4~~~--I-~-.167
172
178
183
188
193
206
217
229
239
250
260
279
298
315
332
348
264
380
395
410
424
438
452
466
479
492
505
517
529
543
555
568
580
594
606
619
633
646
658
671
684
696
709
721
733
746
758
770
783
796
807
820
832
844
857
868
880
893
904
916
927
919
952
962
974
986
998
1010
1020
1030
1040
1050
1070
1080
1090
1100
1110
1120
1130
1140
1150
1170
1180
1190
1200
1210
1220
1230
1240
1270
1280
1290
1300
1310
1320
1330
1340
1360
1370
1380
1390
1400
1410
1420

282
291
300
309
318
326
346
365
383
400
417
433
464
493
520
547
573
598
622
645
669
690
713
735
756
776
797
816
835
853
875
895
916
937
958
978
999
1020
1040
1060
1080
1110
1130
1150
1160
1180
1200
1220
1240
1260
1280
1310
1330
1350
1360
1380
1400
1420
1440
1450
1470
1500
1520
1540
1550
1570
1 590
1610
1630
1640
1660
1680
1710
1720
1740
1760
1780
1790
1810
1830
1850
1860
1880
1910
1930
1940
1960
1980
2000
1210
2030
2050
2070
2080
2110
2130
2150
2160
2180
2200
2220
2230
2250
2270
2300

'1.75 in. ID.

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

.86C---:::=~~_=_
-~--~--~-~-- 3-.84
- :

TABLE 3-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE MULTIPLIERS

Tester
Pressure

In. of Water

1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
15.0
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
24.0
28.0
32.0
36.0
40.0
44.0
48.0
52.0
56.0
60.0
64.0
68.0
72.0
76.0
80.0
84.0
88.0
92.0
96.0
100.0

Atmospheric Pressure, Inches of Mercury

27.7
.9707
.9708
.9709
.9710
.9710
.9711
.9712
.9712
.9713
.9714
.9715
.9715
.9716
.9717
.9717
.9718
.9719
.9719
.9720
.9721
.9723
.9726
.9729
.9731
.9734
.9736
.9738
.9741
.9743
.9745
.9748
.9750
.9752
.9754
.9756
.9758
.9760
.9762
.9764
.9766

28.5
.9846
.9847
.9847
.9847
.9848
.9848
.9848
.9849
.9849
.9850
.9850
.9850
.9851
.9851
.9151
.9852
.9852
.9852
.9853
.9853
.9855
.9856
.9857
. 9859
.9860
.9861
.9862
.9864
.9865
.9866
.9867
.9868
.9869
.9870
.9872
.9873
.9874
.9875
.9876
.9877

26.9
.9566
.9568
.9569
.9570
.9571
.9572
.9573
.9574
.9575
.9576
.9577
.9578
.9579
.9580
.9581
.9582
.9583
.9585
.9586
.9587
.9591
.9594
.9598
.9602
.9606
.9609
.9613
.9616
.9620
.9623
.9626
.9630
.9633
.9636
.9639
.9642
.9645
.9648
.9651
.9654

26.0
.9406
.9407
.9409
.9410
.9412
.9413
.9415
.9416
.9418
.9419
.9420
.9422
.9423
.9425
.9426
.9428
.9429
.9430
.9432
.9433
.9439
.9444
.9449
.9455
.9460
.9465
9470
.9475
.9479
.9484
.9488
.9493
.9497
.9502
.9506
.9510
.9514
.9518
.9522
.9526

25.1
.9242
.9244
.9246
.9248
.9250
.9252
.9253
.9255
.9257
.9259
.9261
.9263
.9265
.9267
.9268
.9270
.9272
.9274
.9276
.9277
.9285
.9291
.9298
.9305
.9312
.9318
.9324
.9331
.9337
.9343
.9348
.9354
.9360
.9365
.9371
.9376
.9382
.9387
.9392
.9397

TABLE 4-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE MULTIPLIERS

Tester
Pressure

Atmospheric Pressure, Inches of Mercury

27.7
.9716
.9726
.9734
.9742
.9750
.9757
.9764
.9770
.9776
.9782
.9787
.9793
.9797
.9802
.9807
.9811
.9815
.9819
.9823
.9826
.9830
.9833
.9836
.9840

In. of Mercury 28.5

1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
15.0
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
21.0
22.0
23.0
24.0

