API MPMS Chapter 7 (R2012)

The purpose of this standard is to describe methods and practices that may be used to obtain accurate measurements of temperature of petroleum and petroleum products in pipelines, storage tanks, gathering tanks, ships, barges, tank cars, pipe provers, tank provers and test measures under both static and dynamic conditions using electronic temperature measuring devices or mercury-in-glass termometers.

This chapter describes the methods, equipment, and procedures for determining the temperature of petroleum and petroleum products under both static and dynamic conditions. This chapter discusses temperature measurement requirements in general for custody transfer, inventory control, and marine measurements. The actual method and equipment selected for temperature determination are left to the agreement of the parties involved.