Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 4.5

Master Meter Provers

THIRD EDITION, NOVEMBER 2011 ERRATA, JUNE 2014

Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 4.5

Master Meter Provers

Measurement Coordination Department

THIRD EDITION, NOVEMBER 2011 ERRATA, JUNE 2014

Special Notes

API publications necessarily address problems of a general nature. With respect to particular circumstances, local, state, and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed.

Neither API nor any of API's employees, subcontractors, consultants, committees, or other assignees make any warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained herein, or assume any liability or responsibility for any use, or the results of such use, of any information or process disclosed in this publication. Neither API nor any of API's employees, subcontractors, consultants, or other assignees represent that use of this publication would not infringe upon privately owned rights.

API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any authorities having jurisdiction with which this publication may conflict.

API publications are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices. These publications are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these publications should be utilized. The formulation and publication of API publications is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices.

Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard. API does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that such products do in fact conform to the applicable API standard.

Users of this Standard should not rely exclusively on the information contained in this document. Sound business, scientific, engineering, and safety judgment should be used in employing the information contained herein.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Contact the Publisher, API Publishing Services, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Copyright © 2011 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

Chapter 4 of the Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards was prepared as a guide for the design, installation, calibration, and operation of meter proving systems commonly used by the majority of petroleum operators. The devices and practices covered in this chapter may not be applicable to all liquid hydrocarbons under all operating conditions. Other types of proving devices that are not covered in this chapter may be appropriate for use if agreed upon by the parties involved.

This publication is primarily intended for use in the United States and is related to the standards, specifications, and procedures of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). When the information provided herein is used in other countries, the specifications and procedures of the appropriate national standards organizations may apply. Where appropriate, other test codes and procedures for checking pressure and electrical equipment may be used.

For the purposes of business transactions, limits on error or measurement tolerance are usually set by law, regulation, or mutual agreement between contracting parties. This publication is not intended to set tolerances for such purposes; it is intended only to describe methods by which acceptable approaches to any desired accuracy can be achieved.

API MPMS Chapter 4 now contains the following sections: Section 1, Introduction

Section 2, Displacement Provers

Section 4, Tank Provers

Section 5, Master Meter Provers

Section 6, Pulse Interpolation

Section 7, Field-Standard Test Measures

Section 8, Operation of Proving Systems

Section 9.1, Introduction to Determination of the Volume of Displacement and Tank Provers

Section 9.2, Determination of the Volume of Displacement and Tank Provers by the Waterdraw Method of Calibration

Section 9.3, Determination of the Volume of Displacement Provers by the Master Meter Method of Calibration

Section 9.4, Determination of the Volume of Displacement and Tank Provers by the Gravimetric Method of Calibration

Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right, by implication or otherwise, for the manufacture, sale, or use of any method, apparatus, or product covered by letters patent. Neither should anything contained in the publication be construed as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent.

This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropriate notification and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard. Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this publication or comments and questions concerning the procedures under which this publication was developed should be directed in writing to the Director of Standards, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should also be addressed to the director.

Generally, API standards are reviewed and revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn at least every five years. A one-time extension of up to two years may be added to this review cycle. Status of the publication can be ascertained from the API Standards Department, telephone (202) 682-8000. A catalog of API publications and materials is published annually by API, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Standards Department, API, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, standards@api.org.

iii

Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Applications 2

5. Equipment 2

6. Master Meter Factor (MMF), Proving the Master Meter 3

   1. General 3

   2. Single Operating Flow Rate 3

   3. Multiple Operating Flow Rates 4

   4. Master Meters used in Load Racks 4

   5. Establishing the Master Meter Factor (MMF) 4

   6. Considerations Regarding Uncertainty 5

7. Master Meter Operational Guidelines 5

   1. General 5

   2. Displacement Meters as a Master Meter 7

   3. Turbine Meter as a Master Meter 7

   4. Coriolis Meter as a Master Meter 7

   5. Ultrasonic Meter as a Master Meter 8

8. Master Meter Factor Documentation 8

Annex A (normative) Random Uncertainty Master Meter Factor 9

Annex B (informative) MMF Uncertainty Tolerances 10

Annex C (informative) Master Meter Factor Validation 11

Annex D (informative) Gravimetric Proving 12

Annex E (informative) Coriolis Meter Zeroing Examples 13

Figures

1 Master Meter Configurations 6

Tables

1 Random Uncertainty of Master Meter Factor 5

A.1 Random Uncertainty Master Meter Factor 9

B.1 Alternative MMF Uncertainty Requirements 10

v

Master Meter Provers

1. Scope

   
   

   This standard covers the use of displacement, turbine, Coriolis, and ultrasonic meters as master meters.

   
   

   The requirements in this standard are intended for single-phase liquid hydrocarbons. Meter proving requirements for other fluids should be appropriate for the overall custody transfer accuracy and should be agreeable to the parties involved. This document does not cover master meters to be used for the calibration of provers. For information concerning master meter calibration of provers, see API MPMS Chapter 4.9.3.

   
   

2. Normative References

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

API MPMS Chapter 4.8, Operation of Proving Systems

API MPMS Chapter 4.9.2, Determination of the Volume of Displacement and Tank Provers by the Waterdraw Method of Calibration

API MPMS Chapter 4.9.3, Determination of the Volume of Displacement Provers by the Master Meter Method of Calibration

API MPMS Chapter 5.1, General Considerations for Measurement by Meters

API MPMS Chapter 5.2, Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Displacement Meters

API MPMS Chapter 5.3, Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Turbine Meters

API MPMS Chapter 5.6, Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Coriolis Meters

API MPMS Chapter 5.8, Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Ultrasonic Flow meters Using Transit Time Technology

API MPMS Chapter 12.2.3, Calculation of Petroleum Quantities Using Dynamic Measurement Methods and Volumetric Correction Factors, Part 3—Proving Reports

API MPMS Chapter 13.1, Statistical Concepts and Procedures in Measurement API MPMS Chapter 13.2, Statistical Methods of Evaluating Meter Proving Data API MPMS Chapter 20.1, Allocation Measurement

ISO 4185, Measurement of Liquid Flow in Closed Conduits—Weighing Method

NOTE For additional information regarding gravimetric proving systems.

1