Alwin Etwah, Head of the Oil and Gas Unit at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), said Guyana is advancing legal reforms, expanding gas measurement capability and introducing digital oversight to strengthen fiscal metering in the petroleum sector.
He made the disclosure during a Technical Talk hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Georgetown on February 12.
“Measurement is not just a technical matter, but it directly affects the revenue that the government generates from the industry,” Etwah said.
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He explained that errors in measurement systems can lead to financial losses and public distrust. Etwah said the government is strengthening the legal framework governing petroleum measurements. He said the 1981 Weights and Measures Act is being reviewed.
“We’re trying to change the Weights and Measures Act into a Metrology Act,” Etwah said. “The metrology act will cover every single thing that we use in measuring whether you are in trade, within industry, within healthcare.”
With gas production expected to expand, he said, preparations are already underway.
“We have now started doing gas measurements,” Etwah said. “We’re currently moving ahead with the gas measurements before it actually comes, ensuring that we’re ready to roll once that operation starts.” He noted that onshore gas testing capacity is being considered and remote monitoring systems are also part of the plan.
Regulators are present on both FPSOs doing real-time monitoring – Bharrat | OilNOW
GNBS is the agency responsible for monitoring measurements on Guyana’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSOs) vessels. This started soon after oil production began back in December 2019. GNBS monitoring activities in the sector are done in accordance with the American Petroleum Institute (API) Standards, which are recognised globally. These standards relate to the accuracy of flow meters, tank gauging, sampling, and testing of crude.
And to ensure access to these standards and other crucial benefits, in mid-2021, the GNBS fortified its relationship with the American Petroleum Institute (API) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with that entity.
