5 Steps to EFM Meter Compliance
A Simple Guide to Navigate Directive 017 Requirements
Compliance with AER Directive 017 can feel overwhelming, but with a clear plan, it’s entirely manageable. Follow these five steps to keep your EFM (Electronic Flow Measurement) meters calibrated, compliant, and optimized for accuracy.
1. Audit Your Assets
Why It Matters:
Understanding your starting point is critical. Begin by identifying all EFM meters across your facilities and documenting their calibration history.
Key Actions:
- Review asset transfer records for inherited wells.
- Check for any existing exemptions nearing or past the five-year cycle.
- Flag gas plant inlet separators for calibration requirements.
2. Create a Compliance Schedule
Why It Matters:
A well-organized timeline ensures no calibration deadlines are missed, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
Key Actions:
- Prioritize high-risk or overdue meters.
- Use scheduling tools to track calibration timelines.
- Include “as found” verification checks in your plan.
3. Perform Accurate Verifications
Why It Matters:
Precise verifications ensure your meters operate within the required accuracy of ±0.25% of full scale, helping avoid unnecessary recalibrations.
Key Actions:
- Partner with qualified calibration specialists.
- Verify transmitters measuring static pressure, differential pressure, and temperature.
- Conduct verification checks immediately for new installations and one year post-installation.
- Ensure all EFM audit trail reports are in place and being historicized.
- Ensure the required performance evaluations are conducted on new meters and retained for audit trail purposes.
4. Address Calibration Needs Proactively
Why It Matters:
Meters requiring recalibration can impact your compliance and operational efficiency. Timely action minimizes disruptions.
Key Actions:
- Immediately recalibrate transmitters if “as found” checks show inaccuracies.
- Ensure calibration results are accurately recorded and aligned with Directive 017 standards.
- Incorporate findings into ongoing compliance strategies.
- Develop processes and procedures surrounding how to handle metering inaccuracies when they arise.
5. Streamline Reporting and Documentation
Why It Matters:
Accurate and up-to-date records demonstrate compliance and are essential during regulatory audits.
Key Actions:
- Maintain detailed logs of calibration and verification activities and actions that need to be followed up on.
- Regularly update records in alignment with Directive 017.
- Ensure all documentation is accessible for internal reviews, external audits by third-parties, and regulator inspections.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
Ignoring Legacy Assets:
- Newly acquired wells often have hidden compliance risks. Audit thoroughly.
Missing Semiannual Plant Inlet Calibrations:
- Gas plants have stricter maintenance requirements.
Relying on Assumptions:
- Always verify calibration data, especially after changes in conditions or equipment location.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. With these five steps, you can simplify your approach, avoid costly penalties, and maintain operational efficiency.
Need Help?
Blue Chip MRC & Field Services specializes in regulatory compliance and EFM meter calibration management. Contact us today to ensure your operations stay compliant with AER Directive 017.
