With enhanced calculation and reporting capabilities, it is
possible to perform necessary calculations, view the proving
schedule, and trend and display meter factors. These solutions
also automate the proving reporting process, with information
automatically pulled into appropriate databases so there is no
lag time from when proving is done and field operators pass off
reports for use by specialists.
Improved technology for alerts and notifications makes
problems immediately visible so appropriate actions can be taken.
Personnel gain insights into both successful and failed proving
runs, and can accurately predict asset maintenance requirements
to prevent pipeline shutdowns. Alerts notify users when a proving
is complete and there is a shift in meter factor.
Lastly, proving compliance and tracking information can
now be provided in an integrated system with enterprise access
available to a variety of users – from management, to the
measurement team, field technicians, and engineering department.
This enables diverse stakeholders to access critical data to
improve their performance. Security and permission is based on
the user’s role so they only view information relevant to their job
function.
Benefits to end users
Thanks to ongoing innovations in meter data management
technology, pipeline operators are able to effectively manage the
maintenance and calibration of pipe provers and meter proving
across commodities by performing robust trend analysis and
analytics on proving data.
The specific benefits to end-users include:
)
)
Effective information management made possible by a single
source of the truth, combined with improved data quality,
integrity, availability and security.
)
)
Enhanced operational efficiencies through increased uptime
and reliability; improved proving schedule visibility; faster
detection of equipment problems; and increased visibility of
the frequency of commodity change, volume and flowrate.
)
)
Prevention of unplanned shutdowns resulting from meter
proving issues and failures.
)
)
Greater employee productivity (up to 10% reduction in meter
proving activities) due to an infrastructure that supports
improved work processes, reduces the time required for
meter proving activities, expands data access, automates trend
analysis, and minimises reporting effort.
)
)
Improved safety and regulatory compliance enabled by real
time visibility of meter/pipeline reliability, as well as pipe
volumes and materials for incident management.
)
)
Effective tracking of audit records to demonstrate compliance.
)
)
Reduction in the time needed to meet audit requirements.
)
)
Reduction in fines, which could represent thousands of dollars
per incident.
)
)
Avoidance of lawsuits potentially costing millions.
)
)
Protection of company image and reputation.
Experience in the field has shown that an improved
pipeline metering solution can significantly reduce the costs
associated with proving data manipulation. It can also shorten
the time required for a typical proving, and as such, minimise
labour hours. Increased visibility into meter and pipeline
reliability prevents system downtime, and operators can better
detect prover anomalies and poor measurement performance.
Overall, enhanced pipeline metering and measurement
technology is the answer to lowering the cost of audit findings,
avoiding penalties for failed audits, and reducing the potential for
legal action stemming from inaccurate custody transfer.
Conclusion
Automation suppliers have developed
powerful, scalable applications to help oil
and gas companies overcome the challenge
of accessing data from multiple sources and
turning it into actionable information. Aside
from improvements in pipeline meter proving
compliance and tracking, these solutions can
address many aspects of equipment health
monitoring and asset management. They provide
an integrated environment where users can
view and assess different types and classes
of assets across the enterprise – calculating
and monitoring equipment efficiency and
reliability, and ensuring a low cost-of-ownership
throughout the asset lifecycle.
Figure 6.
Proving schedule management and tracking capabilities allows the
schedule for proving runs to be stored, updated and adjusted based on actual
meter factors.
Figure 5.
Improved technology for alerts and notifications
makes problems immediately visible so appropriate actions can
be taken.
74
World Pipelines
/
FEBRUARY 2016
