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Sun Selects Hoffer Flowmeters For Custody Transfer Pipelines
Of pipelines criss-cross the US providing the safest and most
economical transportation of petroleumproducts.Sun Pipeline
operates and oversees more than 7000 miles of crude oil and
petroleumproduct pipelines in 12 states and has additional
equity interests in another 3000 miles of pipelines in 3 other
states. Sun has selected Hoffer Flow Controls' premiumperformance
American Petroleum Institute (API) rated flowmeters to monitor
these lines.
In house calibration facilities allow Hoffer to
verify
flowmeter performance for Sun Pipeline. |
"We operate as a common carrier transporter of
crude oil, gasoline,home heating oil, diesel fuel and
petrochemicals which are produced and marketed not only
by Sun, but by several other energy companies. Flow
measurement accuracy is crucial to our ability to adequately
service pipeline customers,"according to Mr. Pat
Rowell, measurement technician for Region III, Eastern
Area of Sun Pipeline Company, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Sun Company, Philadelphia, PA. Pat continues "Constant
maintenance and verification of precise line balances
throughout our custody transfer pipeline are key to
profitability and pipeline integrity. Computer analysis
and processing of flow rate and volume data from all
pipeline divisions, within the network, are instantaneously
transmitted via satellite,microwave and phone lines
to our Philadelphia, PA facility. Most important for
flow measurement integrity are premium performance turbine
flowmeters that provide consistent linearity and repeatability,
regardless of the specific gravity and viscosity of
liquid petroleum products being transferred"
Pipeline operators have extensive safety systems and
programs in place to assure pipeline performance. They
include: computer- computer- assisted control centers
capable of detecting and interpreting subtle pressure
and flow changes in the pipeline; regular air patrols
by experienced pilots and observers; periodic ground
patrols for detailed inspection of the pipeline environment;
and, continuous monitoring of the product flow.
Sun Pipeline Company's Eastern Area pipelines cover
nearly 2500 miles in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio and Michigan. Metering stations throughout the
region monitor the network. "Flow rate data from
each metering station is compared to assure accurate
line pressure and flow balances. Each flow- meter is
calibrated monthly to verify accuracy of the readings,"
Rowell explains.
Sun requires that the meters meet API Chapter 5.3 requirements
and maintain at least ±0.02 repeatability for
their custody transfer. There are only four vendors
worldwide capable of supplying a premiumperformance
turbine flowmeter that complies with the API standard.
Sun also demands the meter calibration is proven before
putting it on line. It is critical that the turbine
meter vendor consistently meet Sun's rigorous proving
program; otherwise, valuable man hours are wasted proving
and rejection out-of-spec meters.
Hoffer is proud to be Sun's vendor of choice for pipeline
applications.
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