Definitions - Petroleum Measurement Standards - Marine Measurement

API Gravity (relative density) is a means used by the petroleum industry to express the density of petroleum liquids. API gravity is measured by a hydrometric instrument having a scale graduated in degrees API. The relation between API gravity and relative density (formerly called specific gravity) is : API Gravity 60oF = (141.5 / Relative Density 60oF/60oF) - 131.5 Automatic Sampler is a device used to extract a representative sample from the liquid flowing in a delivery pipe. The automatic sampler generally consists of a probe, a sample extractor, a flow meter, a controller and a sample receiver (container). Ballast is the water that is taken on when a vessel is empty or partly loaded to increase draft to properly submerge the propeller and maintain stability, trim and list. Clingage is the cargo that adheres to all surfaces of the emptied portion of the tank other than bottom surfaces. Crude Oil Washing ( Go to Tank Washing) Cargo Quantity Option Certificate is a certificate signed by the vessel and shore representatives acknowledging the amount of cargo intended to be loaded. Generally, most product cargoes have a tolerance based on either supplier, receiver or vessel capabilities. Each party involved with the loading shall agree to the quantity to be loaded. Draft is the depth of a vessel below the water line measured from the surface of the water to the bottom of vessel's keel. The draft can be taken at six positions (forward, amidships, aft - port and starboard side). Deviations from measured and calculated figures usually relate to deviations in the known constant and hog/stress. Free Water (FW) is the volume of sea water (or other water contamination) that is in a container that is not in suspension in the contained liquid (oil). See also definitions for sediment and water. Gross Observed Volume (GOV) (Go to Volumes) Gross Standard Volume (GSV) (Go to Volumes) Gross Observed Weight (GSW) is the total weight of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water (if any), excluding free water, as determined by applying the appropriate weight conversion factors to the gross standard volume. Indicated Volume (Go to Volumes) Inerting is a procedure used to reduce the oxygen content of a vessel's cargo spaces to 8 percent or less by volume by introducing an inert gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or a mixture of gases such as boiler / inert gas generator flue gas. Innage gauge (dip sounding) is the measured distance from the surface of the liquid to a fixed datum plate or to the bottom of the tank.

Letter of Protest (Notice of Apparent Discrepancy) is a letter issued by any participant in a custody transfer citing any or all the conditions of dispute. This letter serves as a written record that the particular action or finding was questioned at the time of occurrence. The letter usually has a paragraph reserving the issuer's right to refer to matter at a later date. Liquid volume is the measurable amount of material that is free flowing at the time of measurement. List (Heel) is the leaning or inclination of a vessel, expressed in degrees port or starboard. If found to be other than zero, list correction tables are to be used to correct the measured ullage or sounding to compensate for the measured list. See next paragraph. List (Heel) correction is the correction applied to the observed gauge or observed volume when a vessel is listing, provided that the liquid is in contact with all the bulkheads in the tank. Correction for list may be made by reference to the vessel's list correction tables for each individual tank or by mathematical calculations. Load on Top is defined as both a procedure and a practice. Procedure: Load on top is the shipboard procedure of collecting the settling water and oil mixtures, resulting from ballasting and tank cleaning operations (usually in a special slop tank or tanks), and subsequently loading cargo on top of the slops and pumping the resultant mixture ashore at the discharge port. Practice: Load on top is the act of commingling onboard quantity with cargo being loaded. The onboard quantity is the remnant of the previous cargo or part load into the tank. Multipoint gauging is the activity of measuring cargo in a vessel tank through two or more openings in the top of the tank. Net Standard Volume (NSV) (Go to Volumes) Net Standard Weight (NSW) is the total weight of all petroleum liquids, excluding sediment and water and free water, determined by deducting the S&W weight from the Gross Standard Weight (GSW). Non-liquid volume is the measurable amount of material that is not free flowing at the time of measurement. Non-liquid material may include anyone or a combination of hydrocarbon waxes, water/oil emulsions, sediment, or solidified cargo. On-board quantity (OBQ) (Go to Volumes) Observed Reference Height is the distance actually measured from the tank bottom or datum plate to the established reference point. Reference Height is the distance from the tank bottom to the established reference point or mark. Reference Point is the point from which the reference height is determined and from which the ullages / innages are taken. Remaining On Board (ROB) (Go to Volumes)

