Materials System Specification

34-SAMSS-119 10 April 2012

Bi-Directional Meter Prover
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References.................................................... 2
4 Definitions...................................................... 6
5 General Requirements.................................. 6
6 Modifications to Industry Standard................ 8
7 Testing and Inspection................................ 15
8 Accessories................................................. 16
9 Identification Tagging.................................. 17
10 Shipping Requirements............................... 17
11 Documentation............................................ 18

Previous Issue: 21 December 2011 Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 18
Primary contact: Al-Fadhl, Khalid Ahmed on +966-3-880-1373

CopyrightSaudi Aramco 2012. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

1 Scope

This specification defines the minimum mandatory requirements for sphere-type

bi-directional meter provers used for proving or calibrating royalty and custody transfer
meters in crude oil, liquid petroleum products and non-refrigerated liquefied petroleum
gases (e.g., butane, propane, mixed LPG's) service.

The specification covers the requirements of a complete skid-mounted, packaged unit,

including the pipe-prover, outlet block valve, control valve, piping, local instruments
and auxiliary equipment for meter proving.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings, (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Process & Control Systems Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Process & Control Systems
Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.3 Direct all requests for interpretation of this specification in writing to the
Company or Buyer Representative who shall forward them to the Chairman,
Custody Measurement Standards Committee for resolution. The Chairman,
Custody Measurement Standards Committee shall be solely responsible for
determining whether a proposed installation meets the requirements of this
specification.

3 References

Material or equipment supplied to this specification shall comply with the latest edition
of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-21 Project Execution Requirements for Saudi Aramco

Royalty/Custody Metering Systems

Page 2 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

SAEP-50 Project Execution Requirements for Third Party

Royalty/Custody Metering Systems
SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-112 Meteorological and Seismic Design Data

SAES-B-054 Access, Egress, and Materials Handling for Plant
Facilities
SAES-H-001 Coating Selection and Application Requirements for
Industrial Plants and Equipment
SAES-N-001 Basic Criteria, Industrial Insulation

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

01-SAMSS-010 Fabricated Steel Piping

01-SAMSS-017 Auxiliary Piping for Mechanical Equipment
01-SAMSS-038 Small Quantity Purchase of Pipe from Stockist
02-SAMSS-009 Design and Fabrication of Scraper Traps
04-SAMSS-001 Gate Valves
04-SAMSS-041 Expanding Plug Valve
04-SAMSS-042 4-Way Diverter Valve
09-SAMSS-080 Shop Applied Baked Internal Coatings
12-SAMSS-007 Fabrication of Structural and Miscellaneous Steel
17-SAMSS-515 Auxiliary Electrical Systems for Skid-Mounted
Equipment
34-SAMSS-611 Safety Relief Valves Conventional and Balanced
Types
34-SAMSS-711 Control Valves
34-SAMSS-717 Hydraulic Valve Actuators Systems
34-SAMSS-718 Electric Motor Operated Valve Actuators
34-SAMSS-831 Instrumentation for Packaged Units

Saudi Aramco Standard and Library Drawings

AB-036019 Thermowell Assembly and Detail

Page 3 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

AC-036045 Details Vent, Drain and Sample Connections

AE-036175 Details of Heavy Welding Boss for Threaded
Connections to Vessels and Lines
AA-036513 Custody Transfer Metering and Proving Station
(Liquid), Typical Schematic
AB-036646 Royalty & Custody Transfer Metering and Proving
Station (Liquid), Schematic
DC-950040 Pressure Indicators and Switches Locally Mounting
Instrument Piping Details
DC-950042 Instruments Piping Details Pressure Instruments
Blind and Indicating Type
DC-950043 Electrical Connections for Field-Mounted
Instruments