.9851
.9856
.9860
.9864
.9868
.9872
.9876
.9879
.9882
.9885
.9888
.9891
.9893
.9896
.9898
.9900
.9903
.9905
.9907
.9908
.9910
.9912
.9914
.9915

26.9
.9580
.9594
.9606
.9618
.9630
.9640
.9650
.9660
.9669
.9678
.9686
.9693
.9701
.9708
.9714
.9721
.9727
.9733
.9738
.9744
.9749
.9754
.9759
.9763

26.0
.9424
.9443
.9461
.9477
.9493
.9508
.9522
.9535
.9547
.9559
.9570
.9581
.9591
.9600
.9609
.9618
.9627
.9635
.9642
.9650
.9657
.9664
.9670
.9676

25.1
.9266
.9290
.9313
.9334
.9354
.9373
.9391
.9408
.9423
.9439
.9453
.9466
.9479
.9492
.9503
.9515
.9525
.9536
.9545
.9555
.9564
.9573
.9581
.9589

TABLE 5-DISCHARGE COEFFICIENTS FOR

SHARPEDGED ORI FICES*
Tester
Pressure

In. of Water

0.0
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0

Tester
Pressure

Cit In.
0.604
0.605
0.605
0.605
0.605
0.605
0.605
0.605
0.605
0.606
0.606
0.606
0.606
0.606
0.606
0.606
0.606
0.607
0.607
0.607
0.607
0.608
0.608
0.608
0.609
0.610

Tester
Pressure

of Water C"

*0/1> 8

SEPTEMBER, 1957

11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
15.0
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
34.0
36.0
38.0
40.0
42.0
44.0
46.0
48.0
50.0
52.0

0.610
0.611
0.611
0.612
0.612
0.613
0.613
0.614
0.614
0.615
0.616
0.617
0.618
0.619
0.620
0.621
0.622
0.623
0.624
0.625
0.626
0.626
0.628
0.628
0.629
0.630

In. of Water

Cd

54.0
56.0
58.0
60.0
62.0
64.0
66.0
68.0
70.0
72.0
74.0
76.0
78.0
80.0
82.0
84.0
86.0
88.0
90.0
92.0
94.0
96.0
98.0
100.0

0.631
0.632
0.633
0.633
0.634
0.635
0.636
0.637
0.638
0.639
0.639
0.640
0.641
0.642
0.643
0.644
0.645
0.646
0.647
0.648
0.649
0.650
0.650
0.651

~':'= _-_-_-_-_-_-_~-_-_

8.

DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE,

INCHES

OF

ro n

MERCURY

FIG. 2-GENERALIZED COEFFICIENTS OF DISCHARGE. FREE DIS'

CHARGE TO ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF 29.4 IN. OF MERCURY
SOLID LINES INDICATE REGIONS FOR WHICH EXPERIMENTAL
DATA WERE OBTAINED

the differential in pressure across

the metering orifice, the upstream
pressure on the orifice well tester,
and the temperature of the flow
stream were read and recorded.
This procedure was repeated a
number of times to determine the
differential pressure-capacity curve
for each orifice tested (Fig. 1).
Barometric pressure was recorded
several times during each run.
RESULTS

just prior to the linear portion of

the curve obtained by plotting the
rate of flow against pressure drop is
a region of instability and is not
reproducible. This instability is not
observed for very thick or very
thin-edged orifices. For the very
thick orifices, the vena contract a
lies between the upstream and
downstream surfaces of the orifice.
The emergent jet is attached to the
downstream edge and flow remains
stable. For the orifices of intermediate thickness, the region of instability develops as the vena contracta
moves downstream with increasing
pressure drop, with the result that
a slight change in flow rate will
cause either attachment or detachment of the emergent jet. The vena
contract a for the thin-edged plates
is always beyond the downstream
edge of the plate, and consequently
flow is stable.

The published tables for the

orifice well tester' for the range
o to 15 in. of water were checked
within the limits of experimental
error. The Bureau of Mines coefficients' for the critical flow
prover were also found to be valid
for the range above 75 in. of Hg
for all sizes of orifices tested. The
discharge coefficient for a squareedged orifice in free discharge was
found to be a function of the ratio
of downstream to upstream presure within the range 1 to 75 in.
of Hg with the ratio of orifice
diameter to edge-thickness as the
governing parameter. Above a differential of 75 in. of Hg when discharging air to atmosphere at 29.4
in. of Hg, the discharge coefficient
was constant for all ratios of diameter to thickness employed in this
work. The point at which the discharge coefficient becomes a constant seems to be a function of the
diameter to thickness ratio.

