Pipeline transport is the long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas through a system of pipes (a pipeline) typically to a market area for consumption. Storage terminals are a key piece of infrastructure in the transportation of hydrocarbons. These facilities receive and store crude oil, provide connectivity to multiple markets, and ensure product batch quality. Storage terminals also provide opportunities to capitalize on commodity price variations.

Custody Transfer refers to the transactions involving transporting physical substance from one operator to another. Custody transfer takes place any time fluids are passed from the possession of one party to another.

During custody transfer, accuracy is of great importance to both the company delivering the material and the eventual recipient, when transferring a material. Custody transfer takes place any time fluids are passed from the possession of one party to another.

The term “fiscal metering” is often interchanged with custody transfer and refers to metering that is a point of a commercial transaction such as when a change in ownership takes place.

Custody transfer generally involves:

• Industry standards;
• National metrology standards;
• Contractual agreements between custody transfer parties; and
• Government regulation and taxation.

Due to the high level of accuracy required during custody transfer applications, the flowmeters which are used to perform this are subject to approval by an organization such as the American Petroleum Institute (API). Custody transfer operations can occur at a number of points along the way; these may include operations, transactions or transferring of oil from an oil production platform to a ship, barge, railcar, truck and also to the final destination point, such as a refinery.

EPI&C specializes in Terminal Automation, Flow Computing, Loading/Unloading Measurement skids for Trucks and Railcars, LACT, Proving, Blending, Quality Measurement Skids or Analyzer Buildings. Whatever your needs we are here to help you design, fabricate and commission your project.