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GPA Standard 8173-94

Method for Converting Mass of


Natural Gas Liquids and Vapors
to Equivalent Liquid Volumes

Adopted as Tentative Standard, 1973


Revised 1974-1975
Revised and Adopted as Standard, 1976
Revised 1983
Reprinted 1988
Reprinted 1989
Revised 1990
Reprinted 1994

Gas Processors Association


6526 East 60th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145
DISCLAIMER

GPA publications necessarily address problems of a general nature and may be used by anyone desiring
to do so. Every effort has been made by GPA to assure accuracy and reliability of the information
contained in its publications. With respect to particular circumstances, local, state, and federal laws
and regulations should be reviewed. It is not the intent of GPA to assume the duties of employers,
manufacturers, or suppliers to warn and properly train employees, or others exposed, concerning
health and safety risks or precautions.
GPA makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby
expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the
violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict, or for
any infringement of letters of patent regarding apparatus, equipment, or method so covered.

FOREWORD

Measurement by mass is often utilized where conditions in temperature, pressure, intermolecular


adhesion, and solution mixing present difficulty in converting volumes from flowing to standard
conditions, such as with ethane, natural gas liquids (NGL), or ethane-propane mixes. Measurement by
mass is often preferred for chemical reactions and various processes where the mass ratios of
components are of primary interest in effecting control of the operation.
This standard was developed jointly by GPA Section H, Product Measurement and Handling, and
the API Committee on Natural Gas Fluids Measurement (COGM).It is published by API as Chapter
14, Section 4 (14.4)of the API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS). The
participation of COGM in developing this standard is gratefully appreciated and acknowledged.
Throughout this publication, the latest appropriate API, GPA, and ANSI Standards are referenced.
The user will notice an editorial change in the 1994 edition of this standard; the base temperature in
"C was corrected from 15.6 to 15. In addition the absolute density values were updated to coincide with
GPA Standard 2145-94.

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G P A STDxBL73 94 m 3824679 0017214 T24

STANDARD FOR CONVERTING MASS OF NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS


AND VAPORS TO EQUIVALENT LIQUID VOLUMES
-. SCOPE Allowable temperature and pressure deviations are set out
in API Chapter 14.6. Density may either be measured
1.1 This standard prescribes a method for converting the directly or calculated in accordance with GPA Standard
measured mass of natural gas liquids or natural gas vapors at 8182 ( M I Chapter 14.7).
operating conditions to equivalent liquid volumes of the Dynamic measurement in the vapor phase must occur at a
components at 60°F and equilibrium pressure for English units, pressure below the equilibrium pressure (dew point
or 15°C and equilibrium pressure for SI units. pressure) of the mixture at operating conditions.
2. OUTLINE OF METHOD Dynamic measurement in the liquid phase must occur at a
pressure above the equilibrium pressure (bubble point
2.1 Mass is calculated by multiplying consistent units of a pressure) of the mixture at all actual operating
measured volume by its absolute density, with both volume and temperatures and composition. This standard may also be
absolute density determined at the same flowing conditions. applied to the measurement of supercritical fluids.
The resulting total mass is converted to individual component Measuring and sampling equipment shall be located
volumes using a component analysis and proper values of the where it will not be affected by pulsation, mechanical
absolute density in mass per unit volume of each component at vibration, and compressor, pump, or control valve
60°F (or 15°C) and its equilibrium pressure. generated noise that would adversely affect measurement
accuracy.
2.2 Volume and absolute density determination, sampling,
and analysis shall be performed as described or referenced in 4. CALCULATIONS FOR LIQUID AND VAPOR
GPA Standard 8182 (API Chapter 14.7). CONVERSION (ENGLISH UNITS)
2.3 The absolute density of pure hydrocarbons in pounds Step 1 - Convert mol percent analysis to weight fraction:
mass per gallon (kg/m3), as stated in GPA Standard 2145, shall Given: Composition analysis (mol percent).
he used in the calculations. Unless contract terms specify Molecular weight constants from GPA
herwise, absolute density values shall be from the latest Standard 2145.
revision of GPA Standard 2145. In the examples in this
publication, the absolute density values stated in GPA Standard a) Multiply the mol percent of each component by the
2145-94 were used.
molecular weight of that component, (1) x (2).
NOTE 1 - The examples in this publication illustrate typical b) Divide the resulting product for each component (3)
components. In actual practice, ail the components detected that are by the sum of the products of all components to
representativeof the measured product stream should be included in the
conversion to equivalent liquid volumes. obtain the weight fraction of each component (4).

NOTE 2 - if constants for hydrocarbon components which are not


presenkd in GPA Standard 2145 are required, the constants contained
in the Physical Properties chapter of the GPSA Engineering Data Book (1) (2) (3) (4)
shall be used If the required constants are not contained in the GPSA sum of
Engineering Data Book either, the Am Technical Data Book constants Mol Mol
shall be used. Percent Percent
X X

3. PRECAUTIONS Com- Mol Molecular Molecular Molecular Weight


ponent Percent Weight Weight Weight Fraction
3.1 Equipment, installation, and operations shall be in 0.11 x 44.010 = 4.84 + 4372.27 = 0.001107
accordance with GPA Standard 8182 (API Chapter 14.7); 2.14 16.043 34.33 4372.27 0.007852
however, the following is reiteratd 38.97 30.070 1171.83 4372.27 0.268014
36.48 44.097 1608.66 4372.27 0.367923
Accurate dynamic measurement can only be 294 58.123 170.88 4372.27 0.039083
accomplished with a single phase, homogeneous, 8.77 58.123 509.74 4372.21 O.116585
Newtonian fluid. 1.71 72.150 123.38 4372.21 0.028219
1.82 72.150 131.31 4372.n 0.030032
In order to calculate mass accurately, density
7-06 87.436* 617.30 4372.27 O.141185
determination must be made at essentially the same
100.00 4372.27 1.000000
pressure and temperature as the volume measurement.

