Petroleum theft is a global crisis with a staggering price tag. Industry groups estimate worldwide losses of up to $130 billion annually from oil theft and fraud, with US operators alone absorbing roughly $8 billion each year. Rising oil prices have sharpened the incentive for bad actors at every stage of the supply chain, turning what was once considered acceptable shrinkage into a serious financial and operational liability. The industry is responding with urgency.

The losses span the entire distribution network. About one quarter involve fuel stolen directly from vehicles, while the remaining three quarters occur at transport tankers, filling operations, and bulk storage facilities. Every access point, from refinery valve to tanker hatch to storage drum, represents potential exposure if left unprotected, and vulnerabilities can compound quickly without a systematic tamper protection program in place.

Upgrading to Stronger Seals Across the Supply Chain

American Casting & Manufacturing (AC&M) is actively partnering with producers, refiners, and distributors across the global petroleum sector to align their sealing programs with today's elevated risk environment. As a leading tamper evident seals supplier with over 110 years of US manufacturing experience, AC&M brings a depth of expertise that few suppliers can match.

Our history in the oil and gas industry traces back to the earliest days of large-scale petroleum refining. Headquartered in Plainview, New York, and operating as a fourth-generation family-owned business, AC&M manufactures seals that meet the rigorous demands of one of the world's most demanding industries. Every product is made to conform to ISO 9001 quality management standards, ensuring consistent performance across high-volume industrial applications.

The most visible upgrade happening across refineries and distribution centers right now is the transition away from lightweight plastic indicative seals toward more robust mechanical solutions. Light plastic seals were once standard practice for valve and control point applications, but their vulnerability to "accidental" breakage, a common cover story for intentional removal, has made them inadequate for today's higher-risk environment.

As a cable seals supplier to the petroleum sector, AC&M manufactures a full range of heavy-duty cable seals designed to close that gap. Removing a cable seal requires deliberate cutting with a proper tool, which means any broken seal is an immediate, unambiguous security event that cannot be explained away.

High Security Seals and ISO 17712 Compliance

For tanker access points, rail car doors, and high-value storage applications, operators are increasingly specifying high security seals that meet the ISO 17712 international standard. Understanding the classification matters: ISO 17712 defines three categories of seal, indicative, barrier, and high security, with high security seals required to withstand defined levels of physical attack before yielding evidence of tampering. Petroleum companies procuring seals for their most critical access points are now including ISO 17712 compliance as a procurement requirement, both to protect product and to satisfy auditors and regulatory bodies.

AC&M manufactures CTPAT compliant, ISO 17712-certified bolt and cable seals, including the all-steel BLT-1 bolt seal and the Anti-Spin Bolt Seal Model IPBLT-4H, that meet these specifications directly. Custom printing and barcode capability are available across the range, making integration into existing tracking and inventory systems straightforward.

Meter Seals for Valves and Flow Control Points

A critical but often overlooked aspect of petroleum security is the protection of metering and calibration equipment. Meter seals are used to secure the valves, meters, and calibration points at refineries, pump stations, and tanker fill points, anywhere that flow measurement accuracy directly determines how much product is recorded as transferred.

Unauthorized adjustment of a meter, even a small one, is one of the most effective methods of systematic product diversion because the discrepancy is built into the record from the outset. AC&M supplies acrylic and plastic meter seals that provide clear, visible tamper evidence at these critical measurement points. Incorporating meter seals into a broader sealing program closes one of the most exploited gaps in petroleum supply chain security.

Security Labels and Security Tape as a First Line of Detection

Not every tamper protection need requires a mechanical seal. Security tapes and labels play a meaningful role in petroleum supply chain protection, particularly on compartment access panels, equipment housing, storage drums, documentation packets, and hatch covers where a mechanical seal is impractical or redundant. These adhesive products are engineered to display a permanent void pattern or residue when removed, making any unauthorized access immediately visible to the next person who inspects the area.

When security tape or a security label shows signs of tampering, it triggers an investigation before any product loss needs to be confirmed or quantified. AC&M offers a full line of tamper evident labels and security tape products, including residue and non-residue options, available in custom sizes and print configurations to match specific operational requirements.

Product Solutions Now Being Deployed

The following seal and security product types are currently in active use across AC&M's petroleum industry customer base:

• All-steel adjustable cable seals (Model CL99 series). These heavy-duty cable seals feature a forged metal body and multi-strand steel cable, requiring deliberate cutting for removal. They are available in multiple cable lengths and diameters to suit valve, tanker, and distribution center applications.
• Barcoded cable seals (Cablelock series). Combining the physical strength of aluminum and steel construction with barcode capability, these seals allow serial numbers to be scanned and logged at each custody transfer point. They are a core tool for companies building data-driven theft detection into their logistics workflows.
• ISO 17712 certified bolt seals (BLT-1 and IPBLT-4H). These all-steel and anti-spin bolt seals meet international high security certification requirements and are used at tanker doors, rail car closures, and other high-priority access points. Custom printing allows each seal to carry a unique, non-duplicable identifier.
• Meter seals (Model XPC-2). Acrylic meter seals are used to protect valves, calibration points, and flow meters throughout refinery and distribution infrastructure. Their transparent construction allows visual inspection of sealed components without seal removal.
• Security labels and security tape. Tamper evident labels and tape are applied across compartment hatches, equipment access panels, and documentation to provide a visible, cost-effective secondary layer of protection at points where mechanical seals are not the right solution.

Cooperation with Purpose and Goals

Stopping petroleum theft, whether from outside actors or internal diversion, requires more than a stronger seal. It requires a program built around it: consistent logging of serial numbers, inspection discipline at every custody transfer point, and a review process that catches anomalies before losses accumulate. Both threats are real, both are costly, and neither yields to a purely reactive approach. AC&M not only offers a comprehensive line of seals to meet this need, but also decades of expertise in tactics and countermeasures to reduce losses. Efforts by our customers to increase their security not only protect profitability but also contribute to safer conditions for employees and end customers alike.

American Casting & Manufacturing has been manufacturing tamper evident seals and security products for over 110 years. Our full range covers every format used across the petroleum supply chain, from meter seals and cable seals to high security seals, security labels, and security tape. Whether you need guidance on seal selection, program design, or deployment best practices, the AC&M team is ready to help. Contact us toll-free at (866) 360-6748, locally at 516-349-7010, or by email at info@seals.com. Our team is available Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm EST.