34 Samss 319
34 Samss 319
Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations ................................... 2
3 References........................................................ 2
4 Environmental Conditions ................................. 3
5 Level Gauge Design ......................................... 4
6 Temperature System ........................................ 7
7 Performance Criteria ......................................... 7
8 Human Machine Interface (HMI) ....................... 8
9 Electrical Requirements .................................. 12
10 Documentation Requirements......................... 12
11 Quality Control ................................................ 13
12 Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT)
and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) ................... 13
13 Glossary .......................................................... 14
Revision Summary ................................................. 15
1 Scope
This specification defines the minimum requirements for Automatic Tank Gauging
(ATG) Instruments and Systems for inventory application. The specification covers all
hardware, software, software configuration, calibration, and communication with host
computer systems, when so required. Also included are auxiliary temperature and
pressure instrumentation associated with ATG systems. The ATG shall be either single
probe Guided Wave Radar (GWR) or Radar Tank Gauging (RTG).
This specification is not intended for purchase of equipment used for custody transfer.
Excluded from this specification are all other types of level and tank gauging instruments.
Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed to the EK&RD Coordinator.
Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302.
3 References
Material or equipment supplied to this specification shall comply with the latest edition
of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.
4 Environmental Conditions
4.1 Temperature
Instruments and control systems shall operate continuously under the following
ambient air temperatures without any degradation of the manufacturer's
guaranteed performance:
Notes:
1) "Sheltered" refers to permanent, ventilated enclosures or buildings, or permanently fixed
sunshades with a top and three sides.
2) 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 15°C shall be added to the above maximum temperatures.
An example, for "indoor air conditioned" installation, the equipment must perform at
35 + 15 = 50°C. Similarly, for the "outdoor unsheltered" case, the equipment shall be
designed for a maximum operating temperature of 65 + 15 = 80°C.
3) For the outdoor installations only, the designer can take credit for forced or passive cooling to
eliminate or reduce the 15°C 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
15°C reduction in temperature will be given as credit. The designer shall substantiate his
claim by providing the support data and calculations.
4.3 Humidity
4.4 Unless otherwise specified, field device LAN data concentrators, modems,
operator workstations, and associated peripheral equipment shall be installed in
air-conditioned buildings.
4.5 All field devices, fieldbus and control equipment shall be designed to be
immune to radio frequency and electromagnetic interference with field strength
of 15 Volts/Meter or less over a frequency range of 50 Hz to 460 MHz.
4.6 The RTG, during normal operation, bench testing or field service, shall not
generate microwave power levels hazardous to humans. The maximum power
level shall not exceed 2 milliwatts. The RTG shall have approval from the
Federal Communication Corporation (FCC, USA) and the Saudi Arabian
Standards Organization (SASO). The vendor shall provide certification
documentation to Saudi Aramco, upon request.
The user must indicate on the Instrument Specification Sheet (ISS SA-8020-319) and
the purchase order if his requirement is for a field instrument only, or a complete
integrated system.
Single probe GWR shall be used as level gauges. Non-contact RTG can be used, only if
the single probe GWR is not suitable for the given applications.
Radar gauges for use in non-pressurized tank inventory applications can measure level
based on either the frequency shift or time-of-flight technology. The device may use
Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW), Synthesized Pulse Radar (SPR) or
Impulse Echo Time of Flight (TOF).
For pressurized vessels, ATG’s shall also comply with the recommendations of
API MPMS 3.3.
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
Page 4 of 15
Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-319
Issue Date: 11 October 2017
Next Planned Update: 11 October 2020 Automatic Tank Gauging Equipment
5.1.1 GWR
Probe shall be installed correctly to avoid the probe sway, and shall be
per vendor’s installation recommendations.
5.1.2 RTG
5.1.2.3 The vendor shall provide data acquisition and/or control units
and field junction boxes as required.
5.2.1 GWR
The selected GWR shall be able to operate within a still well, and shall
be installed correctly to avoid probe sway. The GWR shall be per
vendor’s installation recommendations.
5.2.2 RTG
5.2.2.1 The vendor shall supply antennas designed for still well
operation in accordance with size specified on the instrument
specification sheet.
5.2.2.3 The vendor shall provide data acquisition and/or control units
and field junction boxes as required.
5.2.2.4 The antenna for still well gauges shall operate in the low loss
circular transmission mode to prevent loss of rated accuracy
due to encrustation.
5.2.2.6 Appropriate means to allow access to the still well for manual
gauging, temperature dipping and sampling shall be provided.
This could be a detachable antenna or suitably designed
inspection hatch.
5.3.1 GWR
Probe shall be installed correctly to avoid the probe sway, and shall be
per vendor’s installation recommendations.
