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Crude Oil Transportation

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The SKW system is designed to realize a significant gain in product throughput by increasing pipeline availability from 22 to 24 hours/day. It will require less labor and travel to perform daily gain/loss on the pipeline, allowing redistribution of labor effort to other important operational and maintenance tasks. The solution will allow better scheduling of product delivery to Truck Haul locations and reduce transportation charges. Additionally, automating the tank/pipeline procedure will improves safety and help to minimize environmental hazards through leak avoidance. Finally, the solution increases refined product output through the existing pipeline structure.

When an oil company wanted to optimize the production of their crude oil gathering operations and transport they called on SKW for ideas. The ultimate goal is increasing refinery output based on a larger volume of crude oil input. SKW proposed a system that maximizes pipeline throughput and automatic reconciliation of inventory. The solution will also let area suppliers to schedule truck deliveries to Truck Haul sites, thus minimizing unnecessary transportation charges.

The system is designed to maintain maximum product throughput and to eliminate the need to shut the pipeline down each day to reconcile inventory. It incorporates new tank level gauges, pressure transmitters and a PLC to control equipment. The solution will deliver the following functionality and benefits:

Elimination of the 2 hours per day of down time that is now required to perform gain/loss gauging, realizing an increase of approximately 1500 bbls/day.

Maximization of pipeline volume via automatic dispatch of the mainline pumps (start/stop) based on tank levels.

Reduction of demurrage charges through routing of drivers to storage locations with available capacity.

Detection of product leaks more quickly, since automated gain/loss reporting can occur several times per day, as compared to the once per day currently performed.

The solution is being designed not only to meet operational objectives but to do so while offering a ROI of less than 12 months.