AS SEEN IN
AUGUST 2015

Automation optimizes
trucking operations
A CTB approach and automation package has improved onsite safety and the bottom linefor operations.

R

Brad Long and Gerald Price, Apache Corp.;
Ricky Strong, Vinson Process Controls; andJoey Raskie and Al Majek, Emerson

apid growth of production in the U.S. oil patch has
severely taxed the infrastructure necessary to transport liquids from field locations. Until pipelines can beconstructed, trucking can be the only means available.
The large number of trips necessary dictates that operators seek out the safest, most efficient means of handlingtruck load-outs. Consolidation of storage facilities combined with automation techniques can solve the problemand offer other substantive benefits to field operations.

FIGURE 1. The area is characterized by widespread wells overhilly terrain. (Source: Emerson Process Management)

Manual operation
In the northern section of the Texas Panhandle, Apache
Corp. has an active drilling program in the Canyon Wash
Formation. Largely dominated by conventional vertical
single well sites, liquid removal meant a great deal of truck
movements within a field (Figure 1). Drivers performed amanual gauging operation that required climbing to thetop of a crude oil tank. A sample was taken to determine
the water content and the beginning tank level measured.
Fluid loading would be executed using a pump mounted
on the truck along with a sight glass or flowmeter.
At the end of the load-out operation, the driver would
make a second trip to the top of the tank top to gauge

the haul closing level. A load ticket would be manuallycreated, with a copy left for the operating company. Field
pumper personnel would pick up the tickets within a 24hour to 48-hour period during their normal rounds.

Centralized operations
To streamline operations, the field configuration waschanged to use a central delivery point, or central tankbattery (CTB), approach.
The CTB design supports a loading facility intended
to handle up to three trucks at a time for crude oiltransfer (Figure 2). Central to the concept is a leaseautomatic custody transfer (LACT) unit implemented
with an automation package. Electronics managing theprocess have to be suitable for harsh outdoor environments. In particular, the human-machine interface(HMI) at each loading spot needs to be easy to read,viewable under strong sunlight and able to hold up tooccasional wind-driven rain and hail.
The control package has to accept different styles ofinputs from various end devices and execute complex
algorithms. The ability to offer custody transfer grade
measurement functionality for both gas and liquid streams
is preferred so that a common equipment platform can beutilized fieldwide. For this task Apache selected a complete packaged solution supplied by Vinson Process Controls based upon Emerson’s remote operations controller(ROC) series of equipment. Included was Tank Manager,a software application specifically designed to handle thedemands of onshore production inventory management.

Automated loading
The process begins with level measurement of the storage
tanks. Each tank level is monitored by an individual guided
wave radar gauge. The tanks are treated as an equalizedgroup all connected to a central header. Based upon thelevel readings, operations personnel manually select whichtanks are to be opened or closed, assuring enough crude isalways available for the truck drivers. Level totals are forwarded to a central logistics call center over the company’s
SCADA computer network. Office personnel track thetotals and execute truck call-outs as required.
August 2015 | EPmag.com

shaleSOLUTIONS

Upon arrival, a driver parks in one of the three loading
areas and connects a vehicle grounding cable. This is asafety practice to prevent sparks from occurring whileloading the truck. Lack of a grounding connection will
be detected by the controller, and no loading will be permitted to occur. The driver then proceeds to the controller panel. Using the touch screen, passwords such ascompany identifier and driver IDs are entered to grantloading access. Finally, the driver enters an amount ofgross barrels to load—a preset value—and the loading
sequence is initiated.
The header from the tanks is piped to two pumps andthen to an automated three-way valve. When thesequence begins, product is initially routed to a diverter
tank. The ROC monitors the output of a basic sedimentand water (BS&W) meter placed on the incoming flowline. Once the reading is within contractual limits, thecontroller will automatically adjust the valve to route theliquid away from the diverter tank and move it througha Coriolis meter to the truck (Figure 3).
In combination with the Coriolis mass flow data, bymonitoring temperature, pressure and BS&W transmitter readings, the Tank Manager program can determine gross barrels, gross standard barrels and net
standard barrels (Figure 4). Once the volume preset
value is met, the valve is automatically closed and thepump shut off, thereby completing the load. A ticket
can be locally printed for the operator and truck hauling company records. Or the driver may input the datafrom the HMI screen into a trucking company computer and print a copy to be left for the operator
records. In either case, an electronic version is sent via
the Apache SCADA communications network to theenterprise accounting system.
Should any condition arise requiring a rapid end to
the process, an emergency shut-down switch is suppliedon the LACT panel, which will immediately stop thepump and cease the load-out operation.

vapors. With automation in place, these operations
are performed infrequently only on an as-neededbasis. Concerns over exposure to hazardous gases andinclement weather conditions are significantly reduced.

