1. Book 1: Chapter 6 Products Pipelining

2. Objectives After reading the chapter and reviewing the materials presented the students will be able to: Understand products pipeline networks Identify pipeline systems Describe control of products movement Explain breakout tanks Classify product measurement Examine environmental considerations

3. Product Pipeline Networks For all practical purposes, products consists of gasoline of different grades, kerosene, turbine (jet) fuels, and heating oils. Product pipeline systems have their beginnings at refineries. The principal reason for the existence of product pipelines is economics. All major refineries use product pipelines in addition to water shipping.

4. Control of Product Movement By remote control, the dispatcher on duty can control all movements in the company’s lines. The company’s backup control center, located away from the main control center, can take over operation of all company mainlines in the event of a contingency. Each shipper names the product to be shipped, the volumes, the point of origin, and the delivery point. Verification of the arrival of the shipment is established by examination of a sample of the incoming batch. Generally, the gravity, the color, and appearance of the product serves to verify the changes from one shipment to another.

5. Product Measurement Practically all measurement is made by turbine meters or positive displacement meters. Meter readings taken before and after deliveries are utilized to determine the volume of throughput. Meters are typically equipped with transmitting, remote reading, and printout accessories to facilitate the delivery of correct product volumes and for the preparation of delivery tickets. A bidirectional meter is used to calibrate meters.

6. Breakout Tanks Breakout tanks owned by the company are located adjacent to mainline junction stations. The company has over 26 million barrels of space in the breakout tanks. The products arriving here are held temporarily in the breakout tanks and are later relayed to local shipper’s tanks.

7. The Role of Computers From the initial planning of pump station design to the final delivery of product shipment, computers perform a vital function in the pipeline industry. Many shippers transmit scheduling data directly into the computer via long distance telephone lines. The scheduler uses these data to generate a computer schedule to plan the detailed operation of the pipeline. Computer applications include custody metering, ticket printing, displays of operating information, meter calibration, tank level measurement, time event alarms, and valve and pump sequencing.

8. Environmental Considerations: Pipeline Safety The transportation of petroleum liquids has always been a potentially hazardous business. Two adjectives apply to petroleum liquids because of their inherent nature: flammable and volatile. Flammable means that they will burn under certain conditions. Volatile means that they will vaporize when unconfined, with the vapors forming an explosive mixture when combined in suitable proportions with oxygen.

9. Federal and State Regulations Federal and state regulations stipulate the type and efficiency of equipment to be utilized by the industry to protect the air, soil, and water from contaminated by hydrocarbon products. The regulations are a critical factor in the design and operation of a pipeline system. Tanks equipped with floating roofs are utilized for all gasoline and aviation grade fuels. Seals around the perimeter of floating roofs provide vapor retention and prevent rainwater from entering the tank.

10. Temperature Control Product temperature control has been found ideally suited to reduce vapor emission in large volume pipeline systems. One method is accomplished by taking large volumes of water from a river, circulated through the exchanger, and returned to the source.

11. Product Leakage Pump seal housings are totally enclosed to contain products, with any seal leakage being piped to an accumulator that is fitted with a float activated device to automatically shut down the unit. A drain way is constructed around the station manifold and pump areas to contain product, and a subsurface drain system is installed to collect rainwater and direct it through an oil-water separator in case of a spill. Drain areas are covered with white crushed stone to act as an indicator of the presence of a product leak.

12. Water Drainage Aerated lagoons are utilized where water is drained from tanks to receive water from tanks to receive water from oil-water separators and provide secondary treatment. The dams for the ponds are constructed with an underflow outlet pipe that acts as an oil-water separator to retain oil on the surface of the water.

13. Preventive Measures Product pipelines are patrolled at frequent intervals. Participation in one call contractor notice centers to advise excavations and construction aids in the prevention of third party damage. Automatic pressure control devices limit line pressures to stay within allowable limits.

14. Emergency Procedures Emergency procedures delegate authority to shut the system down, solicit assistance, or give notice to fire, police or other agencies, activate needed containment and repair crews and equipment, provide guidance for accomplishing the work under hazardous conditions, and act as public relations representatives.

15. Some Special Rules The interface of similar comingled products shall be divided equally between the shipments which precede and those which follow the interface. The interface of dissimilar comingled products is retained and sold on a bid, and each shipper is credited with its proportionate share of the net proceeds of the sale, less charges.

16. Summary The principal reason for the existence of product pipelines is economics. By remote control, the dispatcher on duty can control all movements in the company’s lines. The company’s backup control center, located away from the main control center, can take over operation of all company mainlines in the event of a contingency. Practically all measurement is made by turbine meters or positive displacement meters. Breakout tanks owned by the company are located adjacent to mainline junction stations. From the initial planning of pump station design to the final delivery of product shipment, computers perform a vital function in the pipeline industry. Two adjectives apply to petroleum liquids because of their inherent nature: flammable and volatile. Flammable means that they will burn under certain conditions. Volatile means that they will vaporize when unconfined, with the vapors forming an explosive mixture when combined in suitable proportions with oxygen. Federal and state regulations stipulate the type and efficiency of equipment to be utilized by the industry to protect the air, soil, and water from contaminated by hydrocarbon products. A drain way is constructed around the station manifold and pump areas to contain product, and a subsurface drain system is installed to collect rainwater and direct it through an oil-water separator in case of a spill. Drain areas are covered with white crushed stone to act as an indicator of the presence of a product leak. Participation in one call contractor notice centers to advise excavations and construction aids in the prevention of third party damage. Emergency procedures delegate authority to shut the system down, solicit assistance, or give notice to fire, police or other agencies, activate needed containment and repair crews and equipment, provide guidance for accomplishing the work under hazardous conditions, and act as public relations representatives.

17. Home Work 1. Explain flammable and volatile. 2. Why are drain areas are covered with white crushed stone? 3. Why do companies participate in one call contractor notice centers? 4. What do emergency procedures do?