Technical Notes

#41

We’re Going Global

THE IMPACT OF PRODUCT TEMPERATURE
Petroleum products expand when heated and contract when cooled. This rate of expansion or
contraction is called the coefficient of expansion (COE).
The COE is higher for lighter substances, for example, gasoline expands with temperature at a
faster rate than residual fuel oil.
Without temperature and temperature correction, we would only be dealing with observed
(gross) numbers which are called Total Observed Volume (TOV) and GOV Gross Observed
Volume (GOV). If we only used gross volumes, one of the parties, either the buyer or the seller
would unfairly be losing barrels during the transaction.
It is impossible to compare “apples to apples” unless all numbers are corrected to the same
standard temperature.
The petroleum industry uses Gross Standard Volume (GSV) in all transactions. It is the total
volume of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water, excluding free water, corrected by the
appropriate volume correction factor (VCF) for the observed temperature and API gravity or
density, to a standard temperature of 60°F or 15°C.

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History of the Temperature Correction Tables
Temperature Correction Tables are so vital to accurate accounting, they have been modified
numerous times over the years for better accuracy and uniformity when accounting for the
thermal expansion / contraction of liquid hydrocarbons.
Here’s a history of the modifications that took place.

 1916 The first tables were done by the National Bureau of Standards (United States).

 1945 The Institute of Petroleum (IP) published the Tables for Measurement of Oil in British units.
The compressibility standard (API Standard 1101, Appendix B, Table II) were issued.

 1952 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the IP joined the British and the
American temperature correction factor tables to make the Petroleum Measurement Tables.
These tables are commonly referred to as the 1952 Tables or “Blue Book Tables.”

 1974 API started an initiative to re-confirm the temperature correction factor tables. Until 1974,
“Old” Table 6 and “Old” Table 54 were used by both importers and exporters for all cargoes,
products as well as crude oil.

 1980 to mid-1990s Tables separated the density and volume correction tables into “A” for crude
oil, “B” for refined products, and “C” for special applications. Between the initial issuance of the
1980 Tables and the mid-1990s, a number of needs arose within the petroleum industry and a
number of enhancements occurred in computer technology.

 1984 More accurate tables were introduced. Developed by the API (American Petroleum
Institute) jointly with the I.P. (Institute of Petroleum). These are 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 54A, 54B, 54C
and 54D.

 2006 The API once again introduced new tables. They went to 5 decimal places for VCF and every
0.1 gravity and 0.5 Temperature. If the old table was approximately 300 pages – the new would
need to be 11,000 pages so it must be done electronically.

A is used for CRUDE oils

B is used for PRODUCTS (2oil, 6oil etc.)
C is used for CHEMICALS
D is used for LUBE OILS

 Tables 54A / 6A and 54B / 6B are really the same tables.

 Tables 6A and 6B are based on Fahrenheit temperatures and API gravity whereas Tables 54A and
54B are based on Centigrade temperatures and Density. Any difference is due to rounding of
temperature or density.

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Temperatures play such an important role in accurate accounting, the American Petroleum
Institute has dedicated many chapters of its manual to this subject.

Current API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards

Chapter 7—Temperature Determination
The purpose of this standard is to describe methods and practices that may be used to obtain
accurate measurements of temperature of petroleum and petroleum products in pipelines,
storage tanks, gathering tanks, ships, barges, tank cars, pipe provers, tank provers and test
measures under both static and dynamic conditions using electronic temperature measuring
devices or mercury-in-glass thermometers.

Current API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 12.1.1 Part 1

Calculation of Static Petroleum Quantities—Upright Cylindrical Tanks and Marine Vessels
This standard guides the user through the steps necessary to calculate static liquid quantities in
cylindrical tanks and marine tank vessels.

