The OW Series of Water-in-Oil Analyzers, manufactured by Agar Corporation, is a line of high-precision industrial monitors designed to measure the concentration of water in hydrocarbon streams (water-cut or BS&W) in real time. A pioneer in the market, the series is capable of performing accurate measurements over the entire range of 0 to 100% water.
With innovative high-frequency microwave absorption technology, the sensor emits waves directly through the process flow to instantly analyze the dielectric properties of the mixture. Due to the large absorption difference between water and hydrocarbon, the monitor calculates the exact proportion of each phase in real time. The main highlight of this solution is its total immunity to external factors: the measurement remains perfectly stable and accurate, without being influenced by any changes in salinity, density, viscosity, temperature or flow velocity.
Designed to operate in harsh environments and in different flow regimes, the equipment delivers real-time measurements with high stability. Its modular architecture allows applications in pressurized lines, by-pass or in-line installations, making it a robust solution for monitoring, process optimization and custody transfer.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OW SERIES
OW-200 Series (Standard): It is the established model for water-cut measurement (0-100%) in two-phase flows (oil and water). It uses microwave absorption technology to determine the water fraction with high accuracy, being immune to variations in salinity, temperature and density.
OW-300 Series (High Performance Antifouling): Represents the third generation evolution of the line. It has an advanced electronic and mechanical design that ignores the build-up of wax, asphaltene or paraffin scales on the sensor antennas, keeping calibration stable for much longer. Withstands operating pressures up to 5,000 PSI.
OW-200 Plus Series (Multiphase): Developed specifically for complex multiphase flows that contain associated free gas. It combines the microwave sensor with Coriolis technology to measure density and compensate for the presence of gas (GVF – Gas Void Fraction up to 99%), operating at extreme pressures up to 10,000 PSI.
AVAILABLE MOUNTING TYPES
The OW Series offers two installation configurations to suit the size of the piping and the need for maintenance:
How it works: The gauge is integrated directly into the pipeline as a flanged pipe section. All process fluid must pass through the gauge body.
Indication: Recommended for smaller lines, typically from 1″ to 4″.
How it works: The sensor is a probe inserted perpendicular into the pipe through a flanged or threaded access connection.
Indication: Designed for lines of 6″ or higher. It has the advantage of allowing the installation of extraction systems under pressure (hot-tap), making it possible to remove the sensor for maintenance without the need to interrupt the process flow.
The main applications where this type of equipment is essential include:
