Liquid Hydrocarbon Measurement Fundamentals

April 16-17, 2025 | Online :: Central Time

0425-hydrocarbon-measurement

This course provides professionals in the energy, utility, and pipeline sectors with a comprehensive overview of hydrocarbon measurement principles. Participants will explore the drivers behind measurement requirements and learn how these elements influence the accuracy and accountability of data across the hydrocarbon value chain.

Key topics include custody transfer, contracts, and the commercial impact of errors and disputes in measurement. A deep dive into the physical properties of hydrocarbon fluids—such as density, viscosity, and phase changes—sets the foundation for understanding how these properties impact fluid handling, transfer, and accurate measurement.

The program also covers various metering principles, flow measurement technologies, and standards critical to precise measurement and efficient operations, as well as the functionality of process instrumentation, data management, and back-office processes. Best practices in equipment calibration, maintenance, and verification will be discussed, alongside milestone events such as commissioning and audits, ensuring that participants are equipped to uphold industry standards and regulatory compliance in all aspects of hydrocarbon measurement.

Learning Outcomes

• Review the roles and motivations of various drivers (business, operational, regulatory, and industry) that emphasize accurate measurement along the hydrocarbon value chain
• Discuss the different types of hydrocarbon fluids and their physical properties, including density, viscosity, and phase changes, to support effective handling and measurement
• Discuss the operating principles, applications, and industry standards of various metering technologies, such as turbine, ultrasonic, and Coriolis meters, and understand their strengths and limitations
• Identify the methods for assessing fluid quality, including sampling, chromatography, and spectroscopy, to ensure compliance with standards and accurate fluid characterization
• Explore the functionality of instrumentation like flow computers, pressure/temperature transmitters, and distributed control systems in managing and monitoring hydrocarbon flows
• Evaluate the data collection, validation, and analysis processes, as well as end-of-month procedures for reconciling and balancing hydrocarbon measurements in commercial and operational contexts
• Detail the calibration, maintenance, and verification processes for measurement equipment, and discuss milestone events such as design, construction, commissioning, and audits in the lifecycle of a hydrocarbon measurement system

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 : Central Time

 

Why Measure?

• Business Drivers
  • Overview of the Value Chain from A-Z
  • Measurement Along the Value Chain
    • What is Custody Transfer vs. Title Change?
    • Responsibility and Accountability
  • Business Areas that Directly or Indirectly Rely on Measurement
  • Contracts and Operating Agreements
  • Commercial Impact of Error, Uncertainty and Disputes
• Operations Drivers
  • Supply/Demand Management
  • Facility Design Standards
  • Function, Range and Flexibility
  • Effectiveness of Maintenance
• Regulatory Drivers
  • Federal Regulations and Requirements
  • Regional Regulations and Requirements
  • International Regulations and Requirements
• Industry Drivers
  • Overview of Industry Associations and Institutes
    • Why Industry Creates and Maintains Standards
    • Areas Covered by Industry Standards
    • Best Practices
  • Research and Technology Development
    • Pooled Efforts
    • Individual Party

Physical Properties of Hydrocarbon Fluids

• Types of Fluids
  • Definitions (NG, Crude, NGL, LNG, CNG, etc.)
  • Phases of Matter Overview
  • Multi-Phase Fluids
  • Overview of the Value Chain from A-Z
• Classes and Types of Hydrocarbon Liquids
  • Common Types and Physical Characteristics
    • Crude Oils and Condensates
    • NGL Product Types
    • LVP Product Types
• Composition
  • Alkane Hydrocarbon Compounds
  • Inert Compounds
  • Contaminants
• Phase and Phase Change
  • Classification of Types
  • What is A 2-Phase or 3-Phase Liquid Stream?
  • Bubble Point and Dew Point
  • Phase Diagrams and Equations of State (EOS)
  • Separators and Slug Catchers
  • Heating and Cooling
  • Cryogenic Processes
  • Vapor Pressure and Heat Capacity
• Density and Compressibility Factor
  • Definitions
  • Overview of API MPMS Ch. 11 and 12 Calculations
    • Temperature Corrections
    • Pressure Corrections
    • Vapor Pressure Calculations
  • Liquid vs. Gas Density Determination
  • Net Oil Calculations
• Viscosity and Other Properties
  • Enthalpy, Entropy, and Heat Capacity
  • Viscosity and Heat Transfer Coefficient
• Contaminants and Related Specifications
  • Water
  • Sediment
  • HCDP
  • H₂S
  • Waxes and Asphaltenes
• Special Properties of Crude Oils
  • Entrained Gas
  • Molecular Weight, Density and API Degrees
  • Gas/Oil Ratios

Metering Principles, Types and Standards

• Key Definitions of Accuracy, Uncertainty, etc.
• Product Batching and Interface Fluids
• Volumetric Shrinkage
• Units of Measure and the Need for Consistency
• Fluid Reference Conditions and Qualifiers
• Mass, Volume and Energy (and Interchangeability)
• Static Measurement
  • Vertical and Horizontal Tanks
  • Pipelines and Other Vessels
  • Rail Cars, Tanker Trucks and Portable Tanks
• Overview of Flow Meter Types
• Head Type Meters
  • Principles of Operation
    • Bernoulli’s Theorem
    • Pressure vs. Velocity
    • What is Fully Developed Flow?
  • Orifice Plates and Meter Run Assemblies
    • Plate Holders
    • Meter Runs
  • Cone Meters
    • Basic Configuration
    • Strengths and Limitations
  • Pitot Tubes
  • Orifice Meter Flow Equations
    • Overview
    • Implementations and Verification
  • Maintenance and Calibration
• Turbine and Positive Displacement (PD)
  • Principles of Operation
  • Turbine Meters
    • Rotor Types
    • Strengths and Limitations
    • Typical Configuration
    • Calibration and Maintenance
    • Industry Standards
  • Positive Displacement Meters
    • Types
    • Principles of Operation
    • Typical Applications and Installations
    • Strengths and Limitations
• Ultrasonic Flow Measurement
  • Principles of Operation
    • Chords and Paths
    • Full Bore vs. Reduced Bore
    • Signal Propagation and Detection
    • Mathematical Basics
    • Flow Conditioning
• Coriolis Force Mass Flow Meters
  • Principle of Operation
  • Typical Applications, Designs and Installations
  • Strengths and Limitations
  • On-Board Density Measurement
• Other Metering Technologies
  • Vortex Shedding Meters
  • Thermal Mass Meters
  • Weigh Tanks and Certified Volume Standards
• Flow Conditions and Other Facility-Related Requirements
  • Flow Disturbances (Causes and Effects)
  • Piping Design Requirements
  • Flow Conditioners and Tube Bundles
  • Temperature Probes and Sample Probes
  • Static Mixers
  • Headers, Filters, Valves and Other Apparatus
• Meter Proving
  • Principles
  • Overview of API MPMS Ch. 4
  • Type of Provers
  • Pycnometers and Densitometers
  • Operation
  • Proving Reports vs. Tickets
  • Water Draw

Fluid Quality and Analytical Methods

• On-Site or Off-Site?
• Density Measurement Principles
• Overview of API MPMS Ch. 8
• Sampling Systems
  • Sample Probes, Regulators, Filters and Cylinders
  • Static Mixers
  • Automatic Sampling Apparatus
• Process Analysers
  • Characteristic vs. Composition
  • Principles of Operation
  • Spectroscopy
• Chromatography
  • Principles of Operation
  • Typical Implementation

 

Thursday, April 17, 2025 : Central Time

 

Process Instrumentation and Flow Computing

• Pressure and Temperature Transmitters and Recorders
  • Transmitters and Transducers
  • Chart Recorders and Chart Integration
• PLCs, Flow Computers, RTUs and Distributed Control Systems
  • What is a Flow Computer?
  • Overview of API MPMS Chapters 21.1 and 21.2
  • What is an RTU, PLC or Distributed Control System?
• Tickets and Proving Reports
  • Requirements
  • Typical Reports