Saudi Aramco Forms and Data Sheets

8020-119-ENG Bi-Directional Meter Prover

8020-200-ENG Pressure Transmitters-Smart (Abs., Gage and DP)
8020-212-ENG Pressure and Differential Pressure Gauges
8020-213-ENG Pressure and D/P Switches
8020-400-ENG Temperature Transmitters - SMART
8020-416-ENG Resistance Temperature Detectors
8020-418-ENG Thermowells
8020-611-ENG Pressure Relief Valves Conventional & Balanced
Types
8020-711-ENG Globe/Angle Control Valves
8020-717-ENG Hydraulic Valve Actuators
8020-718-ENG Electric Motor Operated Valve Actuators
8020-831-ENG Package Unit Instrumentation
Form 175-342800 Bi-Directional Meter Prover
NMR-7907 Non Material Requirements

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS)

Page 4 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

Chapter 4.2 Displacement Provers, 3rd Edition, Sept., 2003

Chapter 4.7 Field Standard Test Measures
Chapter 4.9.1 Introduction to the Determination of the Volume of
Displacement and Tank Provers
Chapter 4.9.2 Determination of the Volume of Displacement and
Tank Provers by the Waterdraw Method of
Calibration
Chapter 7 Temperature Determination
Chapter 11.2.3 Water Calibration of Volumetric Provers
Chapter 11.2.3M Water Calibration of Volumetric Provers (Metric)
Chapter 12.2.4 Calculation of Base Prover Volume by Waterdraw
Method

Other API Standards

API SPEC 5L Specification for Line Pipe

American National Standards Institute

ANSI C80.1 Rigid Steel Conduit Zinc Coated (GRC)

AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code-Steel
ASME B31.3 Chemical Plant & Petroleum Refinery Piping
ASME B1.20.1 Pipe Threads, General Purpose (Inch)

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA RN 1 Polyvinyl-Chloride (PVC) Externally Coated

Galvanized Rigid Steel Conduit and Intermediate
Metal Conduit

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 70 National Electrical Code

International Electrotechnical Commission

IEC 60751 Industrial Platinum Resistance Thermometer Sensors

Page 5 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

4 Definitions

Buyer or Purchaser: The Company (Saudi Aramco, AOC, or ASC) actually placing
the order for the material. The buyer can be a third party metering customer.

Buyer's Representative: The person acting on behalf of the Buyer, who may be from
the Engineering, Inspection, Purchasing, or User organization.

Custody Transfer Measurement: A specialized form of measurement that provides

quantity and quality information used for the physical and fiscal documentation of a
change in ownership and/or responsibility of hydrocarbon commodities. This includes
measurement of hydrocarbon liquid movements (deliveries or receipts) between Saudi
Aramco and its customers, suppliers, joint ventures and transport contractors including
VELA ships.

Nearshore: Any outdoor, onshore location within one kilometer from the shoreline of
the Arabian Gulf; all of the Ras Tanura Refinery and Terminal; and within three
kilometers from the shoreline of the Red Sea.

Prover Skid: The field portion of a metering system consisting of the meter prover,
outlet block valve, flow control valve, piping, instruments, electrical equipment and
associated structural steel.

Third Party Inspector: An independent inspection agency whose function is to

conduct an unbiased inspection of certain systems, equipment, materials, etc., against a
set of standards, guidelines or procedures. For purposes of this SAMSS, the Third Party
Inspector has particular knowledge of and experience with industry custody
measurement standards and procedures.

Vendor: The party that supplies or sells integrated metering systems, metering
equipment, or components.

5 General Requirements

5.1 Design Criteria

The prover shall be designed and constructed by Saudi Aramco approved vendor.

The prover shall be furnished in accordance with Instrument Specification

Sheet, Form 8020-119-ENG.

The prover and its instrumentation shall be designed to be able to communicate

with its flow computer and programmable logic controller (PLC) as specified on
the Instrument Specification Sheet, Form 8020-119-ENG. The flow computer
and PLC will be furnished by others unless otherwise specified.

Page 6 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

5.2 Units of Measurement

The units of measurement shall be either U.S. Customary or metric (SI) units as
designated on Instrument Specification Sheet, Form 8020-119-ENG.

