PRESENTATION

ON
STORAGE TANK
INSPECTIONS

 Installations use tankages of various types and

sizes to store initial, intermediate and finished
petroleum product and hence the failure of any
part of a tank may result in a disaster.

Timely inspection an preventive maintenance

will go a long way in making a tank safer to
store products for longer periods of time

ABOVE GROUND TANKS

HORIZONTAL ABOVE GROUND TANKS
INSTALLED ON PEDESTALS
SMALLER CAPACITY (UPTO 400 KL)

VERTICAL ABOVE GROUND TANKS

RESTED ON SAND / RCC FOUNDATION PADS
MADE OF MILD STEEL PLATES
WITH EITHER FIXED OR FLOATING ROOF

FITTINGS ON FIXED ROOF TANKS

FITTINGS ON FIXED ROOF TANKS
MANHOLES
DIP HATCH
DATUM PLATE
TEMPERATURE / SAMPLE HATCH
INLET / OUTLET
VENTS
PV VALVE
WATER DRAW OFF LINE
SAFETY RAILINGS
STAIRWAYAS
EARTHIING CONNECTIONS
EXPANSION LINE
FIRE WATER SPRINKLER SYSTEM
FOAM POURER
AUTO LEVEL GAUGES

FITTINGS ON FLOATING ROOF TANKS

ADJUSTABLE LEGS
FOAM SEAL
ROOF BLEEDER VENTS
ROOF WATER DRAIN
EMERGENCY DRAIN
ROOF LADDER
WIND GIRDER
GAUGEWELL PIPE
MANHOLES ON SHELL & ROOF
GAUGE HATCH WITH COVER
DATUM PLATE
PRODUCT INLET / OUTLET NOZZLE
TANK WATER DRAIN VALVE
FOAM NETWORK
SPRINKLER
LANDING PLATFORM
STAIRWAY
EARTHING
EXPANSION LINES

SAFE OPN.OF FLOATING ROOF

TANKS

OPERATION OF FLOATING ROOF TANKS NEEDS

CLOSER SUPERVISION AND ADDITIONAL MEASURES.
ACCESS TO FLOATING ROOF SHALL BE RESTRICTED.
WHENEVER ANY PERSON IS ALLOWED ON THE ROOF,
KEEP STAND BY PERSON ON LANDING PLATFORM.
CHECK FOR PETROLEUM VAPOUR ON THE ROOF. USE
BREATHING APPARATUS WHENEVER NECESSARY.
NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON THE FLOATING
ROOF DURING PRODUCT RECEIPT OR WHEN ROOF IS
AT LOWER LEVELS.
IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO GO ON THE ROOF, THE
PERSON SHALL WEAR BREATHING APPARATUS AND
STANDBY PERSONS ON LANDING PLATFORM.

SAFE OPN. OF FR TANKS (CONTD.)

KEEP GAUGE HATCHES OR OTHER OPENINGS CLOSED

EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS
GAUGE HATCH SHALL NOT BE SLAMMED WHILE CLOSING. IT
SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OPEN AFTER GAUGING .
GAUGING SHOULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT DURING THUNDER
STORM OR LIGHTN1NG.
DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO PREVENT OVERFILLING. IF
FITTED, CHECK
HIGH LEVEL ALARMS MONTHLY FOR
OPERABILITY.
ROOF SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN IN FLOATING CONDITION
WHILE TANK IS BEING FILLED OR EMPTIED OUT. DO NOT
KEEP THE TANK IN SEMI FLOAT CONDITION

SAFE OPN. OF FR TANKS (CONTD.)

KEEP THE ROOF AFLOAT DURING NORMAL OPERATION.

LANDING OF ROOF CREATES VAPOUR SPACE SO THAT THE
INHERENT SAFETY ADVANTAGES OF FLOATING ROOF TANKS
ARE LOST.
WITHDRAWAL OF PRODUCT FROM THE TANK SHALL BE
AVOIDED WHEN THE ROOF IS EITHER RESTING ON ITS PIPE
SUPPORTS OR IS IN SEMI FLOAT CONDITION, AS THIS
RESULTS IN APPARENT PRODUCT LOSS.

SAFE OPN. OF FR TANKS (CONTD.)

IF THE PRODUCT IS TO BE WITHDRAWN UP TO THE DEAD
STOCK LEVEL, ENSURE THAT ALL PIPE SUPPORTS ARE IN
RIGHT POSITION AND ROOF BLEEDER VENTS ARE IN
OPERATING CONDITION
IF AT ANY TIME THE ROOF GETS STUCK OR LIKELY TO
GET STUCK, TANK SHALL NOT BE OPERATED TILL IT IS
INSPECTED BY ENGG PERSONNEL
REMOVE PROMPTLY ANY ACCUMULATION OF OIL ON A
ROOF DECK. THE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM IS
DESIGINED FOR RIM FIRE ONLY AND NOT FOR LARGE
EXPOSED SURFACES OF OIL
IF OIL APPEARS AT THE ROOF DRAIN OUTLET, CHECK THE
ROOF IMMEDIATELY TO ESTABLISH ITS SOURCE.

CRITICAL LEVEL OF FLOATTNG

ROOF TANKS
DURING OPERATION AND GAUGING OF FLOATJNG
ROOF TANKS:

IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW THE POSITION OF THE

ROOF
i.e. WHETHER IT IS FULLY
FLOATING, PARTIALLY
IMMERSED OR RESTING ON LEGS

WHEN ROOF IS FULLY FLOATING, IT DISPLACES ITS

OWN WEIGHT OF OIL AND THE TANK CAN BE GAUGED

WHEN THE ROOF IS PARTIALLY IMMERSED, ITS ACTUAL

DISPLACEMENT IS UNCERTAIN. SO THE GAUGING OF
THE TANK SHOULD NOT BE UNDERTAKEN, AS OIL
QUANTITY CALCULATION WILL NOT BE ACURATE.