Back Office Systems and Business Processes

• Data Collection, Validation, Storage and Retrieval
  • Types of Records
  • Measurement Data Processing Systems
  • SCADA Systems
  • Data Historians
  • Telecommunications and Security
• Measurement Data Analysis
  • Overview of Analysis Processes
  • Integration with Business Processes and Field Operations
• Data Validation and Corrections
  • Validation Principles (Validation vs. Calibration)
  • Correction Tools and Techniques
• End-of-Month Processes
  • Totalization and Balancing
  • What is Shrinkage?
  • What is Measurement by Difference?
  • What is Lost and Unaccounted-For?
    • Physical Balance
    • Commercial Balance
  • Error Management and Problem Escalation
  • Commercial Balance Reconciliation

Equipment Calibration and Maintenance

• Flow and/or Volume Calibration
  • Calibration vs. Verification vs. Inspection
  • Industry Practices
  • Witnessing
• In-Situ Flow Verification vs. Off-Site
  • Meter Proving
    • Prover Types and Operation
    • Proving Reports
    • Water Draws
• Secondary Equipment
  • Pressure and Temperature Measurement
  • Density Measurement, including Hydrometers
  • Process Analyzers
  • Tools and Procedures
    • Test Equipment
    • Traceability
    • Procedures and Best Practices
  • Training and Certification
• Tertiary Equipment
  • Flow Computer Verification
    • References and Tools
  • RTUs, PLCs, DCS and Other Devices
    • Verification Challenges
    • Approvals and Certification

Milestone Events and Processes

• Design
  • Participants and Roles
  • Engineering Standards
• Construction
  • Transport, Storage and Assembly
  • Successful Migration of Off-Site Calibration to the Field Site
• Commissioning
  • Typical Steps
  • Documentation
  • Compliance Checking
  • Turnover to Operations
• Audits and Disputes
  • Contractual and Tariff Limits
  • Audits and Dispute Resolution
  • Uncertainty Analysis

Overview of Industry Standards, Contracts and Regulations

• Industry Standards from API and GPA
  • Flow Measurement-Related
  • Fluid Quality Related
  • Flow Computing-Related
  • Contracts and Tariffs
• Tariffs, Contracts and Templates
  • Overview of Functions and Roles
  • Legal Requirements
  • Typical Pipeline Tariffs and Requirements
  • Typical operating agreements
• Regulatory Requirements and Agencies
  • FERC/NEB
  • Measurement Canada (as applicable)
  • Environmental Agencies

Warren Peterson, Founder, Peterson Measurement

Warren Peterson is a measurement specialist with over 40 years of experience in the oil & gas industry. Throughout his career he has worked for companies like Alliance Pipeline, TC Energy, and Kenonic Controls, specializing in flow measurement and the determination of fluid properties. Along with pipeline operating experience, he has been active in industry standards and research. On that foundation, he incorporated his own consulting company, Peterson Measurement, Inc. in late 2017.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Liquid Hydrocarbon Measurement Fundamentals

April 16-17, 2025 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before March 14, 2025 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.4 CEUs for this event

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations, interactive group exercise, and group discussion will be used during this course.

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 16.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend 

• Engineers and technicians specializing in flow measurement, instrumentation, and process control within the hydrocarbon industry
• Professionals responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of hydrocarbon facilities, including fluid measurement, equipment calibration, and maintenance
• Individuals involved in ensuring compliance with federal, regional, and international regulations related to fluid measurement and quality in the hydrocarbon sector
• Professionals focused on maintaining and improving the quality of hydrocarbon fluids, including those responsible for implementing analytical methods and ensuring adherence to industry standards
• Managers overseeing technical aspects and projects related to the design, construction, and commissioning of hydrocarbon facilities, with a focus on fluid measurement systems
• Individuals responsible for understanding and implementing industry standards from organizations such as API and GPA, ensuring adherence to best practices in fluid measurement
• Individuals involved in environmental impact assessments and safety considerations within the hydrocarbon industry, with a focus on fluid quality and measurement-related processes