© 2019 Department of Petroleum Resources. All rights reserved Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) PROCEDURE GUIDE

Page 25 of 114

24 | P a g e

2.5.3.3.2 It shall be capable of continuous sampling during operations.
2.5.3.3.3 The probe shall be pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically actuated via a
calibrated flow meter which shall serve as the flow signal regulator for sample pacing.
2.5.3.3.4 The flow proportioning meter shall be calibrated with an accuracy of ±5% over the
working flow range of the pipeline.
2.5.3.3.5 The sampling aperture of the probe shall have a minimum diameter of 6mm.
2.5.3.4 Sample Receivers
2.5.3.4.1 Shall be of the fixed volume type.
2.5.3.4.2 Shall have its inside made of polished stainless steel to minimize corrosion and
water clingage.
2.5.3.4.3 Shall be equipped with a relief valve, set at a pressure slightly less than the line
pressure.
2.5.3.4.4 Shall be equipped with a means of monitoring the level of the filling petroleum and
petroleum product in the container.
2.5.3.4.5 The bottom shall slope continuously towards the drain to facilitate liquid
withdrawal.
2.5.3.5 Other Ancillary devices
2.5.3.5.1 Velocity Profile Improvement Device: This shall either be a powered mixer of rotary
or jet type. In addition, the probe shall be installed along the vertical section (rising or
descending) of the line segment.
2.5.3.6 Performance Monitoring and Failure Alarms
2.5.3.6.1 These shall be suitable devices to check the functionality of the flow meter such as
the proportionality of the collected sample volume with the totalized pipeline flow, loss of
flow into the receiver and prevention of liquid high level in the receiver.
2.5.3.6.2 Samples shall be manually taken daily to serve as a back-up in case of eventual
failure of the automatic sampler.
2.5.4 Installation of Automatic Sampling System
2.5.4.1 The probe shall be located horizontally within a minimum of 3*pipe diameter
(3*internal diameter) and 0.5*pipe diameter (0.5*internal diameter) from any vertical or
horizontal bend respectively.
2.5.4.2 The probe orifice shall be offset from the inner center of the pipeline. Alternatively,
a profile test should be carried out to select a precise location point in accordance with
ASTM D4177.
2.5.4.3 The probe and sample receiver shall be as close as possible to; “dead-sample”
volume.
2.5.4.4 The powered mixer shall be located between 7 - 10*internal diameter from the
sampling point depending on the pipeline diameter such that the larger the diameter, the
nearer the mixer will be to the sampling point.
2.5.4.5 Sampler assembly shall be protected against weather and unauthorized tampering
in a suitable enclosure with controlled access.