FIGURE 2. The loading facility handles up to three trucks at thesame time. (Source: Emerson Process Management)

FIGURE 3. An Emerson Elite Coriolis meter is at the core of eachload-out point. (Source: Emerson Process Management)

Practical benefits
The CTB approach and its associated automation
were chosen to improve both operation efficiency
and HSE elements. In practice, the concept proved tomeet all expectations.
Of most prominence is the elimination of routine
trips to the tops of tanks by personnel. Rain and snow
were obvious conditions that increased physical hazards.
But even on clear days winds in the Texas Panhandle
area can pose a problem. In addition, opening the tanks
for manual gauging work always carried with it a risk ofexcessive exposure to undesirable, possibly even deadly,
EPmag.com | August 2015

FIGURE 4. The local display shows all necessary information.
(Source: Emerson Process Management)

DOWNLOAD

THE APPissue. The meter device characteristics, especially device accuracies, are established byApache criteria. A driver can still enter manualvalues if deemed necessary. However, all$60parameters determined electronically are$70$80
maintained by the system, allowing comparison$90
to any manual modifications. In nearly all5.
Thisfigureshows
LACT implementation savings. (Source: Emerson
Figurecases, drivers accept the values presented byProcess Management)
the automation package.
The potential gross revenue savings at various
From an environmental standpoint, emissions were
crude prices is demonstrated in Figure 5.
greatly diminished. Prior to the CTB approach, tanks had
Quick accounting reconciliation
to sit for a 24-hour period, venting valuable hydrocarbon
Manually generated tickets used to be left on site forvapors to a flare system to make the liquid acceptable forlater pickup by company personnel. Depending
truck hauling. Up to 8% shrinkage was observed in tankupon timing and weather conditions, such pickupsvolumes. The centralized nature of the CTB method
would occur within a 48-hour span. Tickets would
allows crude to be processed by stabilizers, resulting inthen be manually entered into the company entercapture of virtually the entire hydrocarbon spectrum.
prise system, adding perhaps another day. Since an
The original method required a driver to spend close
average day supports around 13 load-outs, by theto two hours at locations widely spread over the field.
time tickets were reviewed there could be almost
Loading operations had to be carried out during all
40 loads performed.
hours of the day to keep pace with production. There
Challenging the result from any particular load was a
was constant fear that wells would be shut in should
difficult task. Under the current system, haul logs aretrucks not appear in a timely fashion. In the automatedretrieved in electronic form via the company’s SCADACTB case, this time drops to an average of 20 minutes.
system. The ticket information is available literally
Most operations can now be conducted during daylight
before the truck has left the site. The elimination of thehours. Furthermore, the CTB location was chosen totime spent on manual entry is a clear savings. But frommaximize access to a paved road; therefore, weather conan accounting standpoint, another plus to the elecditions rarely impact operations. Finally, damage to lease
tronic system is the disappearance of transcription
roads and the associated maintenance costs dramaticallyerrors and lost or damaged tickets that are inherit indropped as most heavy truck traffic was eliminated.
any manual technique.
Accuracy increases revenues
Overall, the CTB approach coupled with its associatedConsistency of liquid measurement has greatly
automation package has crafted a formidable solution
improved, since the effects of different people with diffor improving onsite safety as well as the financial bottom line for operations.
ferent levels of training and capability are no longer an
Daily LeaseProductionBbl/day
2,500
2,500
2,500
2,500

Crude
$/Bbl

1% Manual
Gauging Loss/Year$547,500$638,750$730,000$821,250

0.1% Coriolis
Based LACT
Alternative$54,750$63,875$73,000$82,125

AnnualRevenue
Savings$492,750$574,875$657,000$739,125

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