Tanks and Marine Vessel’s Tanks

10.1 Gross Standard Volume (GSV)
The GSV is calculated by multiplying the GOV by the correction for the effect of temperature and
pressure on the liquid (or the volume correction factor). GSV = GOV × CTPL

10.2 Correction for the Effect of Temperature and Pressure on a Liquid (CTPL) or Volume
Correction Factor (VCF)
If a quantity of oil is subjected to a change in temperature, its volume will increase as the
temperature rises or decrease as the temperature falls. The volume change is proportional to
the thermal coefficient of expansion of the liquid, which varies with density (API gravity) and
temperature. The correction factor for the effect of the temperature and pressure on a volume
of liquid is called CTPL, CTL, or VCF. The function of this correction factor is to adjust the volume
of liquid at observed temperature to its volume at a standard temperature. The most common
standard temperatures are 60 °F, 15 °C, and 20 °C (68 °F). These correction factors can be
obtained from API MPMS Ch. 11.1, the Adjunct to ASTM D1250, or the Adjunct to IP 200. These
computer programs or tables are entered with the observed average temperature and API
gravity at 60 °F, a density at 15 °C, a relative density at 60 °F/60 °F, or a coefficient of thermal
expansion.

Current API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards

Chapter 17.1 - Guidelines for Marine Inspection
These guidelines specify the policy and minimum recommended practices for the manual and
automatic measurement, sampling, and accounting for bulk quantities of crude oil, petroleum
products, and chemicals that are transported on marine vessels.
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Current Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards
Chapter 17.2—Measurement of Cargoes On Board Tank Vessels
To determine the quantity and quality of cargo on board marine tank vessels, it is necessary to
accurately gauge, temperature, collect a representative sample, and calculate the amount of all
materials contained in the vessel’s lines, cargo tanks, and slop tanks. Any void spaces that may
contain cargo, such as permanent ballast tanks, double bottoms, and cofferdams, must also be
checked, and any volumes contained in these spaces must be calculated. This standard
establishes the procedures for obtaining the level measurements of cargo, free water, and
OBQ/ROB as well as taking the temperatures and samples required for the marine custody
transfer of most bulk liquid petroleum cargoes.

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Thermoprobes vs. Thermometer
 Thermoprobes are more accurate (can be to 0.1F vs thermometers read to 0.5F)
 Thermometers need to be pulled out of the product to read and are subject to outside
weather temperatures; probes are read while still submersed in product therefore
making use of thermoprobes quicker and more accurate.
 Immersion time – According to API Chapter 7 here is a quick comparison of how the
thermoprobe compares to a woodback thermometer regarding immersion times
depending on the volume and whether in motion or stationary:

Gravity Thermometer Thermoprobe

*Motion / Stationary * Motion / Stationary
Over 50 5 minutes / 10 minutes 30 sec / 5 minutes
Over 40-49 5 minutes / 15 minutes 30 sec / 5 minutes
30 - > 39 12 minutes / 20 minutes 45 sec / 30 minutes
20 - > 29 20 minutes / 35 minutes 45 sec / 30 minutes
Less than 20 35 minutes / 60 minutes 75 sec / 30 minutes

*Motion means rather than letting the probe sit still in the liquid, it is repeatedly raised
One foot above and below the desired depth. This prevents cold probe chilling the
surrounding product.

Thermoprobes and Equipment Calibrations Checks

It is required that before initial use, and at least once a year thereafter, each portable electronic
thermometer (PET), or also referred to as a probe, shall be re-standardized in a laboratory or
other qualified calibration facility. The PET shall be compared at three or more temperature
points, near the midpoint and ends of the range, with either a National Institute of Technology
(NIST) certified reference thermometer or an equivalent thermometer with accuracy traceable
to the NIST. The PET shall be calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Field Verification
Before each use, or once per day (whichever is less frequent), PETs should be spot checked by
comparing the ambient reading against an ASTM glass stem thermometer in liquid. If the
reading differs by more than ± 0.5°F (0.25°C), the probe (PET) should be re-standardized before
it is used for custody transfer. IFIA (International Federation of Inspection Agencies) states it
must be restandardized if it is in error more than 0.2°F.

Monthly Verification and Inspection

On a monthly schedule, the probe should be checked at two or more temperatures near the
ends of its range against a NIST certified reference thermometer or an equivalent thermometer
with accuracy traceable to the NIST.

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If you would like to be removed from our distribution list or you require information on a certain subject, please let us know via return email.
Also, please be advised individual / group AmSpec laboratory / operational tours can be arranged upon request.

Please visit us on our website…www.amspecgroup.com or contact us at (800) 286-2208