SAES-Y-103 PDF – Custody Metering of Hydrocarbon Liquids

This article is about SAES-Y-103 which is about Custody Metering of Hydrocarbon Liquids and download SAES-Y-103 PDF for process and piping engineers, supervisors and project managers, Welding QCs, QC Supervisors. This is saudi aramco standards of Custody Metering Engineering based on international codes and standards and useful for piping and process engineering knowledge to get job as engineers, QC Supervisors and QC managers, Engineering managers and technicians.

SAES-Y-103 PDF Download

SAES-Y-103

Custody Metering of Hydrocarbon Liquids

The SAES-Y-103 Standard outlines the essential requirements for designing, constructing, and installing metering stations and equipment used in the measurement of royalty and custody transfer of liquid hydrocarbons. This includes hydrocarbons such as crude oil, petroleum products, butane, non-refrigerated propane, and natural gas liquids.

However, it’s important to note that this standard does not cover measurement applications involving refrigerated propane (covered by Specification A-140), liquefied petroleum gas (covered by Specification A-150), and asphalt. For projects involving these specific hydrocarbons, the Saudi Aramco Project Management Team (SAPMT) should consult with the relevant departments such as P&CSD (Project & Construction Support Department), PASD (Project Analysis & Support Department), or the Custody Measurement Unit to determine the specific requirements applicable to royalty or custody measurement.

General Requirements

In order to ensure compliance with the SAES-Y-103 Standard and approved project functional specifications, the Saudi Aramco Project Management Team (SAPMT) holds the responsibility of overseeing the design and construction contractors. Their role is to ensure the delivery of a fully operational metering system that meets the requirements outlined in the standard.

Project execution should adhere to the relevant guidelines specified in SAEP-21 or SAEP-50, depending on the applicability to the project.

While the detailed requirements for each measurement application and measurement equipment can be found in Sections 6 and 7 of the standard, there are some general requirements that apply to all categories of royalty and custody transfer measurement. These general requirements serve as a foundation for ensuring accurate and reliable measurement processes.

Custody Metering general Design

Custody metering systems for liquid hydrocarbons should be sourced from approved vendors as specified in SAES-Y-100, along with the components, instruments, valves, and electrical equipment needed for the system, as specified in SAES-J-002, SAES-L-102, and SAES-P-101, respectively.

When designing the measurement system, it is important to use off-the-shelf components that have been field-proven in similar applications. The design should consider the specific requirements of the metering operation, such as pipeline, marine loading or unloading, truck loading or unloading, or aircraft refueling, defueling, or dispensing. Additionally, information regarding fluid properties (specific gravity, viscosity, vapor pressure), operating temperature and pressure, system flow rates, batch sizes (for crude oil systems), available utilities (electrical power, instrument air), pipe inner diameter, line pressure at the sample point (for crude oil systems), and meter proving method should be provided and considered.

Meter proving, which involves testing the accuracy of the meters, should be incorporated into the design of each meter station. The design should allow for in-situ proving of meters and associated equipment using permanent or portable provers. Pumps and prover inlet and outlet piping should be sized to accommodate the maximum linear or continuous flow rate of each meter.

For each meter and prover, temperature transmitters, test thermowells, pressure transmitters, and pressure gauges should be installed, unless otherwise specified for a particular application. The installation of primary temperature measurement devices and test thermowells should follow the guidelines provided in Standard Drawing AB-036019, while pressure transmitters should adhere to Library Drawings DC-950042 and DC-950043. Pressure gauges should be installed according to the details outlined in Library Drawing DC-950040.

For a group of parallel meters, a manual sampling probe should be provided, and its design requirements can be found in Section 7.3.5 of the standard.

To ensure safe access and operation, the provision of walkways, stairways, platforms, and material handling equipment should comply with the guidelines specified in SAES-B-054.

Custody Metering Layout

In terms of layout, the following requirements should be considered:

1. The meter skid should discharge to only one downstream delivery point.
2. The equipment layout should allow for easy access during operations and maintenance, and equipment removal should be straightforward.
3. Distances between meters and meter provers should be minimized. If a fixed meter proving station is used to serve multiple meters or meter skids (e.g., truck loading), it should be centrally located to reduce the distance between the meters and the prover.
4. Adequate space should be provided near each fixed prover for the placement of prover calibration equipment.
5. If a portable prover is used, space adjacent to the meter skid should be allocated for the prover and its associated equipment (e.g., generators, tank trucks).
6. For positive displacement meters, temperature and pressure measurement devices should be located within a one-meter-long piping segment next to, preferably downstream of, the meter. For turbine meters, these devices should be placed within a 0.5-meter-long pipe segment starting at a distance of 5 pipe diameters downstream from the meter.
7. The specified piping segment should follow the order of device placement: primary temperature measurement device (temperature transmitter, RTD, or thermometer), followed by the test thermowell within a distance of no more than 0.3 meters from the primary temperature measurement device, and then the pressure transmitter and/or pressure gauge.
8. No connections, instruments, or devices, except for the flow conditioning section of a turbine meter, should be located within the upstream section (10 pipe diameters), and the downstream section (5 pipe diameters).
9. Density meters, automatic samplers, and manual sample probes should be positioned according to the instructions provided in Sections 7.3.3, 7.3.4, and 7.3.5, respectively.

Custody Metering Piping

Regarding piping requirements, the following points should be considered:

1. All skid-mounted piping and pressure-containing components should be designed and constructed in accordance with applicable standards such as ASME B31.3, ASME B31.4, SAES-L-105, and 01-SAMSS-010.
2. The ANSI rating of the metering system should match the rating of the inlet piping.
3. A double block-and-bleed valve should be provided whenever valve leakage could result in fluid bypass around a meter or prover, or when fluid could be introduced into a prover after the meter.
4. A bypass around the meter skid is generally not permitted, except if proper justification is provided and approval is obtained from the Chairman, Custody Measurement Standards Committee. If a bypass line is approved, it should include a double block-and-bleed valve.
5. If the metering skid is used for both deliveries and receipts, crossover piping with double block-and-bleed valves and check valves should be installed between the upstream and downstream piping to ensure consistent flow direction through the meters and prover.
6. Each double block-and-bleed valve in butane or propane service should have a cavity bleed equipped with a pressure gauge and vented to a flare or other safe location. In other services, the cavity bleed should discharge to an open funnel.
7. Provision should be made to isolate and drain each individual meter without affecting the operation of adjacent meters.
8. Valve selection should conform to the requirements of SAES-L-108. Gate valves or ball valves may be specified for block valves, except when a double block-and-bleed valve is required.
9. High point vents should be provided in all systems to facilitate the venting of trapped air or vapor.
10. Thermal relief valves should be provided in accordance with SAES-L-140 and should discharge into a closed drainage system or be routed to storage or a holding vessel as per SAES-A-400.
11. The number of vents, drains, and thermal relief valves on the piping between meters and a prover, and between meters and the point of custody transfer, should be minimized. Each vent, drain, or thermal relief point should have means for examination or prevention of leakage. Vents should discharge to an open funnel or be plugged, while drain connections should have a spectacle blind on the discharge side of the drain valve.
12. Threaded connections on meter bodies, prover interchanges, 4-way valves, and double block-and-bleed valves should not be seal welded.
13. Piping should be fabricated and installed with appropriate pipe supports to prevent external stresses and distortion of the meter body.

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Read Also;

SAES-Y-101 PDF Download – Custody Metering of Hydrocarbon Gases

SAES-Y-100 PDF Download – Regulated Vendors List for Royalty/Custody Measurement Equipment