📏

LACT Unit Sizing Calculator

Lease Automatic Custody Transfer per API MPMS Ch. 6.1

Size a complete LACT skid instantly. Selects meter type and size (PD, turbine, Coriolis, ultrasonic), strainer mesh, air-eliminator capacity, BS&W monitor, sampler grab rate, and prover connection. System uncertainty stack-up per API MPMS Ch. 4, 5, 6.1, 8.2.

Throughput & Crude

BPH
25 – 5,000 BPH
BPH
Blank → 1.25× design
BPH
Blank → 0.20× design
°API
°API
> ±2° → Coriolis strongly preferred

Operating & Spec

psig
Upstream of meter
°F
vol %
0.5 – 3.0% pipeline acceptance
psia
For air-eliminator NPSH check
%
0.10 – 0.50%
vol %
2% stable / 5–10% new wells

Meter & Prover

Auto picks Coriolis if API varies > ±2°
days
7 – 90 days; 30 default
10,000 typical for ±0.025% repeatability
pulses/bbl
Coriolis ≈ 1000; Turbine ≈ 5,000–25,000

Sizing Rules

Meter rangeability constraint:

Qmax,meter / Qmin,meter ≥ Qmax,LACT / Qmin,LACT

Prover size (API MPMS Ch. 4):

Vprover ≥ Npulses / Kfactor

Air eliminator (API MPMS 6.1):

QAE ≥ Qmax · (1 + GVFdesign)

Sample grab volume (API MPMS 8.2):

Vcomposite = Ngrabs · Vgrab ≥ 3 L per batch

System uncertainty (RSS):

Utotal = √( Umeter² + Uprover² + UT² + UP² + Uρ² + UBSW² )

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a LACT unit?

A Lease Automatic Custody Transfer (LACT) unit is a skid that measures and transfers custody of crude oil from a lease or tank battery to a pipeline or transporter. Per API MPMS Ch. 6.1 it contains a strainer, air eliminator, BS&W monitor with auto-divert, sampler, custody meter, and a prover connection.

How is a LACT meter sized?

Pick a meter type whose published flow range brackets your minimum and maximum LACT throughput within its rangeability: PD ~10:1, turbine ~10:1, Coriolis 100:1 to 1000:1, ultrasonic ~30:1. Coriolis is preferred when API varies > ±2°.

What is the BS&W diverter setpoint?

Auto-divert is typically armed at 1.0% BS&W with a 30-second delay. Pipeline acceptance specs are usually 0.5–1.0%; the diverter must keep the meter from logging off-spec oil to custody totals.

What is the typical LACT prover size?

Small Volume Provers (SVPs) come in 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10 bbl base volumes. The prover must accumulate at least ~10,000 meter pulses per pass for ±0.025% repeatability per API MPMS Ch. 4.