How Is Oil Measured In the Field

Oil and gas metering or measurement is the phase along the hydrocarbon supply value chain where exploration and production (E&P) efforts turn into profits for operators, investors, and other relevant stakeholders.

 Hydrocarbon metering is carried out using specialized and high-precision equipment to ensure accuracy. Oil and gas measurement is the process of quantifying the mass or volume of hydrocarbons produced as the oil & gas is sold to a buyer along the supply chain. In the United States, oil and gas metering usually begins at the wellsite, as mandated by law.

Crude oil is an unrefined mix of hydrocarbon fluid that has been obtained from an oil well. This liquid is primarily what is sold as a commodity. The unit of sale is barrels of crude (BBL) which is equivalent to 42 US gallons. After separating water molecules and sediment from crude, the volume can be ascertained using one of two methods:

For small volumes (1-100 barrels of oil per day), oil measurement is carried out directly from storage tanks in runs.  A run is the process of drawing oil drawn from a lease location and transporting it off-site for treatment.

Crude Oil Measurement

Crude oil is the term used for oil that has been obtained from an oil well. It is an unrefined mix of hydrocarbon fluid, hence the term “crude oil.” This liquid is likely to contain water and numerous other impurities in its raw form. This liquid is primarily sold as a commodity.

Crude oil is measured in one of three ways:

  • BBL (42-gallon barrel): You’ll often see this unit of measurement specified on or SI system.a royalty statement.
  • SI: Oil volumes are measured in metric tonnes in countries that use the metric
  • Metric tonnes (mt): This measurement is generally used in Europe and the former Soviet Union. One metric tonne equals 2,204 pounds.

When the amount of crude oil to be measured is between 1 and 100 BOPD, the volume of a stock tank is measured before and after the oil tank has been emptied. Measurements are taken using a weighted measuring strap that’s lowered into the oil storage tank.

For larger volumes of crude oil (between 100 and 1000 BOPD, measurements are taken automatically using a system called LACT (Lease Automatic Custody Transfer).

According to the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), viscosity is one of an oil’s most important physical properties. It is often one of the first parameters measured by most oil analysis labs because of its importance to oil condition and lubrication. But what do we really mean when we talk about an oil’s viscosity?

A lubricating oil’s viscosity is typically measured and defined in two ways, either based on its kinematic viscosity or its absolute (dynamic) viscosity. While the descriptions may seem similar, there are important distinctions between the two.

In conclusion, Oil and gas measurement has the effort to be turned into profit for investors and other relevant stakeholder. The barrel is the most common unit for measuring oil volume and oil production is often reported in barrels per day.

Sources: IFSOLUTION.COM

PHEASANTENERGY.COM

LUBRICATION.COM

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