About the Letton-Hall Group
Chip Letton and Jim Hall founded the Letton-Hall Group, a consulting company, in January 2001. Their purpose was to assist clients in various aspects of flow measurement in all segments of the oil and gas industry, especially as it involved the need for and introduction of new technology. Subsequently, Klaus Zanker joined the company from Daniel Industries in 2005. Eric Kelner came on board in 2007 after ten years at the Southwest Research Institute and 4 years at Questar Pipeline Company. Eric Toskey joined after 20 years with Schlumberger. LHG's newest member, Tom Morrow, joined after 23 years at Southwest Research Institute and 5 years as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas, San Antonio. As individuals and sometimes collectively, the members have been responsible for hundreds of technical papers and over twenty-five patents. The Letton-Hall Group is arguably the most knowledgeable and experienced flow measurement consulting company in the World.
Services Offered
The members of the Letton-Hall Group (LHG) started their careers as flow measurement equipment developers and evaluators. All have spent many years developing and testing new measurement technology to meet their customers’ needs. Upon joining the Letton-Hall Group, each began focusing on measurement problems for measurement equipment users. Thus, the Letton-Hall Group brings a unique frame of reference to all our work, namely the perspectives of vendors and of users of measurement equipment.
- Upstream
- Bid Specification/FAT
- Metrology
- Standards
Upstream measurement has been an area of specialization. Unlike the case with single-phase meters, meters that are used to measure multiphase or wet-gas flow streams are extremely complex, and not well understood by most users. We have been immersed in development, selection, testing, and verification of both multiphase and wet-gas meters even prior to the founding of the Company. Evaluation of the uncertainty of both is difficult, as it depends not just on the accuracy of the sensor elements, but also on the physical models used, the multiphase flow regimes, validity of input fluid parameters, and a host of other variables. This is another knowledge domain in which we have strong skills.
As former flow meter manufacturers, the LHG staff is uniquely qualified to assist clients with flow meter bid specification preparation, bid review, and selection. We can also represent our client during Factory Acceptance Testing, calibration, installation, and startup.
Our expertise in metrology and our insight into the design and operation of flow meter calibration facilities provide a solid foundation for reviews of calibration laboratories and flow facilities. LHG works in cooperation with client management to review internal and external instrument and flow meter calibration laboratories for traceability to national or international standards. Reviews can extend to field calibration procedures to ensure traceability flows from the laboratory to the field.
Industry and company standards drive the adaptation of new technologies such as multiphase and ultrasonic flow meters. Over the years, LHG staff members have participated in the development of standards and recommended practices sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Gas Processors Association (GPA), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the American Gas Association (AGA). LHG can leverage our extensive experience with industry measurement standards, to assist in the development or review of internal company measurement standards and practices.
As the workforce ages and existing staff retires, companies are faced with the need to add personnel who lack basic technical skills. This makes training a critical element of bringing a new hire to proficiency in a reasonable amount of time. But with numerous technical training options available, and more becoming available everyday, it is difficult to decide which programs your staff should attend. In evaluating the offerings, questions arise, such as:
- Is the program current?
- Are the instructors qualified?
- How do I know the curriculum won't change after I've committed to sending my staff through the program?
Consider also that there may not be a satisfactory solution for your training requirements.
Letton-Hall recognizes these issues and can provide assistance to efficiently use your training budget:
- Identify and objectively evaluate existing technical training offerings
- Assist with curriculum development
- Using a combination of existing programs
- Curriculum development from scratch
- Training program development
- Training program quality control and oversight
LHG has participated in and led research programs in measurement, both industry-wide as well as those conducted within our client companies. Examples include several projects conducted within the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) Transmission Measurement Research Program, the DeepStar Project 8302: Improved Multiphase Metering for Subsea Tiebacks and RPSEA Project DW1301: Improvements to Deepwater Subsea Measurement, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA).
