Metering in Pipelines

Pipeline operators are important agents for product owners, since they transport valuable products from one point to another. Usually, transportation fees are much lower than the price of the products (crude oil, gasoline, diesel, natural gas). In this sense, controlling moved quantities and minimizing the risk of losses are essential not only to guarantee good service provision from pipeline operators perspective but also to reduce business risk for these owners, called “shippers” in our industry. This chapter discusses good practices concerning measurement systems, reliability and accordance of measurement, conciliation, lost and unaccounted for (gas and liquid) and measurement management. An approach to recommended technologies, calibration precautions, and other management recommendations for this important process is presented, hoping to contribute in a valuable way to this business. Efficient measurement represents optimized logistics, which in the value chain ends up reducing costs and benefiting the society, since better prices for these products can be offered.