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-

G P A STD*8373 9 4 W 3 8 2 4 b î 9 0037235 'i60 W

Step 2 - Calculate the mass of each component: 5. CALCULATIONS FOR LIQUIDS AND VAPOR
Given: Total pounds mass = 825,300. CONVERSION (SI UNITS)
Component weight hctions from Step 1.
Step 1 - Convert mol percent analysis to weight fraction:
a) Multiply the weight fraction by the total mass to Given: Composition analysis (mol percent).
obtain the pounds mass of each component. Molecular weight constants from GPA Standard
2145.
b) Add the pounds mass of all components to ensure
that the sum equals the total pounds mass. a) Multiply the mol percent of each component by the
molecular weight of that component, (1) x (2).
Total Component b) Divide the resulting product for each component (3)
Weight Mas Mas
Component Fraction (Pounds) (Pounds) by the sum of the products of all components to
obtain the weight fraction of each component (4).
0.001107 x 825,300 - 914
0.007852 825.300 6,480
0.268014 825,300 221,192 (1) (2) (3) (4)
sum of
0.367923 825,300 303.647 Mol Mol
0.039083 825,300 32.255 Percent Percent
0.1 16585 825,300 96,218 X X
0.0282 19 825,300 23,289 Com- Mol Molecular Molecular Molecular Weight
ponent Percent Weight Weight Weight Fraction
0.030032 825,300 24,785
0.141185 825,300 116,520 coz 0.11 x 44.010 = 4.84 + 4372.27 = 0.001107
1.000000 825,300 Cl 2.14 16.043 34.33 4372.27 0.007852
c, 38.97 30.070 1171.83 4372.27 0.2680 14
Step 3 - Calculate the volume of each component at C, 36.48 44.097 1608.66 4372.27 0.367923
equilibrium pressure and 60°F: IC4 2.94 58.123 170.88 4372.27 0.039083
Given: Absolute density of each component from GPA NC, 8.77 58.123 509.74 4372.27 O. 116585
Standard 2145. IC5 1.71 72.150 123.38 4372.27 0.028:--
Component mass from Step 2. NC, 1.82 72.150 131.31 437227 0.0301
'6+ 7.06 87.436* 617.30 4372.27 0.141185
a) Divide the component mass of each component by 100.00 4372.27 1.000000
its absolute density to obtain the equivalent liquid
volume.
Step 2 - Calculate the mass of each component:
Given: Total kilograms mass = 374,350,
Component Density Component weight fractions from Step 1.
Mass (Pound Mass Gallons at
Component (Pounds) per Gallon) 60°F. EVP
a) Mulitply the weight fraction by the total mass to
CO2 9 14 +- 6.8199 = 134 obtain the kilograms mass of each component.
Cl 6,480 2.5 2,592
c2 221.1 92 2.9696 74,485 b) Add the kilograms mass of all components to ensure
c3 303,647 4.2268 71,839 that the sum equals the total kilograms mass.
IC4 32,255 4.6927 6,873
NC4 96,218 4.8691 19,761 Total Component
1% 23,289 5.2058 4,474 Weight MSS Mass
24,785 5.2614 4,711 Component Fraction (Kilograms) (Kilogramd
NC5
6' + 116.520 5.951 * 19,580 0.001 107 x 374,350 - 414
204,449 0.007852 374.350 2,939
0.268014 374,350 100.33 1
* Molecular weight and density of c6+are calculated from 0.367923 374,350 137.732
extended analysis as described in GPA Standard 2186 0.039083 374,350 14531
"Tentative Method for the Extended Analysis of 0.1 16585 374,350 43,644
Hydrocarbon Liquid Mixtures Containing Nitrogen and 0.028219 374,350 10,564
Carbon Dioxide by Temperature Programmed Gas 0.030032 374,350 11,242
Chromatography." The hexanes-plus component may be 0.141185 374,350 52,853
reported as hexanes and heptanes-plus. 1.000000 374,350

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G P A STD*ۓL73 9 4 3824699 O O L 7 2 L b 8T7

Step 3 - Calculate the volume of each component at


equilibrium pressure at 15°C.
Given: Absolute density of each component from GPA
Standard 2145.
Component mass from Step 2.

a) Divide the component mass of each component by


its absolute density to obtain the equivalent liquid
volume.

Component Density Cubic


MW Kilogram/ Meters
Component (Kilograms) Cubic Meter) at 15°C. EVP
CO2 414 -+ 821.94 -
- .50
Cl 2,939 300.00 9.80
c2 100,331 357.76 280.44
c3 137,732 507.30 27 1.50
IC4 14,631 562.98 25.99
NC4 43,644 584.06 74.73
IC5 10,564 624.35 16.92
NC5 11,242 631.00 17.82
6'' 52,853 713.1* 74.12
374,350 771.82

* Molecular weight and density of c 6 + are calculated from


extended analysis as described in GPA Standard 2186
"Tentative Method for the Extended Analysis of
Hydrocarbon Liquid Mixtures Containing Nitrogen and
Carbon Dioxide by Temperature Programmed Gas
Chromatography." The hexanes-plus component may be
reported as hexanes and heptanes-plus.

APPENDIX
References

1. GPA Standard 2145, latest revision, "Table of Physical


Constants of Paraîfin Hydrocarbons and Other Components
of Natural Gas."

2. API Technical Data Book - Petroleum Refining, latest


revision, Chapter I.

3. GPSA Engineering Data Book, latest revision, Physical


Properties.

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