250.1202—Liquid hydrocarbon measurement.
(1)
Submit a written application to, and obtain approval from, the Regional Supervisor before commencing liquid hydrocarbon production, or making any changes to the previously-approved measurement and/or allocation procedures. Your application (which may also include any relevant gas measurement and surface commingling requests) must be accompanied by payment of the service fee listed in § 250.125. The service fees are divided into two levels based on complexity as shown in the following table.
| Application type | Actions |
|---|---|
| (i) Simple applications | Applications to temporarily reroute production (for a duration not to exceed six months); Production tests prior to pipeline construction; Departures related to meter proving, well testing, or sampling frequency. |
| (ii) Complex applications | Creation of new facility measurement points (FMPs); Association of leases or units with existing FMPs; Inclusion of production from additional structures; Meter updates which add buy-back gas meters or pigging meters; Other applications which request deviations from the approved allocation procedures. |
(2)
Use measurement equipment that will accurately measure the liquid hydrocarbons produced from a lease or unit;
(3)
Use procedures and correction factors according to the applicable chapters of the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198, when obtaining net standard volume and associated measurement parameters; and
(4)
When requested by the Regional Supervisor, provide the pipeline (retrograde) condensate volumes as allocated to the individual leases or units.
(1)
Ensure that the royalty meter facilities include the following approved components (or other MMS-approved components) which must be compatible with their connected systems:
(iii)
Prevent the meter from being subjected to shock pressures greater than the maximum working pressure; and
(ii)
Meters operate within the manufacturer's specifications for maximum and minimum flow rate for linear accuracy; and
(iii)
Meters are reproven when changes in metering conditions affect the meters' performance such as changes in pressure, temperature, density (water content), viscosity, pressure, and flow rate.
(i)
The sampling point is in the flowstream immediately upstream or downstream of the meter or divert valve (in accordance with the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198 );
(ii)
The sample container is vapor-tight and includes a power mixing device to allow complete mixing of the sample before removal from the container; and
(iii)
The sample probe is in the center half of the pipe diameter in a vertical run and is located at least three pipe diameters downstream of any pipe fitting within a region of turbulent flow. The sample probe can be located in a horizontal pipe if adequate stream conditioning such as power mixers or static mixers are installed upstream of the probe according to the manufacturer's instructions.
(1)
For royalty meters, ensure that the run tickets clearly identify all observed data, all correction factors not included in the meter factor, and the net standard volume.
(2)
For royalty tanks, ensure that the run tickets clearly identify all observed data, all applicable correction factors, on/off seal numbers, and the net standard volume.
(3)
Pull a run ticket at the beginning of the month and immediately after establishing the monthly meter factor or a malfunction meter factor.
(4)
Send all run tickets for royalty meters and tanks to the Regional Supervisor within 15 days after the end of the month;
(2)
Ensure that the integrity of the prover calibration is traceable to test measures certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
(3)
Prove each operating royalty meter to determine the meter factor monthly, but the time between meter factor determinations must not exceed 42 days. When a force majeure event precludes the required monthly meter proving, meters must be proved within 15 days after being returned to service. The meters must be proved monthly thereafter, but the time between meter factor determinations must not exceed 42 days;
(4)
Obtain approval from the Regional Supervisor before proving on a schedule other than monthly; and
(5)
Submit copies of all meter proving reports for royalty meters to the Regional Supervisor monthly within 15 days after the end of the month.
(e) What are the requirements for calibrating a master meter used in royalty meter provings?
You must:
(1)
Calibrate the master meter to obtain a master meter factor before using it to determine operating meter factors;
(2)
Use a fluid of similar gravity, viscosity, temperature, and flow rate as the liquid hydrocarbons that flow through the operating meter to calibrate the master meter;
(4)
Calibrate the master meter by recording runs until the results of two consecutive runs (if a tank prover is used) or five out of six consecutive runs (if a mechanical-displacement prover is used) produce meter factor differences of no greater than 0.0002. Lessees must use the average of the two (or the five) runs that produced acceptable results to compute the master meter factor;
(5)
Install the master meter upstream of any back-pressure or reverse flow check valves associated with the operating meter. However, the master meter may be installed either upstream or downstream of the operating meter; and
(f) What are the requirements for calibrating mechanical-displacement provers and tank provers?