5.3 Environmental Conditions

5.3.1 Temperature

Equipment and instrumentation shall operate continuously under the

following ambient air temperatures without any degradation of the
manufacturer's guaranteed performance:

Indoor Air Outdoor Outdoor

(1)
Conditioned Sheltered Unsheltered
35C 55C 65C
Maximum
(95F) (131F) (149F)
10C 0C 0C
Minimum
(50F) (32F) (32F)

Notes:
a. "Sheltered" refers to permanent, ventilated enclosures buildings, or permanently
fixed sunshades with a top and three sides".
b. For instruments which dissipate internal heat and are installed in custom engineered
enclosures (e.g., enclosures not included in the original manufacturer's temperature
certification), an additional 15C shall be added to the above maximum temperatures.
An example, for "indoor air conditioned" installation, the equipment must perform at 35
+ 15 = 50C. Similarly, for the "outdoor unsheltered" case, the equipment shall be
designed for a maximum operating temperature of 65 + 15 = 80C.
c. For the outdoor installations only, the designer can take credit for forced or passive
cooling to eliminate or reduce the 15C heat rise. For example, if vortex coolers are
used, the heat removal capacity of the coolers may be subtracted from the generated
heat. No more than 15C reduction in temperature will be given as credit. The
designer shall substantiate his claim by providing the support data and calculations.

5.3.2 Contaminants

Installations shall be designed for operation in an environment with

contaminant levels as defined in the Ambient Air Quality Section of
SAES-A-112.

5.3.3 Humidity

Indoor humidity design basis shall be 20% to 80% relative humidity.

Outdoor design basis shall be 5% to 95% relative humidity

(non-condensing).

Page 7 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

5.3.4 Offshore and Near-shore Environment

Equipment which is not enclosed or hermetically sealed, but is situated

offshore or near-shore, shall be protected against corrosion and
operational failure due to wind-borne sea water spray and the
accumulation of wetted salt (NaCl).

6 Modifications to Industry Standard

The following paragraph numbers refer to API Manual of Petroleum Measurement

Standards (MPMS), Chapter 4, Proving Systems, Section 2, Displacement Provers,
3rd Edition, September 2003 which is a part of this specification.

The text in each paragraph is an addition, modification, exception, or deletion to the

requirements of API MPMS Chapter 4.2, as noted.

6.1 Para. 2.6 (Temperature Stability)

(Addition): The prover calibrated section shall be insulated in accordance

with SAES-N-001 unless otherwise instructed on the
Instrumentation Specification Sheet, Form 8020-119-ENG.

6.2 Para. 3.1 (Materials & Fabrication)

(Addition-1): Provers, including the prover loop, shall be skid-mounted, or

semi-skid type prover design. The skid shall be designed to
ensure a practical overall size for shipping and transportation.
General requirements shall be per Saudi Aramco Drawings
AB-036646 for Royalty measurement and AA-036513 for
Custody measurement. Structural welding shall meet the
requirements of AWS D1.1. Stairs or side step ladders shall be
provided for equipment and instruments that are not easily
accessible from grade level. Skid access and egress design
shall meet the requirements of SAES-B-054. Minimum
platform clear width shall be 0.70 meter. All piping and steel
fabrication including galvanized steel grating shall comply with
the requirements of 12-SAMSS-007. Beam, davit properly
positioned and or lifting lugs shall be provided for entire skid
mounted units and also for components weighting in excess of
20 kg, and which cannot be handled properly by a sling. All
skid-mounted piping and pressure containing components shall
be designed and constructed in accordance with ASME B31.3
and 01-SAMSS-010. Welding bosses shall be installed in
accordance with Standard Drawing AE-036175.

Page 8 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

(Addition-2): Seamless pipe meeting the requirements of ASME B31.3 shall

be used when the required pipe diameter is 24 inches or less.
API SPEC 5L Grade B or X60 straight seam pipe manufactured
by the submerged arc welding process shall be used when the
required pipe diameter is greater than 24 inches. Internal weld
seams in both the pre-run and calibrated section (including the
longitudinal weld seam for SAW pipe) shall be machined or
ground smooth and shall be free of any grooves.

(Addition-3): The following Saudi Aramco specifications shall apply:

01-SAMSS-010
01-SAMSS-017
01-SAMSS-038

(Addition-4): The allowable tolerance of the prover piping shall be in

accordance with API SPEC 5L.