5.3.2 RTG
5.3.2.4 The vendor shall provide data acquisition and/or control units
and field junction boxes as required.
5.3.2.5 The vendor shall provide at least one reference pin for the still
well to permit on-line field verification of the liquid level.
Multiple reference pins shall be provided only if specified in
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-319
Issue Date: 11 October 2017
Next Planned Update: 11 October 2020 Automatic Tank Gauging Equipment
the ISS. The reference pin(s) shall be visible to the RTG only
during the verification procedure.
5.3.2.6 The vendor shall provide an isolation valve at the gauge head
to permit on-line separation and removal of gauge electronics
from the antenna residing inside the storage tank.
6 Temperature System
6.3 The spot or multipoint temperature RTDs shall be wired directly into the local
data acquisition or control unit and the temperature signals shall be communicated
to the remote workstation via the vendor supplied communications bus.
7 Performance Criteria
The intrinsic or bench tested accuracy of the level gauge shall be equal to or better than
3 mm (⅛-inch) over the entire measuring range of the ATG.
The user must indicate the desired accuracy requirements on the Instrument
Specification Sheet (ISS SA-8020-319) and the Purchase Order.
7.1.1 The installed accuracy for inventory control application shall be equal to
or better than 25 mm (1 in), when compared to hand dips. Field
calibration shall be in compliance with API MPMS 3.1B.
The Installed accuracy shall be verified jointly by the vendor and the
proponent representative during the commissioning period.
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-319
Issue Date: 11 October 2017
Next Planned Update: 11 October 2020 Automatic Tank Gauging Equipment
7.1.2 Local level indicators integral to the field control unit shall display
exactly the same level as indicated in the control room operator console.
7.1.3 Level alarms shall be configurable from the software residing in the
operator interface unit in the control room.
7.1.4 Wave integration time for RTG, i.e., time to inhibit the radar response to
transient level fluctuations, shall be adjustable between a range of 2 to
10 seconds.
7.2.2 Local level indicators shall display exactly the same level as indicated in
the control room operator console.
7.2.3 Level alarms shall be configurable from the software residing in the
operator interface unit in the control room.
7.2.4 Wave integration time for RTG, i.e., time to inhibit the radar response to
transient level fluctuations, shall be adjustable between a range of 2 to
10 seconds.
8.1 The HMI shall be provided only if specified in the ISS or purchase order. DCS
is the standard HMI for tank gauging system.
The HMI shall consist of a personal computer (PC) based, user configurable
graphical interface. It shall perform calculations, system management,
configuration and data storage. As a minimum, the personal computer shall
have the latest commercially available Intel based microprocessor with suitable
hard drive and RAM memory, 21 inch color monitor, keyboard, mouse, optical
writer drive, Ethernet network interface, suitable removable and permanent
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
Page 8 of 15
Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-319
Issue Date: 11 October 2017
Next Planned Update: 11 October 2020 Automatic Tank Gauging Equipment
8.1.1 The Operator interface graphics shall be designed for normal plant
operation information and shall have the following functionality:
8.2.1 Ullage Measurement: Which is the distance from the surface of liquid to
the reference gauging point or Ullage Volume which is the volume of
available space in a storage tank unoccupied by contents.
8.2.2 Total Observed Volume (TOV): Which is the total measured volume of
all petroleum liquids, sludges, sediment and water and free water at an
observed temperature and pressure.
8.2.3 Gross Observed Volume (GOV): Which is the total volume of all
petroleum liquids and sediment and water, excluding free water, at
observed temperature and pressure.
8.2.4 Gross Standard Volume (GSV): Which is the GOV, corrected by the
appropriate volume correction factor for the observed temperature and
API gravity, relative density or density, to a reference temperature.
For pressurized vessels, the gross standard volume shall also be pressure
compensated to the reference pressure. The volume and pressure
corrections shall be in accordance with the applicable American
Petroleum Institute (API) standards.
8.2.5 Net Standard Volume (NSV): The total volume of all petroleum liquids,
excluding sediment and water and free water, corrected by the
appropriate volume correction factor for the observed temperature and
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee 34-SAMSS-319
Issue Date: 11 October 2017
Next Planned Update: 11 October 2020 Automatic Tank Gauging Equipment
8.2.6 Leakage Alarm: The application program shall generate alarms based on
the rate of change in the Net Standard Volume of the products in the
storage tanks.
8.2.8 Alarming Capabilities: The system shall generate multiple High, Low,
and Safe alarms for level, temperature and pressure. Configurable time
delays shall be provided for each process variable to minimize nuisance
alarms.
8.2.9 Flow Rate Computations: The system shall provide importing and
exporting flow indications based on volume movements in the tank.
Indications of "time until full" and "time until empty" shall be provided
as well as high and low flow alarms based on user set points.
