NEWS

BIG NEWS
API Draft Standard on UFM Accepted
Opening Major Opportunities for ALTOSONIC V

KROHNE is happy to announce that the outcome of the ballot for the draft API standard "Measurement of
Liquid Hydrocarbons by Ultrasonic Flow Meters using transit time technology" is positive. Of the 50 members
of the API COLM (American Petroleum Institute - Committee on Liquid Measurement) 44 members voted
positive, and there were no negative votes. In the next weeks the ultrasonic working group will meet to go
over the details and for further fine-tuning of the document. The official version of the draft standard is
scheduled to be available at the next API COLM fall meeting in October 2002.
The approval of the draft standard will be a very important milestone in the market acceptance and use of
ultrasonic flowmeter technology for custody transfer applications.

Scope of the Draft API standard on Ultrasonic Flowmeters

The draft API standard describes methods for obtaining accurate measurements from ultrasonic flow meters
(UFMs) when they are used to measure liquid hydrocarbons. The draft standard is practically oriented. The
scope of the document defines application criteria for UFM. It gives guidelines for the installation, operation,
and maintenance of UFM’s in liquid hydrocarbon service.
The field of application of this standard is the dynamic measurement of liquid hydrocarbons and it mainly
focuses on custody transfer measurement, although other applications may also be included.
The type of ultrasonic flowmeter it concerns has:
- a inline (or spool piece) design (clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters are not included); and
- a minimum of 3 measuring beams.
This means that the draft standard applies to KROHNE’s ALTOSONIC V.

Next Steps
The intent of a draft standard is to get a working document into practice, so that feedback can be given to
API as to how the standard can be refined and improved. When the draft is approved, a review of the draft
standard shall be performed by the standards committee no later than 2 years after publication of the draft
standard with the options of extending the comment period for 2 more years, conversion to a standard, or
withdrawal. When the draft standard is re-affirmed it is moved to the Manual of Petroleum Measurement
Standards (MPMS). An MPM Standard needs to be reaffirmed every five years.

Background
- An ultrasonic Working Group was been appointed by the API COPM (Committee on Petroleum
Measurement) to develop an API standard on ultrasonic flowmeters in the fall of 2000.
- At the next API COPM meeting in Fall 2001 the draft standard was prepared, but not yet accepted,
because the Working Group had not yet addressed all comments to the satisfaction of all committee
members. For approval of a proposed ballot item, the API ballot process requires each subcommittee
member to submit a yes or an abstention.
- At the API COLM fall meeting of 2001 the meeting also decided to accept independent test data by
manufacturers in response to the many requests for more field test data.
- In June 2002 the due date for the ballot on the draft standard on ultrasonic flowmeters was extended
with one month.

File name: API standard on UFM approved Page: 1/2 Date: July 2002
NEWS

If you have any questions on the above matter or wish additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact Herman Hofstede at KROHNE.

Contact information:
E-mail: mailto: helpdesk@krohne-altometer.nl
Telephone: + 31 (0) 78 6306 331
Fax: + 31 (0) 78 6306 394

July 2002
KROHNE Flow Division - Marketing Team

File name: API standard on UFM approved Page: 2/2 Date: July 2002