(Addition-5): Long radius (1.5D) elbows shall be used for all bends between
detector switches (calibrated section).

(Addition-6): Flange connections shall be provided on the interchange side of

both detector switches to permit removal of the calibrated
section without disturbing the interchange portion of the prover.

(Addition-7): Process connections for pressure and differential instruments

shall be inch NPT tapered thread per ASME B1.20.1.

6.3 Para. 3.2 (Internal & External Coating)

(Addition-1): The internal surfaces of the calibrated section shall be coated

with a baked-on phenolic coating in accordance with
09-SAMSS-080.

(Addition-2): External steel surfaces shall be painted as follows unless

otherwise specified:
a. For onshore installations non-galvanized steel shall be
coated in accordance with SAES-H-001 and APCS-26 shall
apply.
b. For offshore installations all steel shall be coated in
accordance with SAES-H-001 applies.

Page 9 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

Commentary Note:

The Vendor may propose an alternate surface preparation and

finishing system with the quotation, for Buyer's approval.

6.4 Para. 3.3 (Temperature Measurements)

(Exception): A temperature transmitter shall be installed on the outlet piping

of the prover. A test thermowell with chained plug shall be
installed downstream of temperature transmitter at a distance
not to exceed 0.3 m. A second test thermowell with chained
plug shall be installed on the inlet piping of the prover.

(Addition-1): Thermowells shall be furnished in accordance with Instrument

Specification Sheets, Form 8020-418-ENG.

Thermowells shall be installed in accordance with Standard

Drawing AB-036019.

(Addition-2): The transmitter shall be a microprocessor based smart unit that

uses a platinum resistance temperature detector (RTD) as its
primary element. The temperature transmitter and RTD shall
be furnished in accordance with Instrument Specification
Sheets, Form 8020-400-ENG and Form 8020-416-ENG,
respectively. The RTD shall be Pt100, four-wire design, with
an alpha coefficient of 0.00385 per IEC 60751. The calibrated
span of the transmitter shall normally be -18 to 65C (0 to
150F). The overall transmitter/RTD accuracy shall be 0.2%
of the calibrated span or better.

(Modification): Temperature instruments shall meet the requirements of

API MPMS 7.

6.5 Para. 3.4 (Pressure Measurements)

(Exception-1): A pressure transmitter and a pressure gauge shall be installed

downstream of the test thermowell on the outlet piping of the
prover. A second pressure gauge shall be installed upstream of
the test thermowell on the inlet piping of the prover.

(Addition-1): The pressure transmitter shall be furnished in accordance with

the Instrument Specification Sheet, Form 8020-200-ENG.
The pressure transmitter shall be a microprocessor based smart
unit with a reference accuracy of 0.075% of calibrated span or
better and shall be provided with over-range protection.

Page 10 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

Pressure sensor installation manifolds shall have vent, drain and

test connections.

(Addition-2): Pressure gauges shall be furnished in accordance with the

Instrument Specification Sheets, Forms 8020-212-ENG.
Pressure gauge accuracy shall be 0.5% of span or better.
The standard ranges shall be selected such that the normal
operating pressure falls between 30% and 70% of the scale
range. Pressure gauges shall be glycerin filled.

(Addition-3): The pressure transmitters shall be installed in accordance with

Library Drawings DC-950042 and DC-950043. Pressure
gauges shall be installed in accordance with Detail 1 or 2, as
applicable, of Library Drawing DC-950040.

6.6 Para. 3.5.1 (Sphere Displacers)

(Addition): Sphere materials shall be compatible with the product to be

handled.

6.7 Para. 3.6 (Valves)

(Addition-1): A block valve shall be furnished on the outlet of the prover

assembly.

(Addition-2): In liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) applications, the outlet block

valve shall be a double block-and-bleed plug valve meeting the
requirements of 04-SAMSS-041. The cavity bleed on the
double block-and-bleed valve shall be equipped with a pressure
gauge, and isolation valve which is capable of discharging to a
flare or other safe location.

(Addition-3): In crude oil and petroleum product applications, the outlet

block valve shall be a gate valve meeting the requirements of
04-SAMSS-001.

