Part 2 of Marc Buttler‘s Emerson Exchange conference presentation was on regulatory and standards changes in US onshore custody transfer and fiscal measurement. API MPMS Ch. 4.8 – Operation of Proving Systems has recently opened to provide clarification on proving meters on single-phase liquid hydrocarbons. The change makes it clear that is more flexibility on more runs to prove out the flow meter.

Chapter 6 deals with metering assemblies and details minimum requirements for single phase liquid metering systems. It has been rewritten and modernized to address technology advancements and is undergoing comment review and resolution. This chapter has been broken into 3 parts—general considerations, truck & rail loading & unloading, and pipeline & marine loading/unloading measurement systems. It is also in the comment review process.

Chapter 9.4 is for continuous density measurement under dynamic (flowing) conditions. A new chapter for natural gas liquids, refined products, chemicals, and crude oils. The first edition of this standard was published January of 2018 and it replaces Chapter 14.6.

Chapter 18.2 addresses custody transfer of crude oil from lease tanks using alternative measurement methods. It can now include automatic tank gauging and other methods not previously considered. The first edition of the standard was published in 2016. It is a supplement to 18.1 which is a manual method. It was designed to keep people off the top of tanks which is a hazardous location.

AGA Report number 9 is the measurement of gas by multipath ultrasonic meters.

For oil & gas professionals, these are important standards to understand and keep up with.