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Measurement SOPs for Your Operation

05.30.2023 | SOPs

Measurement SOPs

For over 20 years, Gas Certification Institute (GCI) has provided measurement SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for operators in the oil and gas industry. Our natural gas and liquid measurement SOP manuals follow the tenets of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and align with industry standards and best practices.

We work with you to build customized SOPs using our template as a base to address the most common procedures, and then we work with you to adapt the manual to your company’s unique operations and procedures.

 

Benefits of SOPs

Developing or updating measurement SOPs is not on the top of your task list or your top budget priority…until you’ve been seriously dinged in an audit report, are facing unexplained losses, or end up being deposed in a lawsuit. Suddenly not having and following sound measurement SOPs becomes a big deal.

 

Clear Operational Understanding

One of the biggest benefits of building SOPs for your organization is the level of clarity it brings to your operation. Your SOPs become the roadmap for your field operations, guide equipment selection, define your training needs, and support your budget requests. SOPs also ensure field and back-office know how and what to do, as well as the correct way to document their work. 

Additionally, engineering and procurement have the necessary documentation on equipment requirements, and third-party service providers have precise requirements and expectations when working within your operation.  

 

SOPs Facilitate Compliance

Our SOP manuals tie to the industry standards for measurement (AGA, API, or GPA) referenced by your contracts or tariffs. They guide your organization to facilitate compliance with industry best practices for the measurement of natural gas, NGL, or crude. 

  • Your SOPs should align with regulations and how they are implemented.
  • The standards referenced in the SOPs will determine the specifications and installation requirements for your operation’s equipment.
  • Your SOP documents determine how your measurement equipment will be operated and maintained.
  • Customized SOPs from GCI also incorporate your company’s policies – often more rigorous than contracts, tariffs, and regulations.

Additional Benefits

  • Improvements in safety and operational effectiveness from a better understanding of the guidelines and execution of the procedures.
  • Third-party vendors, such as fabricators and field service providers have clear documentation about standards and expected performance.  The procedures provide guidance in auditing and rating vendors.
  • All measurement personnel (both company and third party) use the gas measurement SOPs as training documentation.

 

Without SOP Alignment

Inaccurate field measurement exposes your organization to the risk of non-compliance related to contracts, tariffs, regulations, etc. In an industry that experiences frequent, and sometimes jarring change, a stable foundation for correct measurement will help you adapt quickly and efficiently.

It’s important that an organization’s SOPs are reviewed and updated regularly to keep pace with advancing technology, changing standards and regulations, and increased scrutiny. Our SOPs take all of these variables into consideration and are built to keep standards in mind and ensure you’re prepared to respond to SOX audits when necessary. 

 

Where to Start with Measurement SOPs for Midstream

Your contracts, tariffs, and internal controls (SOX) are the starting point for defining which industry standards and best practices apply to your unique operations. 

Additionally, we have a useful resource to better understand how measurement SOPs come together using industry standards: GCI representative Ardis Bartle on the Pipeliners Podcast, discussing industry standards referenced in measurement SOPs. 

 

Contact GCI Today to Get Started

With our approach, your workflow becomes efficient and well-organized. When your measurement SOPs are built to align contract/tariff requirements and SOX-required controls, you can reduce or remove unnecessary steps and procedures. If you’ve determined that you just need to revamp your policies or you need a full-blown rewrite, GCI can help. We can work with you and review your current SOPs to determine the best course of action. 

Contact us today about creating SOP manuals that reflect your company’s operating profile. Complete our contact form, call 281-598-7200, or email contact@gascertification.com.