Oil and gas production handbook An introduction to oil ... - ABB Group

egion distributes for several companies based on the same products in the
same tanks.
Each company
then seeks to
differentiate its
product by adding
small quantities of
unique additives
that are marketed
to increase engine
performance,
lifetime, clean
combustion and so
forth. These
additives are
added as the
product is
dispensed to trucks
for delivery to that brand gasoline station.
A main task is to ensure the balance of incoming and outgoing products and
consolidate with stored volumes. These have to be compensated for
temperature, water content (water may be absorbed from air humidity and
released at low temperatures as bottom slop in tanks) and vapor loss. Vapor
or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), form above the product in fixed roof
tanks and when filling up compartments in cars or vessels. VOC loss can be
significant for high volatility products like gasoline, and must be recovered
and/or handled to reduce emissions and explosive hazard.
The terminal management system tracks batches of product received or
dispensed, as well as those eventually received by gasoline stations, airports
or other consumers and consolidates with stored volumes. Each operation
should be validated against orders, bills of lading and positive identification
of trucks, vessels and their operators. In countries where this process is not
well managed, losses of product due to theft and other factors can be as
high as 15% or more in the distribution operations.
Eventually the main goal is to ensure that orders are met, and stakeholders
pay or get paid in the form of VAT, taxes, product, delivery charges, etc.
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