(Addition-4): A globe-type control valve shall be installed in the outlet piping

between the pressure transmitter/gauge and outlet block valve.
The valve shall meet the requirements of 34-SAMSS-711 and
Instrument Specification Sheet, Form 8020-711-ENG. In all
cases, the outlet block valve shall be furnished with an electric
motor operated actuator meeting the requirements of
34-SAMSS-718 and Instrument Specification Sheet, Form
8020-718-ENG. The actuator shall be capable of manual
operation in the case of loss of power.

Page 11 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

(Addition-5): A single thermal relief valve shall be installed between the

prover 4-way valve and the control valve. The relief valve
shall meet the requirements of 34-SAMSS-611 and Instrument
Specification Sheet, Form 8020-611-ENG.

6.8 Para. 3.7 (Connections)

(Addition): Vents shall be installed at high points on the prover launch

chambers to permit removal of trapped air. No vents or drains
shall be installed between detector switches. The number of
vents and drains on the inlet piping to a prover shall be kept to
a minimum. All vent and drain connections except those on the
prover outlet piping shall be provided with a means to permit
examination for, or prevention of, leakage during operation of
the prover. Each such drain connection shall be furnished with
a spectacle blind on the discharge side of the drain valve.
The skid drain system piping shall slope to a single discharge
point. Vent, drain and sample connections shall be per
Standard Drawing AC-036045.

6.9 Para. 3.7.1 (Connections for Prover Calibration)

(Addition): Two 3-inch or larger water draw connections shall be provided

for each pipe prover. One connection shall be located upstream
of the pressure gauge and test thermowell on the inlet piping.
The other connection shall be located between the temperature
and pressure instruments, and the control valve on the outlet
piping.

6.10 Para. 3.7.3 (Flange Connections in the Calibrated Section)

(Addition-1): For all provers other than portable provers, flanged connections
shall be used for all bends located between detector switches
(calibrated section).

(Addition-2): Flanges installed between the detectors switches shall be flat

faced, match bored, doweled and match-number die stamped in
pairs. Flange O-ring material shall be compatible with the
liquid to be measured.

6.11 Para. 3.8 (Detectors)

(Addition-1): Detector switches shall be non-adjustable mechanical type with

hermetically sealed contacts and shall be suitable for the area

Page 12 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

classification specified on the Instrument Specification Sheet,

Form 8020-119-ENG.

(Addition-2): Detector switches shall have a repeatability of 0.2 mm or less.

(Addition-3): The prover shall have two upstream and two downstream
detector switches to permit establishment of as many as four
different calibrated volumes. The individual switches in each
pair shall be positioned a minimum of 1 pipe diameter or 0.3 m
(1 ft) apart, whichever is less.

(Addition-4): Each detector switch shall be provided with a means for sealing
the switch in place with a lead-and-wire seal.

6.12 Para. 3.12.2 (Launching/Receiver Chambers)

(Addition-1): Prover ball launching chambers less than 26 inches pipe size
shall have a 45-degree inclination downwards toward the
calibrated section, in addition to the option of having it to be
vertical. For prover calibrated sections of 26 inches and above,
the prover launching chambers shall be vertical.

(Addition-2): Each launch chamber shall be fitted with a quick-opening

closure and one blind flange both conform to 02-SAMSS-009.
Threaded closures shall not be used.

6.13 Para. 3.12.3 (Flow Reversal)

(Addition-1): The 4-way diverter valve shall be in accordance with

04-SAMSS-042. The valve shall be fitted with a hydraulic
operator meeting the requirements of 34-SAMSS-717 and
Instrument Specification Sheet, 8020-717-ENG, or an electric
motor operator meeting the requirements of 34-SAMSS-718
and Instrument Specification Sheet, 8020-718-ENG.

(Addition-2): The 4-way diverter valve shall be sized such that the maximum
velocity through the port is less than 4.6 m/s (15 ft/s).

(Addition-3): If the 4-way diverter valve is equipped with a hydraulic

operator, an electro-hydraulic system shall be furnished to
power the valve.

