Installation & Maintenance Instructions
SURE-CUT®
WATER CUT METERS
Hi / Lo
Registered Address Phone Web
ABLE Instruments & Controls Ltd +44 (0)118 9311188 able.co.uk
Cutbush Park, Danehill, Lower Earley, Email E-commerce
Reading, Berkshire, RG6 4UT. UK. info@able.co.uk 247able.com Registered in England No. 01851002. VAT No. GB 417 2481 61
Sure-Cut® Water Cut Meters
Applications Guide
M-Flow Technologies Ltd
Abingdon, UK T: +44 (0) 1235 380088
M-Flow Technologies Canada Ltd
Calgary T: +1 (403) 510-4989
www.m-flow-tech.com | info@m-flow-tech.com
The M-Flow Sure-Cut® family of Water Cut measurement systems benefit
from digital microwave sensing coupled with enhanced composite
materials to provide a full pipe cross sectional measurement, without
requirement for routine recalibration or maintenance.
Meanwhile, smart connectivity ensures real-time analysis of process
fluids, available 24/7.
Sure-Cut® Lo Sure-Cut® Hi
The Sure-Cut® family offers multiple microwave measurement solutions:
• Sure-Cut® Lo offering direct measurement of low water cut, oil
continuous flows.
• Sure-Cut® Hi for high water cut water continuous flows.
They offer separate or integrated solutions covering part or all of the
0-100% range driven by application.
Application Overview
M-Flow Sure-Cut® meters are installed in a variety of applications where quality-critical
measurement of light and heavy oils, condensates and water is required.
Upstream Midstream Downstream
• Exploration • Transportation • Refining
• Field Development • Processing • Wholesale & Marketing
• Production Operationse • Storage & Distribution • Distribution
Applications Applications Applications
• Separator outlet
• Custody transfer • LACT / Custody Transfer • Process monitoring
• Sampling systems • Heater treater • Refined product loading -
• Pipeline • Tanker loading rail, truck, marine
• Disposal well • Disposal well • Pipeline
• Marine Flaring Governance • Pipeline
Ranges
Sure-Cut Lo Standard Measurement Range
All Sure-Cut Lo devices measure
across the full oil continuous
range, offering very high accu-
racy for custody transfer appli-
cations and process monitoring.
0% Inversion Point 100% Optimal accuracy is obtained
with an external feed of temper-
Measurement Range
ature and line density data.
0% Inversion Point 100%
Sure-Cut Lo Extended Measurement Range
Standard measurement range
is also extended beyond in-
version point when used with
density and temperature inputs
(using our Boss-Cut algorithm)
to determine water cut of pro-
cess slugs to 100%.
Measurement Range Extended Measurement Range
0% Inversion Point 100%
Sure-Cut Hi Measurement Range
High measurement range is
available for oil in water appli-
cations anywhere in the pro-
cess train. Direct measurement
gives functionality in heavy and
viscous oils as well as moderate
gas break out.
Measurement Range
0% Inversion Point 100%
Sure-Cut Full Measurement Range
By combining Sure-Cut Lo and
Sure-Cut Hi capability, direct
microwave measurement from
0-100% is available in a single
instrument.
Measurement Range Measurement Range
0% Inversion Point 100%
Sure-Cut® Features and Benefits
Features Benefits
Microwave measurement High accuracy
Composite Carbon Fiber Pipe with non wetted No coating or damage to sensing components by harsh,
sensors and non-intrusive measurement waxy or sour fluids means zero maintenance and
recalibration
Full pipe measurement of process stream Full cross-sectional evaluation of water cut, not point or
partial section probe localized measurement
Graphical user interface for set-up, data download, Easy, intuitive set-up and monitoring at site with limited
calibration and diagnostics training
Local Display At a glance data and status information
Digital Output Seamless integration into Flow Computer DCS, smart
diagnostics
Wired or Wireless connectivity Mobile worker connectivity
Transparent
carbon fibre
structure
Non-intrusive
sensors
Continuous
production
No impact from
H2S, wax
or solids
Repeatable,
accurate
measurement
Cleaning and
repair free
High Performance Composite Construction
M-Flow’s unique pipe design utilises a composite carbon fibre / PEEK construction.
The PEEK polymer core allows the transmission of microwave energy through the pipe
walls, enabling sensors to be embedded in the carbon fibre wrap around the core, not in
the pipe itself. This delivers:
• Complete Pipe integrity / no penetrations
• No contact with fluids / non-wetted sensors
• No damage or fouling of sensors, meaning no cleaning or repair
• No calibration drift driven by sensor surface changes from erosion or corrosion.
Additional benefits include:
• Eliminates the need for ongoing field calibration
• Minimised field maintenance
• Confidence that the measurement system is stable and repeatable, providing
continual accuracy and measurement confidence.
Measurement Technology
M-Flow Sure-Cut® systems use microwave technology to measure the electrical permittivity
of the oil and water mix flowing through them.
Microwave measurement is recognised as the highest accuracy method of water cut
measurement. It is a direct measure, and the higher frequency (compared to capacitance
or conductance) offers high resolution with predictable variation to standard process
parameters such as oil density, pressure and temperature.
Full Bore Continuous Measurements vs Spot Measurement
Embedding the sensors outside the pipe allows Sure-Cut® to measure the entire flow,
unlike most probe water cut meters which only measure the flow next to the probe itself.
This means the Sure-Cut®
• Increases the measurement
sample size, improving accuracy
• Does not need a highly mixed flow
to measure accurately, giving a
broader operating envelope
Sure-Cut® Installation Requirements
Sure-Cut® has basic installation requirements. The flow is required to be reasonably mixed
to ensure no stratified separation of oil and water. No fixed upstream or downstream
piping lengths are required, and it can be close coupled with other instrumentation such
as Coriolis meters.
In the correct circumstances, Sure-Cut® can be installed horizontally or vertically. Typically,
mixing requires velocities over 1 m/s. Around or below this velocity, M-Flow would
recommend vertical installation to ensure mixing. Alternatives of static mixers or blind-Ts
may also be considered for difficult flow.
Hazardous Area Safe Area
Local User Interface System Interface
• Local Display • Power: 24 V DC
• Mobile worker Wi-Fi • Communications: Modbus 485
enabled or TCP. Access to user inter-
face via Ethernet
Meter set-up and calibration
Sure-Cut® is delivered with a standard Factory Calibration unless otherwise requested. A
static calibration using known hydrocarbon is carried out as part of the factory acceptance
test.
An in-situ in-line calibration can be periodically carried out comparing the meter to a
representative sample taken from the process fluid.
Screening and sizing require typical process information:
• Minimum and maximum water cut
• Minimum and maximum flow rates
• Oil and water density ranges
• Nature of flow (e.g. generally low/high water cut, evolution of time / typical high/
low regime with water / oil slugging
• Potential presence of small amounts of gas
• Design pressure and temperature
• Operating pressure and temperature
Technical Specification information can be found in the individual Sales Brochures for
Sure-Cut® Hi and Sure-Cut® Lo.
Please contact your sales representative or email info@m-flow-tech.com if you would like a
copy of these.
For more information: www.m-flow-tech.com
©2022 M-Flow Technologies Limited. All rights reserved.
M-Flow Technologies supplies this publication for informational purposes only. We reserve the right to modify or improve the designs or
specifications of our products at any time without notice.
M-Flow Technologies Ltd
Abingdon, UK T: +44 (0) 1235 380088
M-Flow Technologies Canada Ltd
Calgary T: +1 (403) 510-4989
www.m-flow-tech.com | info@m-flow-tech.com
