The most efficient way to manage your product transportation lifecycle
KELTON Transport Applications simplify the whole lifecycle of dispensation, deviation and mismeasurement management: from raising the initial request and streamlining the internal review and approval process, to formal submissions, revisions and resubmissions.
Transport Applications at a glance
▪ Four fully auditable applications in a single software solution
▪ Custom notifications and approvals routing
▪ Manage differing workflows with four measurement classifications
▪ Fully configurable to suit your numbering conventions
▪ Powerful SQL database
▪ Most up-to-date workflows
▪ Cloud-based for instant access from anywhere in the world
▪ Central storage and categorisation of all requests
▪ Uniform reporting
▪ Saves time, money and effort
▪ Reduced commercial risk
▪ Easy to use, track and manage
▪ Current and historical information securely available 24/7
▪ Full traceability
▪ Read-only access available
▪ Full remote support included
A Need for Reliable Measurements
To keep both cost and environmental footprint to a minimum, hydrocarbons are frequently transported via shared infrastructure. However, this creates a need for reliable measurements at all primary allocation points to support accurate attribution.
The particular requirements associated with the measurement approach are agreed and recorded in the pipeline operating agreement, which is legally binding to all parties involved
Consequently, operators must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate systems of oversight in place to detect and appropriately manage any departures from normal operating practice to remain compliant. Whether due to equipment failure or product quality exceptions, any significant divergence from the conditions formally agreed requires the timely submission of a dispensation request.
For the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), the format of such a request is prescribed by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA). This is in the form of an MS Word document, which has to be manually progressed through the company-internal QA and approval cycle. While being forwarded from person to person, operators are also required to prepare regular progress updates on the resolution of the dispensation, using a prescribed MS Excel spreadsheet. This procedure is both cumbersome and time-consuming, not only risking delayed submission but also making it an expensive process to maintain.
What is more, this labour-intensive way of handling such important communications leaves the operator exposed to error, misinformation, and oversight, risking intervention and punitive action from the OGA.
KELTON Transport Applications
KELTONTM has developed an easy-to-use software solution to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole dispensation, deviation and mismeasurement management process for fiscal product transportation activities.
Comprised of four fully auditable applications, the software collates information from multiple sources of the Transportation System to ensure ongoing control from export through to delivery.
Deployed locally to support a single measurement system or accessed remotely through the cloud to manage multiple measurement systems and multiple sites, KELTON Transport Applications segments all equipment into one of four classes to aid with the management of different workflows:
|
Class 1 |
Fiscal Measurement Entry or Exit from a Transportation System (Pipeline, Road, Rail, Ship Tanker) |
|
Class 2 |
Field Allocation Measurement Measurement of separate fields that are comingled before custody transfer with differing taxation/production licenses, partner equity splits etc. |
|
Class 3 |
Well Reservoir Management Measurement of separate Production/Injection Wells within a field that are for the purpose of production licenses, reservoir optimisation etc. |
|
Class 4 |
Environmental Legislation Measurement Produced Water overboard in compliance with OPPC regulations and Fuel and Flare measurement in compliance with EU ETC legislation |
Meet the Four Applications
Whenever a discrepancy is expected to last for more than a few days, operators are required to file a dispensation request. This should indicate the time frame in which the matter is expected to be resolved.
KELTON’s Dispensation Application emulates the format of the OGA report but significantly increases the efficiency with which requests can be raised, stored, retrieved and archived. It further allows users to quickly attach approvals or rejections, relevant communications and all associated raw data used in the production of the dispensation request.
The system notifies each stakeholder as soon as their approval and sign off are due, effectively reducing the risks of oversight. Each request is automatically assigned a unique numeric identifier, which is configurable to suit the client’s numbering conventions, and stored in the central dashboard. Categorised by status, the originator can easily keep track of all created requests, ensuring no requests are lost or mismanaged.
While it is necessary to uphold measurement integrity, the OGA recognises that remedial actions might not always be economically viable or sensible, especially when approaching the field’s end of life. In these cases, the operator is required to request a permanent dispensation known as deviation.
KELTON’s Transport Applications software offers a designated template to control and manage all planned deviations.
The mismeasurement application allows operators to record all transport-related mismeasurements, with relevant stakeholders being notified when their approval is needed.
Any mismeasurements exceeding a user-defined value will further require a calculation check and approval by the Pipeline Operator or Client. All other mismeasurements will automatically be labelled as “Pipeline Approval not required” and returned to the originator.
While several users can be granted permission to view the mismeasurements, there is only one approval route, keeping the mismeasurement process straightforward and easy to manage.
The finished mismeasurement report can be exported as either a standard or OGA formatted PDF along with any attachments, which are kept in their native format.
In contrast to the dispensation application, which is designed for requests caused by equipment failure, the waiver application provides a suitable template for any dispensations caused by product quality exceptions.
It allows you to raise, store, retrieve and archive waiver requests, and enables the attachment of any subsequent approvals, rejections, communications and relevant raw data to the form.
Each waiver request is automatically assigned a unique numeric identifier, which is configurable to suit the client’s numbering conventions.
Tried and Tested Across the Forties
KELTON has successfully implemented its software systems in a variety of environments – ranging from managing multiple sites spread across various geographical locations with the data stored in a central database to a single system with all components installed on a self-contained laptop.
KELTON Transport Applications have been in use across the Forties pipeline system, servicing multiple production sites. Experience has shown that the anticipated improvements in dispensation management efficiency have by far exceeded KELTON’s expectations, delivering significant operational cost savings and reduced exposure to the threat of non-compliance for the client. To find out more, read our Dispensation Management Case Study here.
Find out more