(Addition-4): Either differential pressure transmitter with LCD or Snap-

acting type electronic differential pressure switch shall be
furnished to provide remote or local indication of the 4-way
valve seal during the meter proving.

Page 13 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

The differential pressure transmitter shall meet the requirements

of Instrument Specification Sheet, Form 8020-200-ENG.

The differential pressure switch shall meet the requirement of

Instrument Specification Sheet, Form 8020-213-ENG.
The switch shall have a normal range of at least 10 psi to 30 psi
as a minimum. The switch shall be selected to have
repeatability of 1.5% of full-scale range

6.14 Para. 4.3.3 (Volume)

(Modification): For conventional turbine meters and positive displacement

meters, the minimum volume between the detector switches
shall be sufficient to ensure the accumulation of at least
10,000 pulses during each 1-way trip of the prover displacer.
For helical turbine meters and other meters which require pulse
interpolation, the prover volume shall be determined using data
for a conventional turbine meter which is suitable for the
maximum design flow rate for the application.

(Addition): The K factor (pulse output per unit volume) used for prover
sizing shall equal 95% of the lowest nominal K factor from the
meters to be proved. For turbine meters, the K factor used for
prover sizing will normally come from the largest meter.

6.15 Para. 4.3.4 (Displacer Velocities)

(Addition): If the prover will be used for proving multiple meters, the
prover shall be sized to handle the anticipated maximum and
minimum flow rates of the largest and smallest meters,
respectively.

6.16 Para. 4.3.4.1 (Maximum Displacer Velocities)

(Modification): The prover diameter shall be selected to limit the sphere

displacer velocity in the calibrated section to 1.5 m/s (5 ft/s) at
the maximum design (continuous) flow rate for the largest
meter to be proved.

6.17 Para. 4.3.4.2 (Minimum Displacer Velocities)

(Modification): The prover shall be designed to maintain the displacer velocity

above 0.15 m/s (0.5 ft/s) at the minimum design flow rate.
For LPGs and other fluids with low lubricity minimum
velocity rate should be increased to 0.3 m/s (1 ft/s).

Page 14 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

6.18 Para. 4.3.6 (Minimum Calibrated Section Length)

(Addition): The minimum distance between the detector switches shall be

12 m for provers with a nominal diameter of 10 inches and
below and 15 m for provers with a nominal diameter of
10 inches and above.

6.19 Para. 4.3.7 (Pre-Run)

(Addition): The maximum design flow rate of the largest meter to be

proved shall be used to determine the minimum pre-run length.

6.20 Para. 5 (Installation)

(Addition-1): All electrical wiring, terminations and other requirements shall

be in accordance with 34-SAMSS-831; Instrument Specification
Sheet, Form 8020-831-ENG; and 17-SAMSS-515.

(Addition-2): Conduit, if selected, shall be threaded, rigid steel per

ANSI C80.1 and shall be hot-dip galvanized per NEMA RN 1,
otherwise cable tray with insulation could be used.

(Addition-3): Conduit fittings shall be cast or forged steel, cast iron or

malleable iron, either hot-dip galvanized or zinc electroplated.

(Addition-4): Supplies to DC instrument loads: Voltage stabilization shall be

provided to maintain the output voltage within tolerable limits
of the loads served.

(Addition-5): All field transmitters shall be installed facing the same direction
to ease maintaining and calibrating the instruments.

7 Testing and Inspection

7.1 Hydrotest
Prior to application of internal coating, external paint and insulation, all piping
and piping components shall be hydro-tested in accordance with ASME B31.3
and 01-SAMSS-010.

7.2 Prover Calibration

The prover volume shall be calibrated at the factory using the waterdraw method
in accordance with API MPMS Chapters 4.9.1 and API MPMS Chapters 4.9.2.
This factory calibration calculation and reporting shall be done in accordance

Page 15 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

with API MPMS Chapters 12.2.4. The basic functionality of the prover shall be
verified during the factory calibration.

The prover calibration shall be conducted by an approved third-party inspector

and witnessed by Saudi Aramco.

Sphere inflation shall not be less than 2% nor more than 4% of the inside
diameter of prover calibrated section. The actual sphere inflation shall be
annotated on the prover calibration certificate.

