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RECOPEANNUALREPORT2014
Determination of octane in La Garita, Barranca and El Alto
The determination of RON octane is a test used to quantify the resistance
to explosion in gasoline. Gasoline is classified according to an octane scale, as is the
case for Plus 91, which has an octane equal to or higher than 91, premium gasoline
has a grade of 95 octanes and Av-Gas has a parameter higher than 100.
To implement the accreditation of this test, a series of activities were
developed during the year 2014, as follows:
Staff training in the application of the test method and the equipment maintenance.
Test accreditation process.
Acquisition of octane test machine in La Garita Terminal and purchasing of equipment
for automation of two octane machines in El Alto and Moín Terminal, during the
second semester of the year 2014.
For the octane test machine in El Alto, it was set up according to ASTM
D2699 for air temperature and the analyst received instructions to follow the
methodology regarding its calibration. It was determined that the machine had a
deviation in octane measurements.
Quantification of odorant (ethyl mercaptan)
Another test of great importanceas amatter of safety, is thedetermination
of ethyl mercaptan odorant in LPG (mixture of propane and butane).
Because of its nature, liquefied petroleum gas has no odor or color, which
makes it is completely imperceptible to the human senses. In case of a leak, it could
become a potential danger to the consumers of this product, so adding an odorant
substance, such as ethyl mercaptan, generates a characteristic and very pungent odor
which allows its detection.
Accreditation of the penetration grade in asphalt
EThis ASTM-D5 test allows measuring the consistency of the product. For
high levels of penetration, the consistency is low. This penetration test in asphalt is
performed in the quality control laboratories in El Alto and Moín.
Continuous improvement in theManagement System
Progress was made in the design and implementation of automated
software and process control for theQuality Control Laboratory in El Alto Terminal. This
project was developed as an answer to the technological development requirements,
reason why RECOPE implemented the zero paper policy, double digitization, the
streamlining of procedures and implementation of digital signatures for document
security.
The Central Pacific Quality Control Department acquired software which
allows more control and unification of information generated by the analysis devices,
including printing the final report and the sharing of certificated via Internet, as well as
the integration of the ERP-SAP company system. During the year 2013, the purchasing
process was completed and in October the configuration of the system started,
finishing in December 2014, for the laboratory in El Alto Terminal.