In the international trade of petroleum products, every stage of the transaction is critical, and confirming the quality and quantity of the product during the transaction is crucial to ensure safety and trust between the parties. One of the key points along the way is laboratory testing of petroleum products to ensure that they meet quality and safety standards, confirm quantities or their origin.
Sampling process for petroleum products
Sampling of petroleum products is a demanding process that requires strict adherence to certain regulations and standards. Samples are usually taken from above-ground storage tanks or on board a ship using specialised equipment to avoid possible contamination or misrepresentation of results. Sampling is carried out exclusively by licensed laboratory technicians who have obtained the appropriate security clearances and permits. Samples are then transported to independent private laboratories for analysis using high-precision equipment.
In our view, resource inspection companies play one of the most important roles in petroleum product transactions. In fact, these companies act as independent arbiters between the seller and the buyer. Without taking sides in the transaction, they are like a third party, an independent inspector in the transaction, they enter the facility and confirm that the resource declared by the seller is really available in the tank, the quality and quantity of the product corresponds to the indicators declared in the documents. Or vice versa – establishes that the quality and quantity of the product in the tank does not correspond to those documents that the supplier declared to the buyer.
Interaction with independent private laboratories
Independent private laboratories play an important role in the process of confirming the quality and quantity of petroleum products. They provide professional sample analysis services and guarantee objective results that are not influenced by outside interests. Interaction with such laboratories helps to ensure the reliability and validity of the data obtained. There are many companies in the market that provide such a service for sampling petroleum products and conducting laboratory tests, but there are a number of companies whose name is known to everyone, they have been working in the market for many decades and have established themselves as reliable, truly independent experts.
In transactions with petroleum products, in general, the supplier in the package of documents provides the latest laboratory tests of its resource. Clients in most cases try to do their own test during the transaction to confirm the authenticity of the supplier’s documents, this is called conducting a DIP test by the client’s hired lab technicians. And the very document on the supplier authorising the sampling in the transaction procedures is called DTA (Dip Test Authorisation).
Here is a list of, in our opinion, the most well-known and widespread laboratory companies trusted by most market participants:
Several well-known global laboratory companies specialising in laboratory testing of petroleum products include:
- SGS SA
- Intertek Group plc
- Bureau Veritas SA
- Core Laboratories / Saybolt
- ALS Limited
These companies are known for their professionalism and high level of service quality, which makes them popular choices for laboratory analyses of petroleum products in international trade.
Let us look at each of the companies in more detail.
- SGS SA
- Description: SGS SA is a global leader in verification, testing, certification and inspection. The company provides a wide range of services to a variety of industries, including the oil and gas sector.
- History: The company was founded in 1878 in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Headquarters: The headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Official website: www.sgs.com.
- Intertek Group plc
- Description: Intertek Group plc is an international company specialising in quality assurance, testing and certification of products in various industries, including the oil and gas sector.
- History: The company was founded in 1885 in London, UK.
- Headquarters: The headquarters are located in London, UK.
- Official website: www.intertek.com
- Bureau Veritas SA
- Description: Bureau Veritas SA is a global leader in conformity assessment, verification, testing and certification. The company operates in various sectors, including the oil and gas industry.
- History: The company was founded in 1828 in Antwerp, Belgium.
- Headquarters : The headquarters is located in New York, USA.
- Official Website: www.bureauveritas.com
- Core Laboratories / Saybolt
- Description: Core Laboratories is a global company specialising in providing high-tech services for the analysis and testing of petroleum products and geological samples.
- History: The company was founded in 1936 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Headquarters: The headquarters are located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Official Website: www.corelab.com
- ALS Limited
- Description: ALS Limited is a global company specialising in providing analysis and testing services to various industries, including the oil and gas sector.
- History: The company was founded in 1863 in Brisbane, Australia.
- Headquarters: The headquarters is located in Brisbane, Australia.
- Official Website: www.alsglobal.com
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