Frequently Asked Questions
Why is accurate gas measurement critical?
Natural gas is billed in dekatherms which are calculated by multiplying the dry British Thermal Unit (BTU) value of the gas by the volume in standard cubic feet. Many things go into the determination of these values. As the price of a dekatherm continues to go up, any error means more and more dollars are at stake. Litigation is becoming more common as companies disagree about the about of gas received and delivered. Obviously, not all the uncertainty and error in measuring and accounting of gas can be eliminated, but it's critical to do everything possible to reduce it. On the operational side, many systems are controlled by volumetric flow rates to meet nominated volumes. Inaccuracies make it more difficult to ensure the contracted amount of gas has been received, transported and/or delivered. Bottom line, inaccurate gas measurement costs money, big time!
Where is MPenttila & Associates, Inc located?
We're in Sandy, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City and only minutes away from the best skiing in the world at Alta. Easy access the Salt Lake International airport allows us to travel to where ever our clients need us to go.
What services does MPenttila & Associates, Inc provide?
Our focus is on design and trouble shooting with respect to all elements of electronic gas flow measurement from the end device to the SCADA and/or measurement editing system. These elements include measurement audits; lost and unaccounted for investigations; flow computer programming and testing; metering facility commissioning and start up; ultrasonic meter calibration witnessing, commissioning and startup; and data communications (local and remote) to name a few. Additionally, we provide assistance with automation and control design and trouble shooting at metering and compression facilities.
What makes MPenttila & Associates, Inc unique?
A deep passion for helping people combined with many years of integrated system (big picture) experience. This experience ranges from helping to design meter stations, including electronic flow measurement components, to assistance in building them, commissioning them, starting the facilities up and supporting operation of them.
What are your qualifications?
Lots of patience; a love of troubleshooting and problem solving combined with an ability to convey complex technical information in a variety of easily understood ways to those I'm working with. I've had countless hours in the field getting my hands dirty along with the measurement technicians, basically the school of hard knocks.
A Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University; many hours of additional training from industry suppliers such as Telvent (formerly Valmet Automation), Fisher, Daniel, Rosemount and Siemens (formerly Controlotron) to name a few helps also.
I was on the Western Gas Measurement Short Course Committee for five years. During that time I was the Measurement Section Chair for the 2005 Western Gas Measurement Short Course in Reno, NV. and the General Interest Vice Chair for the 2007 Western Gas Measurement Short Course in Seattle, WA.
Services Offered:
Measurement
• Lost and Accounted For
• Instrumentation
• Gas Meters
• Meter Stations
• Integration
Automation and Control
• Control Strategies
• Flow Computers
• Communication
Additional Services
• White Papers