It is not unusual for potential users of new measurement technology – oil and gas producers, pipeline companies, etc. – to have only a limited knowledge and understanding of the physical principles upon which the technique is based. From our extensive experience in the research and development of new meters and measurement technology, we can assist in these kinds of evaluations for almost any kind of sensor technology – nuclear, acoustic or ultrasonic, optical or infrared, electromagnetic, pressure/differential pressure, and others. Should the results of the evaluation be positive, we are able to work with the user’s field organization to introduce the measurement equipment in a timely and efficient manner.
When common needs within the industry arise, such as the need to develop or standardize a new, potentially cost-saving technology, a Joint Industry Project (JIP) is the ideal solution. A JIP provides the means to solve common industry problems through a cooperative effort. Project costs are divided among several organizations, providing financial leverage and enabling a solution for a much lower cost than an individual company would pay.
The dynamics of problem-solving in a group setting are far different than the dynamics of problem-solving in a single organization. So a special set of skills is needed to organize and manage a JIP. The Letton-Hall Group has developed those skills through years of involvement with JIPs. Examples of Letton-Hall's JIP experience include:
- Proposed and led DeepStar Consortium Project 8302, Improved Multiphase Metering for Subsea Tiebacks.
- Proposed and was awarded DOE/RPSEA Project DW1301, Improvements to Deepwater Subsea Measurement.
- Organized and led the development of a joint industry measurement technician training program.
- Organized the Fluid Properties Meter Joint Industry Project for Southwest Research Institute.
- Organized and led two wet-gas ultrasonic JIPs known as Project UltraFlow I and II.
- Led the development of the API Recommended Practice 85, Use of Subsea Wet-Gas Flowmeters in Allocation Measurement Systems.
- Led the development of API Recommended Practice 86, Measurement of Multiphase Flow.
- Members of the LHG were part of the ASME Wet-Gas task force and contributed significant portions to the development of the ASME document Wet-Gas Metering Guideline, which will be published in 2008.
Because of the extensive knowledge possessed by Letton-Hall Group members with regard to instrumentation manufacturers in general and flow equipment suppliers in particular, we have been able to assist clients who are looking for suitable acquisitions. These acquisitions have included Process & Control companies as well as manufacturers of instrumentation for the petroleum industry.
In addition to identifying candidate companies for possible acquisition by our clients, we have provided important assistance in technical due diligence of the selected companies. This important step in the acquisition process requires the broad-based technical expertise possessed by the Letton-Hall Group.
The Letton-Hall Group is able to provide support as an independent party in cases of production allocation of commingled product from multiple wells. This is extremely important in cases where there is a system imbalance and product allocation is in question.
Because of our long-term relationship with the regulatory agencies in many jurisdictions, such as the MMS, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (U. K. – formally the DTI), and Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (Norway), we are able to represent our clients with regard to allocation questions and the introduction of new flow measurement technology.
Additional third party support includes assistance with custody transfer disputes and resolution of flowmeter discrepancies.
Philosophy
The Letton-Hall Group delivers uncompromisingly high quality flow measurement and allocation consulting services, whether conducting research, organizing and leading JIP’s, representing clients, developing training programs or assisting with flow meter specification, bid evaluation, installation, and start-up. We are client advocates in dealings with regulatory authorities and serve as third party mediators in questions of allocation of commingled production and custody transfer disputes. Our approach is systematic and methodical and we strive to always complete projects early and under budget. Client confidentiality is a top priority.
Clients Served
The Letton-Hall Group has served leaders in the oil and gas exploration, production and transmission industry segments, including: BP, Total E&P, Shell, the American Petroleum Institute, Gas Technology Institute, Pipeline Research Council International, The Southern Gas Association, Marathon Oil, Photon Control, GE Panametrics, BHP Billiton, DeepStar, Southwest Research Institute, Valpers, ENI, ConocoPhillips, Unocal, Weed Instruments, Crosstex, El Paso Energy, SpectraSensors, Inc. and Emerson.