Sediment and Water (S&W) is the non-hydrocarbon solid material and water in suspension in petroleum liquid. Sediment and water is measured by the techniques described in MPMS Chapters 10.1 ~ 10.8 of Appendix A. Slops are oil, oil/water/sediment, and emulsions contained in the slop tanks or designated cargo tanks. The mixture usually results from tank stripping, tank washing, or dirty ballast phase separation. Stop Gauge is a pre-transfer determination of a specific volume of cargo represented by a specific tank level, which, when reached, results in cargo completion of the transfer. This determination may be done by either shore or vessel personnel. Tank Washing is divided into two types of activities: Water Washing involves the use of high-pressure water stream to dislodge clingage and sediment from the bulkheads, bottom and internal tank structures of a vessel. Crude Oil Washing (COW) involves the use of a high-pressure stream of the crude oil cargo to dislodge or dissolve the clingage and sediment from the bulkheads, bottom and internal tank structures of a vessel during the discharge operation. It must be noted that regulatory agencies (including most ship / facility internal documented procedures require the tanks to be inerted during tank cleaning. Total Calculated Volume (TCV) (Go to Volumes) Total Observed Volume (TOV) (Go to Volumes) Trim is the condition of a vessel with reference to its longitudinal position in the water. It is the difference between the forward and aft drafts and expressed "by the head" if the forward draft is deeper than the aft draft or "by the stern". Trim Correction is the correction applied to the observed gauge or observed volume when a vessel is not on an even keel (equal forward and aft drafts), provided that the liquid is in contact with all bulkheads in the tank. Correction for trim may be made by referencing trim tables for each individual tank or by mathematical calculation. Ullage Gauge (Outage) is the measured distance from the cargo liquid surface to the reference point. Vessel Experience Factor (VEF) is a compilation of the history of the total calculated volume (TCV) vessel measurements, adjusted for on-board quantity (OBQ) or remaining on board (ROB), compared with the TCV shore measurements. Separate VEFs should be developed for loadings and discharges. The information used to calculate VEF should preferably be based on documents that follow accepted industry standards and practices, such as inspection company reports. It may be noted that for the purpose of calculating a load or discharge vessel ratio, the TCV on board the vessel includes all petroleum liquids, sediment and water, free water and slops found after loading (TCV sailing volume) or before discharge (TCV arrival volumes). However, if in the completion of the Sequential Voyage Log, a TCV ratio (vessel - shore) appears to be in gross error, the ratio may be deleted with the agreement of both parties. If all qualified voyages are

based on load/discharge data from the same terminal, the applicability of those VEF data to the loads/discharges at other terminals should be evaluated. Vessel Load Ration (VLR) is the total calculated volume (TCV) by the vessel measurement upon sailing, less on-board quantity (OBQ), divided by the TCV by shore measurement at loading VLR = (TCV on sailing - OBQ) / TCV received from shore at loading Vessel Discharge Ration (VDR) is the total calculated volume (TCV) by the vessel measurement on arrival, less remaining on-board (ROB), divided by the TCV by shore measurement at discharge VDR = (TCV on arrival - ROB) / TCV received from shore at discharge Volume Correction Factor (VCF) is the numerical value determined by laboratory analysis or by standardized computer arithmetic that when multiplied by the Gross Observed Volume at tank temperature results in the volume of the product at its standard temperature (15oC or 60oF). The factors applicable for bands of API (relative density) and temperature are available in standard tables booklets or may be computed using a standardized format. If the VCF is below 1 it is shown accurate to 5 places of decimal otherwise it is shown in 4 places of decimal. Gross Observed Reference (GOV) is the total volume of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water, excluding free water, at observed temperature and pressure. Gross Standard Volume (GSV) is the total volume of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water, excluding free water, corrected by the appropriate volume correction factor (VCF) for the observed temperature and API gravity, relative density, or density to a standard temperature such as 60oF or 15oC. If applicable, correct with pressure correction factor and meter factor. Indicated Volume is the change in meter reading that occurs during a receipt or delivery. Net Standard Volume (NSV) is the total volume of all petroleum liquids, excluding sediment and water and free water, corrected by the appropriate volume factor (VCF) for the observed temperature and API gravity, relative density, or density to a standard temperature such as 60oF or 15oC. If applicable, correct with pressure correction factor and meter factor. On Board Quantity (OBQ) is the material remaining in the the vessel tanks, void spaces, and/or pipelines prior to loading. On-board quantity includes water, oil, slops, oil residue, oil/water emulsions, sludge and sediment. Remaining On Board (ROB) is the material remaining in the the vessel tanks, void spaces, and/or pipelines after discharge. Remaining on-board quantity includes water, oil, slops, oil residue, oil/water emulsions, sludge and sediment. Total Calculated Volume (TCV) is the total volume of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water, corrected by the appropriate volume factor (VCF) for the observed temperature and API gravity, relative density, or density to a standard temperature such as 60oF or 15oC. If applicable, correct with pressure correction factor and meter factor and all free water measured at observed temperature and pressure (gross standard volume plus free water). Total Observed Volume (TOV) is the total measured volume of all petroleum liquids, sediment and water, and free water at observed temperature and pressure.

It is to be noted that 60oF and 15oC are not terms of measurements that are equal to each other. Volume Correction Factor (VCF) See Link Water Wash Test is the procedure for washing selected areas such as interior bulkheads, tank bottoms and sumps of cargo tanks with an appropriate medium and testing the wash liquid for the presence of material which might contaminate the cargo to be loaded. Water Cut Measurement is the procedure for locating the oil/water interface for the purpose of determining the volume of free water in a shore tank or vessel compartment. It is also used to refer to the line of demarcation of the oil/water interface. Wedge Formula is a mathematical means to approximate small quantities of liquid and solid cargo and free water on board prior loading and after discharge, based on cargo compartment dimensions and vessel trim. The wedge formula is to be used only when the liquid does not touch all the bulkheads of the vessel's tanks. Wedge Table is a pre-calculated vessel table based on the wedge principle and displayed much like the vessel's usual ullage/innage (sounding) tables. These tables, however, are for small quantities (on-board quantities, remaining on board), when the cargo or free water does not touch all the bulkheads of the vessel's tank. Weight Correction Factor (WCF) is the numerical value determined by laboratory analysis or by standardized computer arithmetic that when multiplied by the Gross Standard Volume results in the weight of the product. The factors applicable for bands of API (relative density) are available in standard tables booklets or may be computed using a standardized format. Wipe Test is the procedure of physically wiping random interior areas and steam coils of the vessel's tanks with absorbent white rags. This procedure is used to test the tank's coating for possible colour contamination.