You must:
(1)
Calibrate mechanical-displacement provers and tank provers at least once every 5 years according to the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198; and
(2)
Submit a copy of each calibration report to the Regional Supervisor within 15 days after the calibration.
(g) What correction factors must I use when proving meters with a mechanical-displacement prover, tank prover, or master meter?
Calculate the following correction factors using the API MPMS as referenced in 30 CFR 250.198 :
(h) What are the requirements for establishing and applying operating meter factors for liquid hydrocarbons?
(1)
If you use a mechanical-displacement prover, you must record proof runs until five out of six consecutive runs produce a difference between individual runs of no greater than .05 percent. You must use the average of the five accepted runs to compute the meter factor.
(2)
If you use a master meter, you must record proof runs until three consecutive runs produce a total meter factor difference of no greater than 0.0005. The flow rate through the meters during the proving must be within 10 percent of the rate at which the line meter will operate. The final meter factor is determined by averaging the meter factors of the three runs;
(3)
If you use a tank prover, you must record proof runs until two consecutive runs produce a meter factor difference of no greater than .0005. The final meter factor is determined by averaging the meter factors of the two runs; and
(i) Under what circumstances does a liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter need to be taken out of service, and what must I do?
(1)
If the difference between the meter factor and the previous factor exceeds 0.0025 it is a malfunction factor, and you must:
(iii)
Apply the average of the malfunction factor and the previous factor to the production measured through the meter between the date of the previous factor and the date of the malfunction factor; and
(iv)
Indicate that a meter malfunction occurred and show all appropriate remarks regarding subsequent repairs or adjustments on the proving report.
(ii)
Apply the previous meter factor to the production run between the date of that factor and the date of the failure; and
(3)
If the results of a royalty meter proving exceed the run tolerance criteria and all measures excluding the adjustment or repair of the meter cannot bring results within tolerance, you must:
(j) How must I correct gross liquid hydrocarbon volumes to standard conditions?
To correct gross liquid hydrocarbon volumes to standard conditions, you must:
(1)
Include Cpl factors in the meter factor calculation or list and apply them on the appropriate run ticket.
(2)
List Ctl factors on the appropriate run ticket when the meter is not automatically temperature compensated.
(k) What are the requirements for liquid hydrocarbon allocation meters?
For liquid hydrocarbon allocation meters you must:
(1)
Take samples continuously proportional to flow or daily (use the procedure in the applicable chapter of the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198 ;
(3)
Prove operating allocation meters monthly if they measure 50 or more barrels per day per meter the previous month. When a force majeure event precludes the required monthly meter proving, meters must be proved within 15 days after being returned to service. The meters must be proved monthly thereafter; or
(4)
Prove operating allocation meters quarterly if they measure less than 50 barrels per day per meter the previous month. When a force majeure event precludes the required quarterly meter proving, meters must be proved within 15 days after being returned to service. The meters must be proved quarterly thereafter;
(6)
Adjust and reprove the meter if the meter factor differs from the previous meter factor by more than 2 percent and less than 7 percent;
(7)
For turbine meters, remove from service, inspect and reprove the meter if the factor differs from the previous meter factor by more than 2 percent and less than 7 percent;
(8)
Repair and reprove, or replace and prove the meter if the meter factor differs from the previous meter factor by 7 percent or more; and
(1)
Equip each royalty and inventory tank with a vapor-tight thief hatch, a vent-line valve, and a fill line designed to minimize free fall and splashing;
(2)
For royalty tanks, submit a complete set of calibration charts (tank tables) to the Regional Supervisor before using the tanks for royalty measurement;
(3)
For inventory tanks, retain the calibration charts for as long as the tanks are in use and submit them to the Regional Supervisor upon request; and
(4)
Obtain the volume and other measurement parameters by using correction factors and procedures in the API MPMS as incorporated by reference in 30 CFR 250.198.