7.3 Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)

If the prover is furnished as part of a metering system, its performance shall be

verified as part of the FAT for the metering system in accordance with the
requirements set forth in SAEP-21 or SAEP-50 as applicable.

7.4 Site Acceptance Test (SAT)

The performance of the meter prover and associated equipment shall be verified
during a SAT using full functionality flow test in accordance with the
requirements set forth in SAEP-21 or SAEP-50, as applicable.

7.5 Inspection

Items manufactured to this Specification are subject to the minimum Inspection

requirements as specified in Saudi Aramco Inspection Requirements Form
175-342800.

8 Accessories

The Vendor shall provide and demonstrate functionality test using the following
accessories:
a. Sphere extractor tool.
b. Filler pump and all connection & fittings needed to inflate the sphere.
c. Sizing-ring or calipers for sizing the sphere.
d. One spare sphere with storage hangers.
e. Two spare detector switches.
f. Two spare seals for quick opening closures

The Vendor shall furnish standard test measures meeting the requirements of API
MPMS Chapter 4.7 if specified on the Instrumentation Sheet, Form 8020-119-ENG.
The test measures shall have volumes calibrated to deliver by the U. S. National
Institute of Technology and Standards or other approved weights and measures agency.

Page 16 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

9 Identification Tagging

An identification tag of an AISI Series 300 (Austenitic) type stainless steel shall be
attached to the equipment securely with similar stainless steel or Monel fasteners.
The tag shall be marked by raised letters or die stamping with the following information
and shall be located so that the information can be read after the equipment is installed:
a. Purchase Order Number
b. Manufacturer
c. Part/Model Number
d. Serial Number
e. Material
f. Date of Manufacture
g. Equipment Tag No.
h. Pipe Size, Outside Diameter, Inside Diameter, Wall Thickness
i. Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) and Design Temperature
j. ID, Wall thickness (inch/mm)
k. Base Prover Volume (U. S. bbl @ 60F or Liter @ 15C)
l. Coefficient of Cubical Expansion
m. Modulus of Elasticity (kPa)
n. Design Nominal K-factor
o. Manufacturer, Type and Thickness of Internal Coating

10 Shipping Requirements

10.1 General

All equipment and internals being shipped shall be braced and temporary
supports shall be provided, if required, to prevent damage during shipment.

10.2 Internal Protection

The internals of all piping, fabricated and assembled equipment shall be

completely cleaned and dried to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco Inspector.
A non-toxic vapor phase corrosion inhibitor (CORTEC VpCI-609, or
equivalent) shall be applied to the internal surfaces of all piping fabricated and
assembled equipment. As an alternative to the non-toxic vapor phase corrosion
inhibitor, the unit could be pressurized with unreacting nitrogen gas.

Page 17 of 18
Document Responsibility: Custody Measurement Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-119
Issue Date: 10 April 2012
Next Planned Update: 21 December 2016 Bi-Directional Meter Prover

10.3 External Protection

All external surfaces shall be prepared and coated in the shop with the complete
Saudi Aramco coating system (primer and final coats) according to Section 6.3
of this document.

All bolts, nuts and the faces of open flanged connections shall be coated with
temporary protective coating such as petroleum paste.

Permanent blind flanges or covers shall be installed with the gaskets and bolts
required for service according to Section 6.3 of this document.

Each connection shall be fitted with a neoprene gasket, and vapor tight steel
cover. The cover shall be held in place by a minimum of four equally spaced
bolts.

10.4 Electronic and Electrical Equipment

The vendor shall determine if electronics and instruments are susceptible to

damage from shock, weather or extremes of temperature during shipment.
If required, such items shall be removed after the functional test and shipped
separately.

11 Documentation

The supplier shall provide nonmaterial items as shown on Form NMR-7907.

The vendor shall provide a certification that the sphere, flange O-ring, and plunger or
ram seal materials are compatible with the hydrocarbon to be measured.

The vendor shall provide all documentations in accordance with SAEP-21 or SAEP-50
as applicable.

Revision Summary
21 December 2011 Major revision.
10 April 2012 Editorial revision.

Page 18 of 18