Reliable calibration using hydrocarbons

Because of the national Measures and Verification Acts as well as international standards (OIML R117, API, etc.), it is common practice in the oil industry for custody transfer measuring points to be calibrated or verified on site using a reference – e.g. a master meter or a piston prover. Such measurements are often complex, costly or impossible for practical reasons. This is why Wintershall Dea was looking for an option to avoid on-site verifications while remaining compliant with the law.

With the hydrocarbon flow calibration rig in Reinach (CH), Endress+Hauser was able to offer Wintershall Dea a real alternative to costly on-site calibrations. The calibration measurements were taken at various flow rates and viscosities. This made it possible to determine correction factors depending on the flow rate (Q) and the Reynolds number (Re) to ensure full compliance with the legally required maximum permissible error on site.

• Flow range: 2 to 1200 m3/h (13 to 7548 bbl/hour)

• Viscosity range: 15 to 300 cSt

• Nominal diameter range: DN 50 to 400 (2 to 16")

• Expanded measurement uncertainty: ±0.05% o.r.

• Primary reference devices: piston provers

• Secondary reference devices (master meters): „Promass“ Coriolis flowmeters

• Accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025

• Calibration in accordance with either OIML R117 or API MPMS Ch. 4.8