Improving industry accuracy
With no budget, apart from the man-hour costs provided by each participant company, and a short timeframe, the IOGP IASSC Level Measurement Task Force faced a tough challenge in drafting and publishing a recommended practice for multi-layer fluid interface measurement.
Under Marc Baqué’s leadership as chair, the Task Force’s 14 members began by looking at the main international level measurement standards – API, BS, ISO, IEC, and ISA – as well as product supplier guidance and oil and gas company specifications.
“We received over 300 comments and integrating this set of information quickly wasn’t easy – but Task Force volunteers were very professional and efficient,” said Marc.
“Measurement of single and multi-layer level in the hydrocarbon processing industries is commonly needed, but doing so accurately is often challenging.”
“There are many situations that require level measurement. These can involve, for example, pure fluids, corrosives and slurries. The environment for these level sensors varies from vacuum to high pressure and from low to high temperature.”
To deal with these varied situations and environments, many types of sensors, employing a variety of measurement techniques, have been developed. These include externally mounted displacers, differential pressure transmitters, guided wave radar, ultrasonic transducers, single-electrode and multi-electrode capacitance sensors.
However, the methods used in the hydrocarbon process for measuring the single and multi-layer are limited, since whatever method used has to take into account the need for high reliability within the context of fluid variety and harsh environments.
Now, the Task Force has successfully delivered a recommended practice on level measurement that will facilitate the oil and gas industry to adopt standardised solutions for this important area.
Marc is an Instrumentation Specialist with Total, based in Paris.
Download Hydrocarbon process single and multi-layer level measurement – Recommended Practice from the publications library.
