Emerson Automation Solutions Whitepaper: Best Practices for Custody Transfer Using API MPMS 18.2
While manual tank gauging remains a common practice within custody transfer applications in the United States oil and gas industry, there are growing concerns about its effect on accounting accuracy, production losses, and worker safety. This white paper highlights the reasons for these concerns, but explains that until recently the only other method for small lease tank custody transfer was to install a lease automatic custody transfer (LACT) unit, which could be uneconomical on smaller sites. The paper goes on to describe how the American Petroleum Institute (API) has addressed this issue by releasing the new API MPMS Ch. 18.2 standard, which provides guidance on best practice in custody transfer from lease tanks using alternative measurement methods. The paper looks at how the standard aims to increase safety, and how the guidance now enables the use of technology, such as guided wave radar, within custody transfer applications. It concludes by examining how end users can decide which solution is right for them by calculating overall system uncertainty, and how they can determine their return on investment.