The discharge coefficient varies

with pressure drop, and a family
of curves may be obtained for
which the ratio of D to t is a parameter (Fig. 2). As the pressure
drop across the orifice is increased,
the vena contracta expands, causing an increase in the discharge
coefficient. If fluid flow were frictionless, the value of the discharge
coefficient would approach 1.0, but
the frictional effects of real fluids
limit the useful range of the coefficient from 0.83 to 0.86 for
sharp-edged orifices.

A region of unstable flow was

found for ratios of D to t of 2 and
3, and reproducible results could
not be obtained in these regions.
The region of reverse curvature

Discharge coefficients were calculated from the ratio of actual

flow rate predicted by theoretical
equations for adiabatic flow.' No
discontinuity was found in the dis63

crlarge coefficients at the point of

transition from subcritical to critical flow conditions. The average
discharge coefficient (for all orifices
tested) in the critical flow region
beyond a pressure drop of 75 in.
of Hg was 0.84. The average for
orifices with a D/t = 8.0 was 0.83,
a difference of only 1.2 per cent.
The average for the orifices for
use with the Bureau of Mines' 2-in.
critical flow prover was 0.86, a
difference of 2.4 per cent.
The capacity tables for the 2-in.
orifice well tester at differentials in
pressure less than 25 in. of Hg
were calculated from the equation
Q

K Y CD.,'
,

,l

.IP,+6 (3'
P .

(3)

in which if p, and 6P are in

inches of Hg, K = 27.284, and if
P, and 6 P are in inches of water,
K = 2.0062.
At differentials in pressure
greater than 25 in. of Hg,
Q= K'C"D,'P,
+ (3' r,'/k

vi

(4)

in which for a gas with k = 1.3 and

if P, is in inches of Hg, K' = 12.288.
Tables 1 and 2 were calculated
for free discharge to an atmospheric
pressure of 29.4 in. of Hg. If the
barometric pressure differs appreciably from 29.4 in. of Hg, the capacity of the tester must be corrected
by multiplying the table value by
the factor F.
F =

iP",,,,

~29.4 +

6P
6P'

(5)

Other corrections for pressures less

than 25 in. of Hg (gas gravity, base
or flowing temperature, pressure
base, etc.) are standard corrections
used in all orifice metering work.'
For pressures greater than 25 in. of
Hg, correction factors standard for
the critical flow prover' should be
used.
A few runs in the range 0 to 15 in.
of water differential in pressure
checked published data for the orifice
well tester for the same range within
the limits of experimental error. The
basic equation of flow for this region
may be relied upon.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Tables of the capacity of the
conventional orifice well tester with
conventional (thick) orifices for differentials in pressure ranging from
o to 15 in. of water and all ratios
of D/t as published by the American
Meter Co. and reproduced by others
are valid.
64

TABLE 6-DISCHARGE COEFFICIENTS FOR

SHARPEDGED OR I FICES*
Tester
Pressure

Tester

Pressure
In. of Mercury

("

Tester
Pressure

In of

In of

Mercury

Crt
Mercury
Crt
cc
0.723 ----''''6 l=-=.0'-'--0--.8"'2-0
0.728
62.0
0.821
0.732
63.0
0.822
0.736
64.0
0.822
0.740
65.0
0.823
0.745
66.0
0.823
0.749
67.0
0.824
0.753
68.0
0.824
0.757
69.0
0.825
0.761
70.0
0.825
0.764
71.0
0.825
0.768
72.0
0.826
0.772
73.0
0.826
0.775
74.0
0.827
0.778
75.0
0.827
0.781
76.0
0.828
0.784
77.0
0.828
0.786
78.0
0.829
0.789
79.0
0.829
0.791
80.0
0.830
0.793
81.0
0.830
0.795
82.0
0.830
0.797
83.0
0.831
0.799
84.0
0.831
0.801
85.0
0.831
0.803
86.0
0.831
0.804
87.0
0.832
0.806
88.0
0.832
0.808
89.0
0.832
0.809
90.0
0.832
0.811
91.0
0.833
0.812
92.0
0.833
0.813
93.0
0.833
0.814
94.0
0.834
0.815
95.0
0.834
0.816
96.0
0.834
0.817
97.0
0.835
0.818
98.0
0.835
0.819
99.0
0.835
0.819
100.0
0.836

-c0--."0~--'-'-'--'----;c0-=:.67
04c---:2"'1=-=.0c-'1.1
0.612
22.0
1.2
0.613
23.0
1.3
0.614
24.0
1.4
0.614
25.0
1.5
0.615
26.0
1.6
0.616
27.0
1.7
0.616
28.0
1.8
0.617
29.0
1.9
0.618
30.0
2.0
0.618
31.0
2.2
0.620
32.0
2.4
0.621
33.0
2.6
0.622
34.0
2.8
0.624
35.0
3.0
0.625
36.0
3.2
0.626
37.0
3.4
0.628
38.0
3.6
0.629
39.0
3.8
0.630
40.0
4.0
0.631
41.0
4.5
0.634
42.0
5.0
0.637
43.0
5.5
0.640
44.0
6.0
0.643
45.0
6.5
0.646
46.0
7.0
0.649
47.0
8.0
0.655
48.0
9.0
0.661
49.0
10.0
0.666
50.0
11.0
0.672
51.0
12.0
0.677
52.0
13.0
0.683
53.0
14.0
0.688
54.0
15.0
0.693
55.0
16.0
0.699
56.0
17.0
0.703
57.0
18.0
0.709
58.0
19.0
0.714
59.0
20.0
0.719
60.0

*0/1> 8

Tables 1 and 2 have been prepared

for thesc orifices covering the range
from 1 in. of water to 100 in. of
Hg differential in pressure. Above
100 in. of Hg, Eq. 4 can be used
to calculate the capacity of orifice
plates, and no discrepancies will be
observed over the entire range of
pressures.
RECOMMENDATraNS

ASME-AGA specifications should

be used for the construction of
orifice plates for the orifice well
tester. These plates should be made
of stainless steel or Monel metal.
Official manuals of procedure
should require the use of such
plates and appropriate tables in all
gas-oil ratio work.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge
the help of the members of the Texas Petroleum Research Committee
and to thank them for permission
to prepare and publish this paper.
DEFINITION OF SYMBOLS

2. Coefficients developed by the

Bureau of Mines for the conventional
critical flow prover and the capacities dependent on these coefficients
are valid for upstream pressures
greater than 40 psi and all ratios
of D to t.
3. An unstable state of flow
develops between differentials in
pressure of 15 in. of water and 40
psi for ratios of D to t between 1
and 4. Because of this condition of
instability and variation in cofficients
of discharge with ratios of upstream
to downstream pressures, neither the
tables usually supplied with the orifice well tester nor those applicable
to the usual critical flow prover can
be extrapolated for use in this intermediate region of differential in pressure.
4. Orifice plates designed in accordance with ASME-AGA" specifications for sharp-edged orifices (made
of stainless steel to resist corrosion,
wear, and tear) and used in the
orifice well tester are accurate, reliable, and satisfactory at all rates
of flow and differentials in pressure
likely to be encountered in practical gas-oil ratio work in the field.
Only one set oj tables and one instrument, the orifice well tester, and
one set oj sharp-edged orifices are
required. Obviously the new sharpedged orifice plates can be used in
the conventional orifice well tester.

t
h

=
=
=

C
Cd

=
=

Q =
G =
K =
K'

Y, =
P =
6P =

(3 =
r,
k

=
=

orifice diameter, inches

orifice thickness, inches
differential pressure, inches of
water
differential pressure, inches of
Hg
meter coefficient
dimensionless discharge coefficient
flow rate
gas gravity (air = 1.0)
dimensional constant for subcritical flow
dimensional constant for critical flow
dimensionless expansion factor, derived on the basis of
frictionless adiabatic flow
absolute upstream pressure
differential pressure across the
orifice; i. e., tester pressure
ratio of orifice diameter to
pipe diameter
critical pressure ratio
specific heat ratio
REFERENCES

1. "Pamphlet for Gas-Oil Ratio Determination," Railroad Commission of

Texas, Engr. Dept., 1954.
2. "Open Flow Capacities of Wells,"
American Meter Co., Inc., Metric
Metal Works, Erie, Pa., Bull. E-7,
1930.
3. Buckingham, E.: Research Paper 303,
Bureau of Standards Jour. of Research
(May, 1931).
4. "Investigation of Flow Coefficient of
Circular, Square and Elliptical Orifices," NACA-TN-1947 (Sept., 1949).

***

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY