Section 2.

Guide Introduction

Section Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 WHY METERING?

3.0 FISCAL METERING

4.0 CUSTODY TRANSFER

5.0 ENERGY MEASUREMENT

6.0 CHECK METERING

7.0 COST of ACCURACY

8.0 DYNAMIC MEASUREMENT ACCURACY

9.0 FLOW METERING SYSYTEM

Custody Transfer Metering Guide

1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 1
Section 2. Guide Introduction

1.0 Introduction

This Technical Guide has been produced for internal use by BG-
Group only. BG-Group is involved in the production,
transmission and distribution of gas in a number of countries
worldwide. From time to time, staff in those countries request
guidance on issues relating to flow measurement applications
and the object of this document is to provide a dedicated
source of information at a consistent technical level.

The content of this document has been produced to provide

general guidance on the subject of “Custody Transfer Metering”
and must not be used as a substitute for any technical
standards, directives or policies. The technical information that
has been included and referenced within the document is based
on typical system overviews that may or may not be
representative of all applications. As technology and the
standards to which it relates are continually changing, it is
strongly recommended that any information referenced within
this document be verified prior to implementing any action
based on its contents.

It is recommended that the content of this Technical Guide be

periodically revised to ensure it remains representative of
changes incorporated within future revisions to technical
practices or applicable standards. The revision control table of
this document should be updated and approved following each
revision requirement.

This guide includes references to the 3 main primary meter

types; Orifice Meters, Ultrasonic Meters and Turbine Meters
with an additional section on Coriolis Meters and a reference
section for “other” metering options. Many of the examples of
system requirements have been produced as an example for
Orifice Meters, as this primary device is still the most commonly
used worldwide for Custody Transfer applications. However, the
differences in system design, operation and calibration for the
other primary devices are included and appropriately
referenced.

Section 2 of this Technical Guide lists the main headings for

each of the sections for easy reference. Each section is then
Custody Transfer Metering Guide
1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 2
Section 2. Guide Introduction

divided into the appropriate subject areas. For example, if

guidance is required on flow computer maintenance mode
selection, look to section 2 for main heading reference relating
to “Flow Computers” (section 17) and then the sub-section
menu for maintenance mode (subject area 16).

2.0 Why Metering?

Flow is measured for one or more of the following reasons:

 To enable a flow rate to be set, e.g. water supply from a

reservoir feeding demand to the local grid.

 To enable a process to be controlled consistently and

economically, e.g. fuel supply, which must remain within a
stated energy value, for a gas turbine; too rich a gas would
result in incomplete burning of the fuel; too lean a gas would
cause excessive wear and tear of the turbine.

 To provide accurate measurement for accounting purposes,

e.g. fiscal or custody transfer.

The type of instrumentation and devices required depends on

which of the above is the prime reason for measurement.

 If measurement is necessary for process control, absolute

accuracy may not be essential; good repeatability may
suffice.

 If measurement is necessary for accounting purposes,

(fiscal/custody transfer) then dedicated equipment will most
likely be utilised, i.e. a measurement system. The emphasis
will be on the accuracy of measurement.

3.0 Fiscal Metering

It is crucial that the industrialised nations of the world have

ready access to an uninterrupted supply of sources of energy.
The seemingly insatiable demand by the worlds industrialised
nations for a relatively cheap and readily available source of
energy is largely satisfied by the gas producing countries’ of
Custody Transfer Metering Guide
1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 3
Section 2. Guide Introduction

the world.

The countries that produce and sell these process commodities

must accurately assess the quantity and quality of their fluid
assets. Purchasers of process want to verify that they have
received the quantity of process for which they have been
charged and that the quality is acceptable. The term given to
the procedure of accurately measuring and totalising a flowing
process is METERING.

The gas producing companies may have a legal responsibility

to declare to the appropriate Government the amount of
process they have produced in a recognised accounting period
so that the Government may assess the amount of duty (tax)
that is payable.

In this case the Government has a vested interest in ensuring

that the methods, principles and practices involved in the
measurement of these processes are as accurate as today’s
technology will allow. Inaccuracies of 0.1% can result in
$Millions of lost tax revenue, (and company profits).

Wherever process metering is subject to taxation levies the

metering process is termed FISCAL METERING.

Standards are defined, and adherence to these standards

monitored, for the purpose of fiscal measurements. The
responsibility for defining and monitoring the standards may
fall under the durisdiction of a Government body. For example,
the Department of Trade and Industry – Oil & Gas Directorate,
in UK.

4.0 Custody Transfer

As previously discussed, wherever process metering is subject

to taxation levies the metering process is termed FISCAL
METERING.

When a seller and a buyer arrange the sale and subsequent

purchase of a quantity of process and no taxation levies are
directly involved in the sale, (i.e. the government are not
Custody Transfer Metering Guide
1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 4
Section 2. Guide Introduction

interested in the exchange) the exchange of process is termed

CUSTODY TRANSFER. In the majority of custody transfer
agreements the accuracy of measurement will be the similar to
that required for fiscal measurement. It should be noted,
however, that the accuracy and quality of measurement is a
private contractual agreement between the buyer and seller.

5.0 Energy Measurement

Generally, gas is traded in energy terms therefore Custody

Transfer/Fiscal metering facilities are required to measure
energy flow in joules per unit time, typically MJ/Day, GJ/Day of
TJ/Day.

In section 23 – Gas System Calculations, the calculation for

energy flow rate is detailed for the three main primary devices
included within this Technical Guide.

For a flow computer to calculate energy flow it requires the

value of Calorific Value (CV) of the measured gas, since energy
flow rate (Qe) is calculated as follows:

Qe = QVstd x CV (J/per unit time)

Where:

Qvstd - Is the standard volume flow rate.

CV - Is the calorific value of the gas (at the contractual

measurement conditions, see section 5 – Gas
Contracts).

CV is gas composition dependent (giving varying heat content

when burnt) and can be measured directly by Calorimeter (see
section 20) or calculated from gas compositional analysis in
accordance with the relevant contractual requirement (see
section 5 – Gas Contracts) i.e. ISO 6976:1995(E).

The gas composition is derived from on-line chromatograph

(OGC) analysis (see section 19 – chromatography) and
Custody Transfer Metering Guide
1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 5
Section 2. Guide Introduction

downloaded automatically to the stream flow computer (see

section 17 – flow computers. Alternatively gas composition
data, obtained from an off-line analysis of a gas sample, may
be manually input into the flow computer as a preset
composition that is updated periodically to be representative of
the flowing gas.

6.0 Check Metering

It is feasible, and indeed relatively common, for the same

volume of process to be quantified more than once. Given the
scenario of a seller and a corresponding buyer of process, e.g. a
gas supplier selling to a gas fired power station. The quantity
sold may be measured by the supplier and transferred through
a pipeline to the power station. The power station may wish to
verify receipt of the invoiced quantity. In this case, the power
station may utilise it’s own flow measurement facilities.
Comparison in this manner is termed CHECK METERING.

7.0 Cost of Accuracy

Why is it necessary to make a distinction between high

accuracy measurement and lower accuracy measurement? The
higher the accuracy of measurement that is required, then the
more expensive it is to provide and maintain. Accuracy costs
money. It should be noted, however, that the cost of inaccuracy
of measurement is, more often than not, more costly.

In any measurement system it is imperative that the

measurement device not only be accurate, but remain
repeatable between calibration checks. Modern day
measurement of hydrocarbons is achieved by the utilisation of
an automatic metering system which provides a high degree of
overall accuracy and repeatability. The system may be
operated efficiently and conveniently with the minimum of
supervision.

Accuracy is not a natural phenomenon. Accuracy is, for all

intents and purposes, designed and manufactured. When

Custody Transfer Metering Guide

1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 6
Section 2. Guide Introduction

designing a flow measurement system a number of factors

must be considered.

 The properties of the fluid being measured

 The accuracy of measurement required

 The availability of devices

 The operational requirements

 The cost of metering, (initial and long term)

Consideration must also be given to applicable Standards,

Codes of Practices, Authoritative legislation etc, to ensure that
the method of measurement will benefit from established
practice and experience and, in addition, comply with
legislative requirements.

8.0 Dynamic Measurement Accuracy

It is important to realise the difference between measuring a

fluid in either ‘static’ or ‘dynamic’ modes. Static measurement
is possible when the fluid is not in motion; e.g. stabilised
condenaste storage tank measurements are ‘static
measurements’. Measurement of fluid in motion is termed
‘dynamic measurement’ and additional problems, not present
in static mode, are introduced.

A major complication is the continuous nature of the fluid being

measured. Measurement of discrete components, e.g. ball
bearings, may be performed with absolute accuracy by
counting the number of ball bearings. For fluids in continuous
motion this is not possible, as discrete measurement cannot be
carried out. The fluid must be broken down into small, inferred
increments of volume. The accuracy of this method of
measurement is not absolute and there always exists some
level of error which makes the accuracy of the measurement
uncertain.

Custody Transfer Metering Guide

1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 7
Section 2. Guide Introduction

Hence measurement of a fluid in dynamic mode always has

some uncertainty associated with it (see section 24 of this
Technical Guide fro further details). For example, uncertainty is
typically quoted in terms of a finite percentage of the
measurement to 95% confidence limits. For example, an
uncertainty of ±1% means that the actual value is its measured
value ±1% 19 times out of 20 (95%).

Note that as well as the actual value being uncertain, the errors
are purely random rather than being systematic which is why
uncertainties are quoted as a tolerance of ±.

9.0 Flow Metering System

The purpose of a metering system is to measure, control and

accumulate data on the flowing fluid.

A fiscal metering system incorporates separate liquid and gas

metering skids. The liquid and gas metering panels may be
separate or combined.

To define ‘metering (measurement) requirements’ refer to the

block diagram over.

The blue coded blocks detail what is required at the design

stage of a metering system including:

 A knowledge of the process

 Applicable Standards / requirements

 Regulative considerations

 Process handling, including transportation

 Process allocation and accounting

The green coded blocks detail physical aspects; equipment,

hardware and software including:
Custody Transfer Metering Guide
1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 8
Section 2. Guide Introduction

 The primary mode of measurement (flow meter)

 The meter associated secondary instrumentation

 Process quality equipment, such as samplers and analysers

 Data computation and accumulation (flow computers)

 System distributive control and monitoring (supervisory

database)

The red coded blocks identify requirements to maintain

accuracy and integrity including:

 Calibration and maintenance techniques

 Documentation and records (system certification, logbooks

etc)

 System (independent) auditing

Custody Transfer Metering Guide

1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 9
Section 2. Guide Introduction

Custody Transfer Metering Guide

1st Edition September 2002
Section 2 Page 10