Crude Oil Measurement Systems

Requirements of a crude oil measurement system:

– Accurately measure the quantity transferred
– Control operation of the system if un-manned location
– Monitor the crude oil quality and prevent transfer of non-
merchantable oil if desired for lease/produced oil
– Obtain a representative sample if required
– Eliminate air
– Provide facilities for periodic proving
– Provide back pressure for the meter and prover

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The Measurement System
It is important to realize that an accurate meter is not all
that is required for an accurate measurement system.
– Temperature and pressure measurement
– Gravity measurement
– Proving methodology and meter factor validity
– Flow computer or averaging techniques for net volume
calculations
– Sampling methodology if required
– Determination of S&W for produced crude oil

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API Chapter 5.6

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Lease Automatic Custody Transfer
LACT systems are generally for low flow rates from an
individual producer. The components of a LACT are very
similar to any crude oil measurement system and are
sometimes referred to as ACT.
LACT systems do not have an on-site flow computer. Most
often custody transfer calculations use average values for
temperature to calculate net volume and use a flow weighted
sample to determine average gravity and S&W.

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LACT Units
Components of a LACT unit
– Charge/Transfer Pump
– S&W Monitor
– Diverter Valve
– Strainer/Air Eliminator
– Sample System
– Flow Meter
– Meter Prover Loop
– Back Pressure Valve
– Check Valve
– Control Panel
A transportation or gathering pipeline measurement skid would likely
not require the pump, S&W monitor, divert valve or control panel.

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LACT Units
Typical LACT configuration

Sample Cylinder
Air Eliminator Sample Probe
Strainer Block & Bleed Valve
Back Pressure

Pump

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LACT Units
Charge/Transfer Pump
– The pump should produce a non-pulsating flow for the LACT unit
at a pressure compatible with the pipeline carrier
– Centrifugal pumps are typically used for LACT units requiring
medium to high volumes at low pressure.
• If high discharge pressure is required, a positive displacement pump
can act as a booster pump.
– Flow rate, pressure required and fluid properties determine the
size of the pump.

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LACT Units
Strainer
– Strainers are installed upstream of
the flowmeter to protect the meter
and the other elements of the
system from being damaged by
foreign materials such as pipe
scale, pebbles, and large debris
that may be entrained.

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LACT Units
S&W Probe
– S & W probes determine free water and sediment content in
crude oil by typically measuring the dielectric constant which is
the ability of the fluid to act as an insulator.
– The dielectric constant of oil is higher than that of water.
Merchantable crude oil typically contains less than 1%
water.
– This custody transfer measurement has different requirements
from production or well test applications.
– The Coriolis meter density cannot be used to detect water cut for
pipeline quality crude oil
• The typical accuracy requirement is for this measurement is ± 0.1%
water.

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LACT Units
S&W Monitor
– Solid state circuitry detects changes in the
dielectric constant with sensitivity that can detect
0.1% of 1%S&W content.
– An adjustable time delay and fail-safe relays
operate the divert valve over a selectable setting
of 0-3% S&W.
– The monitor diverts flow back to a retreating
facility and returns the LACT to normal operation
as determined by the allowable S&W setting.

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LACT Units
Divert Valve
– Divert valves have the primary function to fail closed when any of
the following occurs:
• Excess S&W
• Loss of power
• Loss of supply pressure
• Low level in the lease tank
• Meter failure condition

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LACT Units
Air Eliminator
– Why use an air eliminator?
• Large amounts of free air
compromises meter accuracy
and can lead to overspeeding
of mechanical type meters,
which will result in damaging
the meter.
• To insure accurate liquid
measurement, it is necessary to
remove all vapor and free all
entrained air from the system.

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LACT Units
Deaerator
– Float operated valve principle
– High capacity air elimination
– Vertical tank facilitates installation
– Wide variety of materials and pressure
ratings
– Various venting and connection
applications
– Low maintenance
– Generally used in higher flow rates on
pipelines

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LACT Units
Sample System
– The components which make up
a typical system include
• Static mixer to insure a good
mixing of the crude oil.
• Sample probe which extends into
the pipeline
• Extraction device
• Sample Receiver/Mixer

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LACT Units
Static Mixer
− The optional static mixer is installed
upstream of the sample probe.
− Rigid elements split, rearrange, and
recombine component streams into
smaller and smaller layers until one
homogeneous stream exits.
- optional static mixer installed in
the pipeline upstream of the BS&W
probe

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LACT Units
Sample Probe
– The sample probe extends into the center third of the pipe facing
the flow.
– The sample probe is installed in a horizontal position in a vertical
run of pipe.
– The extraction device is pulsed by the meter to extract a fixed
quantity of sample during normal operation of the LACT unit. For
example; one pulse to the device for every barrel measured.

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LACT Units
Sample Receiver/Container
– The sample container is sized to allow adequate storage
during the total transfer period.
– The fluid is stored under pressure and the container is vapor
tight to prevent evaporation.
– The fluid is tested at the end of the period to determine the
quality for custody transfer/net volume calculations.
– A mixing motor and pump are used to obtain a homogeneous
mix of crude oil before obtaining sample.

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LACT Units
Centrifuge Tube
– Centrifuge tubes hold the sample
and the appropriate solvent or
demulsifier if necessary.
– The tube is heated to a specified
temperature approximately
120Degrees F. and rotated in a
centrifuge for a specific amount of
time at a specific speed. The S&W
is forced to the bottom of the tube
where the amount is read on the
scale.

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LACT Units
Hydrometer
– Hydrometers are utilized to prove the
output of a densitometer or to obtain
the gravity of a sample.
− Accurate temperature measurement is
important.
− This will allow a reading of gravity and
temperature at flowing conditions.
− If light ends escape from your sample,
your hydrometer reading will not match
your densitometer reading.

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LACT Units
Control Functions:
– Detects level in the lease tank and starts and stops the pump
which forces oil through the LACT unit
– Operates the solenoid which extracts a sample proportional to
flow
– Diverts flow back to the tank when S&W content is too high
– Actuate alarms as required

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LACT Units
Temperature Averager
– Temperature averagers provide
a true average of the process
temperature based on volume or
time.
– Average temperature is utilized
for calculation of net volume
during a batch cycle, such as
the end of the month.

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API Chapter 7.2 Temperature Determination

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LACT Units
Meter Proving Loop

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LACT Units
Back Pressure Valve
– The purpose of the back
pressure valve is to maintain a
constant pressure on the
flowmeter to prevent cavitation
and to control flow rate if a
centrifugal pump is used.
– The back pressure setting
should always be above the
vapor pressure of the fluid.

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Back Pressure
Back Pressure Valve should be installed downstream of the prover
connections.
The amount of backpressure required is calculated as follows:

Pb = 2 P + 1.25Pe

Where, Pb = minimum backpressure required (psig)

P= pressure drop across the meter at max rate
Pe = equilibrium vapor pressure of the fluid at
operating temperature (psia)

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System Design Concerns

Pressure drop
Turndown
Velocity
Access to pulses for
proving
Flow rate versus prover
capacity
Hazardous area
classification

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Pressure Drop
Coriolis meters are typically several line sizes smaller
than the main pipeline.
– The sizing program calculates only the pressure drop through the
meter. More pressure drop is created by reducers.
– Back pressure valves are normally needed to keep pressure on
the meter and prevent cavitation.

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Retrofit for Meter Installation

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