An integrated energy company with upstream, pipeline, and refining assets throughout Canada and USA engaged Trindent Consulting to create and develop an industry leading hydrocarbon loss control program and reduce refinery mass balance losses.
How we Made it Happen™
Yield Accounting / Mass Balance
- Established a program to review 3rd party measurement and quality data, while leveraging data digitalization to improve efficiency and drive value-added activities.
- Streamlined data inputs process, minimizing manual system entries and a continuous process for identification and quantification of unknown losses.
- Installed a weekly hydrocarbon accounting & loss control review meeting to measure performance against targets, conduct root cause analysis, and assign corrective actions.
- Installed API MPMS 3.1. and 7.0. compliant tank gauging and temperature measurement procedures and witnessing checklists, and implemented mandatory measurement training for Field Operators to mitigate noise in monthly refinery mass balance.
- Implemented product density validation process to accurately report and examine refinery mass balance.
Crude Quality
- Installed a process to verify basic sediment and water (BS&W) results reported by 3rd parties within a statistical tolerance, reinforcing positive behaviours and reducing the variance between test results by 68.5%to baseline.
- Implemented a monthly 3rd party laboratory witnessing program using ASTM driven checklists, resulting in 3.2% increase in BS&W deduction from crude.
Crude Measurement
- Installed 165 meter factor control charts across all custody transfer points per API MPMS 13.2. to achieve complete meter oversight, and 98.4% reduction in meter loss.
- Implemented system tools and a communication process to identify missed provings and analyze statistical variations in operating conditions, achieving 100% compliance to proving schedules and increasing 3rd party meter proving frequency to industry best standards.
- Implemented a quarterly meter prove witnessing program using API driven checklists, reinforcing positive behaviours and confirming process adherence to mitigate hydrocarbon losses.
Railcar Measurement
- Established a semi-annual process to revise the volume correction factor for an intermediate, resulting in $1,0945,000 in annualized benefits.
“Trindent successfully leveraged its unique collective process to identify areas of improvement and deliver customized, sustainable solutions. There has been a positive change in our mindset, willingness to improve, and ownership demonstrated by each business unit towards best hydrocarbon loss control practices.”