API MPMS Ch. 14.

Third Edition
January 2009
41 Pages

$70.00
Product No. H140503

API MPMS Chapter 14.5

Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Relative Density,

Compressibility and Theoretical Hydrocarbon Liquid Content for
Natural Gas Mixtures of Custody Transfer, Third Edition
This standard presents procedures for
calculating, at base conditions from
composition, the following properties of
natural gas mixtures: gross heating value,
relative density (real and ideal),
compressibility factor and theoretical
hydrocarbon liquid content which in the U.S. is
typically expressed as GPM, the abbreviation
for gallons of liquid per thousand cubic feet of
gas.

Available through IHS:

Phone Orders:

1-800-854-7179
(Toll-Free in the U.S. & Canada)
303-397-7956
(Local and International)

Fax Orders:

303-397-2740

Online Orders:

global.ihs.com

API Members receive a 30% discount where applicable.

Rigorous calculation of the effect of water

upon these calculations is complicated.
Because this document relates primarily to
custody transfer, the water effect included is
an acceptable contractual calculation. Annex
A of this standard contains a detailed
investigation of the effect of water and
detailed derivations of the equations
presented in the standard.

Contents
Page

Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Normative References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Symbols and Abbreviated Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Heating Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Relative Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Compressibility Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Theoretical Hydrocarbon Liquid Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Summary of Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4

Equations for Custody Transfer Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Gross Heating Value (Volumetric Basis). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Relative Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Compressibility Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Theoretical Hydrocarbon Liquid Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Example Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Application Notes and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

10

Precision and Uncertainty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Annex A (informative) Details of Calculation Methods and Treatment of Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Annex B (informative) Calculation of Gas Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Annex C (informative) Water Content Example Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Annex D (informative) Calculation of NGL Energy Content from Volume. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Annex E (informative) Determination of Gas Energy Content per Unit Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Tables
1
U.S. Multipliers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2
Temperature Multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3
Second Virial Coefficients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A.1 Assumed Composition of Air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
B.1 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.696 psia for a Dry Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B.2 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.65 psia for a Dry Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
B.3 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.696 psia for a Water Saturated Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
B.4 Calculation of Gas Properties at Typical Base Conditions of 60 F and 14.65 psia for a
Water Saturated Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
B.5 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.696 psia for a Water Saturated Gas at
Flowing Conditions of 76 F and 28 psia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
B.6 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.65 psia for a Water Saturated Gas at
Flowing Conditions of 76 F and 28 psia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
B.7 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.696 psia for a Measured and Partially
Water Saturated Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B.8 Calculation of Gas Properties at 60 F and 14.65 psia for a Measured and Partially
Water Saturated Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Page

B.9
B.10
B.11
C.1
C.2
C.3
D.1
D.2
D.3
E.1

Calculation of Gas Properties at 15 C and 101.325 kPa for a Water Saturated Gas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Calculation for Determining the C6+ Gas Properties Using Two Commonly Used Methods . . . . . . . . . . 29
Calculation for Compressibility Using the Rigorous Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Conversion Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Mole Volume of Water Vapor at 60 F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Values of Constants A and B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Calculate Energy Content from Liquid Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Calculate Energy Content from Liquid Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Calculate Energy Content from Equivalent Gas Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Calculations for Btu per Pound for Water Saturated Gas at Base Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

2009
Publications
Order Form

Effective January 1, 2009.

API Members receive a 30% discount where applicable.
The member discount does not apply to purchases made for the purpose of resale
or for incorporation into commercial products, training courses, workshops, or other
commercial enterprises.

Available through IHS:

Phone Orders:
1-800-854-7179
Fax Orders:
Online Orders:

API Member

Date:
Invoice To

Ship To

Check here if same as Ship To)

(Toll-free in the U.S. and Canada)

(Local and International)

303-397-7956
303-397-2740
global.ihs.com

(Check if Yes)

(UPS will not deliver to a P.O. Box)

Name:

Name:

Title:

Title:

Company:

Company:

Department:

Department:

Address:

Address:

C ity:

State/ P r ovince:

C ity:

State/ P r ovince:

Zip/Postal Code:

Country:

Zip/Postal Code:

Country:

Telephone:

Telephone:

Fax:

Fax:

Email:

Email:

Q ua nt it y

SO

T itle

Unit Price

$70.00

MPMS Chapter 14.5, Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Relative Density, Compressibility and Theoretical
Hydrocarbon Liquid Content for Natural Gas Mixtures of Custody Transfer

Payment Enclosed

VISA
Diners Club

Applicable Sales Tax

MasterCard
Discover

Credit Card No.:

Print Name (As It Appears on Card):
Expiration Date:
Signature:

Subtotal

P.O. No. (Enclose Copy)

Charge My IHS Account No.

American Express

Total

(see below)

Rush Shipping Fee

(see below)

Shipping and Handling

(see below)

Total (in U.S. Dollars)

To be placed on Standing Order for future editions of this
publication, place a check mark in the SO column and sign here:

Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.

Mail Orders Payment by check or money order in U.S. dollars is required except for established accounts. State and local taxes, $10 processing fee, and 5% shipping must be added.
Send mail orders to: API Publications, IHS, 15 Inverness Way East, c/o Retail Sales, Englewood, CO 80112-5776, USA.
Purchase Orders
Purchase orders are accepted from established accounts. Invoice will include actual freight cost, a $10 processing fee, plus st
ate and local taxes.
Telephone Orders
If ordering by telephone, a $10 processing fee and actual freight costs will be added to the order.
Sales Tax All U.S. purchases must include applicable state and local sales tax. Customers claiming tax-exempt status must provide IHS with a copy of their exemption certificate.
Shipping (U.S. Orders)
Orders shipped within the U.S. are sent via traceable means. Most orders are shipped the same day. Subscription updates are sent by First-Class Mail.
Other options, including next-day service, air service, and fax transmission are available at additional cost. Call 1-800-854-7179 for more information.
Shipping (International Orders)
Standard international shipping is by air express courier service. Subscription updates are sent by World Mail. Normal delivery is 3-4 days from
shipping date.
Rush Shipping Fee
Next Day Delivery orders charge is $20 in addition to the carrier charges. Next Day Delivery orders must be placed by 2:00 p.m. MST to ensure overnight delivery.
Returns All returns must be pre-approved by calling the IHS Customer Service Department at 1-800-624-3974 for information and assistance. There may be a 15% restocking fee.
Special order items, electronic documents, and age-dated materials are non-returnable.