ECHO SOUND INSPECTION SERVICES

Nargis Bhaban, Ground Floor, Bandar, Chattogram

Tel: +88 031 800214, Mobile: +88 1796591435
Email: echosoundctg@gmail.com, info@metcbd.com
www.metcbd.com

THE
CALIBRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF STORAGE TANK FOR CUSTODY
TRANSFER

1. Procedure

This procedure is used for all equipment and instrument used at custody transfer points.
The equipment and instruments are:
 Thermometers
 Hydrometers
 Steel Tapes
 Storage Tanks (upright cylindrical types)
 Storage Tanks (horizontal cylindrical types)
 Barges
 Trailer Mounted Tanks (Tank Cars)

2. General Guidelines
These equipments are to be calibrated by an approved or accredited corporate body.
 This corporate body shall be prequalified by the Director of Petroleum Resources
(Government Agency).
 This validity period for each equipment shall be stated.
 Calibration shall be local except when the facilities are not available and approval must
be given by D.P.R.
 Corporate Bodies and Agencies accredition for each equipment type must be set out and
stand the reference.

Calibration of Vertical Cylindrical Tank

3. Accreditation
This shall vary from job to job and nominated corporate body must formally apply for
permission from the Department of Petroleum Resources (Government Agency).

 Approval shall be guided by previous job

 A D.P.R. Staff must be present for the following exercise:
 Strapping exercise
 ECHO SOUND INSPECTION SERVICES
Nargis Bhaban, Ground Floor, Bandar, Chattogram
Tel: +88 031 800214, Mobile: +88 1796591435
Email: echosoundctg@gmail.com, info@metcbd.com
www.metcbd.com
 Calibration chart compilation

The following shall be added to the chart

 Full name and address of the Company.
 The tank number
 Name of Operator
 Location of tank number
 Other parameters indicated in the format at paragraph (2) below. Finally a column must
be provided for the approval of the Director of D.P.R.

4. Principle

That is the process involved in measurement such as:

For a vertical storage tank:
 Circumferences at specific locations
 Depth
 Plate Thickness
 Weights
 Volume of internal and external fixtures
 Bottom plate alignment with the purpose of drawing up a calibration chart for the tank
to show quantity of oil at any given depth.

5. Frequency of Calibration of Storage Tank

 New Tank
 Five years operational life (Tank bottom must be clean and checked)
 Maintenance involving replacement of plate sections or alteraction of the “Deadwood”
Any modification affecting tank volume to 0.015%

6. Applicable Standards

This shall be the API Standard 2550 or ASTM-D1220-85 under the title
“Method for Measurement and Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks”

7. Calibration Equipment

As stated in the reference standards i.e. The essential equipment shall be the same with those
for taking measurement of tank, shall be above ground and shall always be maintained in good
condition. Both the tape for height measurement and that for circumference measurement
should themselves have been calibrated in accordance with DPR guide or
 ECHO SOUND INSPECTION SERVICES
Nargis Bhaban, Ground Floor, Bandar, Chattogram
Tel: +88 031 800214, Mobile: +88 1796591435
Email: echosoundctg@gmail.com, info@metcbd.com
www.metcbd.com
 Current certificate of recent calibration at 68°F in accordance with the National Bureau
of Standard Test Fee Schedule 202.404.
 Accessory equipment shall be provided.
 Equipment for determining temperature and gravity:
 Sample Can: For withdrawing samples in the process of tank temperature measurement,
shall be the thief type as specified in ASTM-D4057.
 Thermometer: Shall be the total immersion type of range -5 to 215 deg F and shall
conform with specification E1 described in ASTM book of Standard Part 18.
 Hydrometer: For gravity measurement shall be the thermohydrometertype calibrated in
deg API and with range 0 to 100 deg API conforming to the specification E100 for ASTM
Book of Standards.

Calibration Procedure:
 Tank clean and degassed.
 Tank be filled completely with water prior to the time of strapping. Tanks with the
capacity above 500 bbl could be strapped at any condition of fill. (No discharge no fill)
For critical measurement the following must be noted.
 Expansion and contraction of the tank shell under liquid head and temperature.
 Effect of tilt on the tank shell.
 Alignment of the tank bottom.

Float Roof Factor:

Floating roof tank shall be provided with a table or formula for computing roof effect.
 The weight of the roof and all its appurtenances shall be separately determined and
reflected in the tank table.
 Critical zones must be calibrated with liquid in accordance with API 2555 for ASTM-
D1406.
 A separate calibration chart for the critical zone shall be prepared for each tank

8. Presentation of result

Field Data: All data collected during strapping as illustrated in the form.

CALIBRATION OF HORIZONTAL STORAGE TANKS

(a) Nominated company shall be accredited by DPR.The procedure for accreditation as
enumerated above (apparatus).
(b)Principle: For horizontal Tanks completion of its incremental volume from geometric
dimensions of the cylindrical main body of the tank and those of the two heads are obtained.
Other factor:
(1) Deadwood
 ECHO SOUND INSPECTION SERVICES
Nargis Bhaban, Ground Floor, Bandar, Chattogram
Tel: +88 031 800214, Mobile: +88 1796591435
Email: echosoundctg@gmail.com, info@metcbd.com
www.metcbd.com
(2) Elasticity of the Shell
(3) Inclination of the tank

(c) Frequency of calibration of Horizontal Tanks.

(1) All new tanks of this type to be used for custody transfer shell be calibrated before it
could be approved for service and mandatorily after every five years of their operational
life.
(2) A tank shall also be automatically due for recalibration, if the circumferential reading
show a difference of 0.015% and above at a reference point, over reading of the last
calibration of the tank.
(3) Whenever the deadwood is changed in configuration or arrangement.
(4) On relocating the tank to another position.
(5) After any major repair or maintenance of the tank.
(d) Applicable Standard:This shall be the API Standard 2551 or ASTM-D-1410 captioned
“Standard Method for Measurement and Calibration of Horizontal Tanks.”
(e) Calibration Equipment: This shall comply in all respects with the specifications stipulated
in the standard.

(f) Calibration Procedure: The tank shall be clean,degassed and completely filled with
water. The procedure outlined in the reference standard is followed to obtain the necessary
parameters. A calibration chart for the tanks critical parameters to be obtained are:

(1) Shell plate thickness

(2) Circumferential parameter
(3) Geometric dimension
(4) Elasticity
(5) Deadwood dimension
(6) Inclination of the tank

9. Presentation of Result

Field Data
(1) A diagrammatic representation
(2) Other data are liquid type and its level in the tank during strapping, cylinder shell
thickness, the head and the horizontal inclination of the tank

Tank calibration shall include:

(1) Calculation of the volume of the main cylinder.
(2) The spread diameter and the partial.
 ECHO SOUND INSPECTION SERVICES
Nargis Bhaban, Ground Floor, Bandar, Chattogram
Tel: +88 031 800214, Mobile: +88 1796591435
Email: echosoundctg@gmail.com, info@metcbd.com
www.metcbd.com
 The appropriate K factor of the circular segments of the heads.
 Shall be obtained from the standard tables of the reference standard to produce the
required calibration chart for the tank to be presented in the format below