8.3.1 All field inputs, including level, temperature and pressure signals shall
be monitored for faults. All faults shall be annunciated and logged.
The HMI and resident application software shall have a minimum of two levels
of password protection. Each level of password shall permit pre-programmed
types of activities, i.e., minimum security shall be required for viewing standard
graphics, entering operator information and printing reports. Maximum security
shall be required for configuration and alarm set-points changes.
The tank gauging software shall be capable of automatic data backup of all
system configuration and process parameters. The system shall also be capable
of retrieving all configuration parameters once a system failure has cleared.
The vendor shall provide details of the data backup and data recovery features of
the system software, in their proposal.
9 Electrical Requirements
9.1 The vendor shall specify the power requirements for each RTG sub-system to
facilitate the design of segregated power circuits.
9.2 All components installed in the tank or in contact with the process shall be
bonded to the gauge housing.
9.3 All equipment shall be designed to meet the minimum Hazardous Area
installation requirements, as specified in the ISS. The ATG installation shall
meet or exceed the requirements of NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code.
9.4 A local isolation switch shall be provided at the gauge head to interrupt all
power for maintenance and service.
10 Documentation Requirements
The vendor shall supply technical data on all installed hardware, dimensional drawings,
installation details, comprehensive block diagrams and detailed description of the
software. The block diagrams shall detail the layout of all major components,
interconnecting cables and communication interfaces.
The vendor shall also supply complete operations, configuration and maintenance
manuals. As a minimum, the manuals shall have step-by-step troubleshooting
instructions and circuit schematics.
The vendor shall provide the basis for calculating Mean Time between Failure (MTBF)
and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) values for all hardware components of the
Automatic Tank Gauging System as a part of their proposal.
11 Quality Control
11.1 The vendor shall apply his standard QA/QC procedure for design, manufacturing,
installation and testing of the tank gauging system. The vendor's QA/QC program
shall conform to ISO 9001.
11.2 All electronic components or modules of the ATG system shall be functionally
tested.
12.1 The vendor shall be responsible for the correct functionality and operation of all
components of the ATG System. These functional and operational requirements
shall be demonstrated at both the FAT and SAT tests in accordance with
requirements in this SAMSS and any additional requirements specified in the
purchase order.
The vendor shall provide qualified personnel, test equipment and floor space at
the factory for the FAT, and qualified field service personnel for the SAT.
The FAT and SAT shall demonstrate that the microprocessors, peripherals,
modules, devices and communication hardware components perform as
specified. The vendor shall submit written procedure for the above tests for
Saudi Aramco's review, prior to the scheduled tests. The procedure shall be
comprehensive and cover all system requirements. As a minimum the FAT and
SAT shall demonstrate the following:
a) Workstation level, temperature, and pressure measurement accuracy.
b) Local level, temperature, and pressure measurement accuracy.
c) Tank gauge level measurement immunity to liquid and vapor specific
gravity variations.
d) Level alarm switches for proper operation.
e) Wave integration time adjustment (immunity to liquid turbulence).
f) Multiple element temperature switching operation.
g) Database management and field bus operation.
h) Workstation screens, graphics, user access, menus, and reports.
i) Communication and proper operation of the ATG and the host
communication system.
12.2 All discrepancies encountered in the FAT and SAT shall be resolved to the
satisfaction of Saudi Aramco. The vendor shall submit a written report after the
completion of FAT and SAT. The report shall cover all problems encountered
during the execution of the test procedures and the measures taken to resolve
these problems.
13 Glossary
API Gravity: A term used by the petroleum industry to express the relative density of
petroleum liquids. API gravity is measured by a hydrometer instrument having a scale
graduated in degrees API. The relationship between API gravity and relative density is
as follows:
Relative Density @ 60°F: The ratio of the density of a substance at 60°F to the density
of pure water, also at 60°F.
Minimum Level Volume: Represents fixed volume of liquid in the tank that may
contain water and cannot be pumped out.
Net Weight: Weight (metric/long tons) computed by multiplying net volume by API
gravity.
Strapping Table: Provides a correction factor for the tank diameter at each increment
of liquid level in the tank. The correction factor is used in the calculation of Total
Observed Volume.
Suspended Sediment: Non-hydrocarbon solids present within the oil but not in solution.
Dissolved Water: The water contained within the oil forming a solution at the
prevailing temperature.
Suspended Water: The water within the oil, finely dispersed as small droplets.
Revision Summary
24 April 2012 Major revision to allow the use or RTG’s that operate upon the Time of Flight measurement
principle and added more API references.
11 October 2017 Major revision to optimize the scope of ATG System, as well as to include a single rod GWR
as the main type of the ATG.