WHEN ROOF IS RESTING ON LEGS, THE TANK IS LIKE

CONVENTIONAL CONE ROOF TANK AND THUS TANK
CAN BE GAUGED CORRECTLY. HOWEVER THERE WILL
BE LOT OF VAPOUR LOSS IN THIS CONDITION.

RECALIBRATION OF TANKS EXCISE

REQUIREMENTS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS LAID DOWN THE FOLLOWING

PROCEDURE FOR RECALIBRATION OF TANK :
VALIDITY OF CALIBRATION CHART

BESIDES CPWD, WEIGHTS, & MEASURES DEPT. OF THE

STATES / UNION TERRITORIES HAVE ALSO BEEN
APPROVED FOR CALIBRATION OF STORAGE TANKS.

FOR TANKS WITH WATER BOTTOM, RECALIBRATION

SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AFTER TEN YEARS

FOR TANKS WITH OIL BOTTOM,

RECALIBRATION
SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AFTER FIVE YEARS.

TANK FARM OPERATIONS

FOLLOWING DETAILS SHALL BE INDICATED ON THE TANK
SHELL NEAR STAIRCASE:
TANK NO., PRODUCT GRADE, CAPACITY IN LITRES, DATE
LAST CLEANED AND DUE DATE OF NEXT CLEANING,
DATE LAST CALIBRATED AND DATE OF LAST EARTH
TEST.
TANK NO. AND GRADE SHALL BE INDICATED
BOLDLY ON THE UPPER STRAKE SO AS TO BE VISIBLE
FROM A DISTANCE.
TYPE OF VALVE, i.e. INLET, OUTLET, PRODUCT DRAIN,
WATER DRAIN, SHALL BE INDICATED ON THE TANK
SHELL BEHIND THE RESPECTIVE VALVES, WITH THE
DIRECTION OF OPENING AND CLOSING MARKED WITH
ARROWS.

 TANK EARTH RESISTANCE SHALL BE CHECKED AT

LEAST ONCE IN SIX MONTHS
AND SHALL BE
MAXIMUM 7 OHMS.
VENTS OF THE TANK SHALL BE CHECKED ONCE A
QUARTER TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FREE OF ANY
CLOGGING.
SETTINGS OF PV VALVES SHALL BE CHECKED EVERY 6
MONTHS. THE SETTINGS IN TERMS OF W.G. FOR
PRESSURE AND VACUUM RESPECTIVELY SHALL BE 21.
5 AND 2.5 FOR ABOVEGROUND TANKS AND 10
AND 1 FOR UNDERGROUND TANKS.
SAFE HEIGHT (CORRESPONDING TO 95% OF THE
TANK CAPACITY) AND PROOF LEVEL SHALL BE
INDICATED NEAR THE DIP HATCH.

BUND ENCLOSURE DRAIN VALVE SHALL BE KEPT IN CLOSED

POSITION EXCEPT WHEN DRAINING OUT RAIN WATER
BUND AREA SHALL BE CLEAR OF VEGETATION.
BUND WALL SHALL BE INTACT WITHOUT ANY GAPS.
TANKS SHALL BE CLEANED EVERY 5 YEARS (EVERY YEAR IN
CASE OF ATF AND EVERY 2 YEARS IN CASE OF HEXANE) OR
MORE FREQUENTLY, DEPENDING ON THE NEED, LIKE CHANGE IN
PRODUCT, EXCESSIVE SLUDGE FORMATION, ETC.
AN ALL LEVEL SAMPLE AFTER RECEIPT OF FIRST PARCEL IN A
NEWLY COMMISSIONED TANK / AFTER GRADE CHANGE OVER
SHALL BE SUBJECTED TO BATCH FORMATION TEST.

 QUANTITY OF SLUDGE REMOVED DURING TANK CLEANING

SHALL BE CERTIFIED BY THE LOCATION-IN-CHARGE AND
APPROVAL SOUGHT CONCURRENCE IN LINE WITH MANUAL
OF AUTHORITIES. THEREAFTER, IT SHALL BE DISPOSED
OFF AFTER CHECKING FOR ANY LOCAL
REGULATION
PROHIBITING BURIAL OF SLUDGE.
SLOT-SLIT DIPPING DEVICE SHALL BE FITTED ON VOLATILE
PRODUCT TANKS. IT IS A FITTING WITH AN OPENING JUST
SUFFICIENT
TO
ACCOMMODATE
THE
WIDTH
AND
THICKNESS OF THE DIP TAPE AND THEREBY PREVENT LOSS
OF VAPOUR DURING GAUGING.
ONLY ONE TANK SHALL BE OPERATED AT A TIME FOR ONE
PARTICULAR OPERATION, EXCEPT IN
AN EMERGENCY
SITUATION OR FOR VALID REASONS (NORMALLY LOCATION
SPECIFIC).

 INTERMEDIATE DIPS SHALL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THE

SHIFT OR IF A TANK IS USED FOR ANOTHER ACTIVITY
DURING THE DAY TO ASSESS THE STOCK VARIATIONS
DURING THE OPERATION.
ALL TANKS SHALL BE GAUGED AT THE END OF THE DAY
AND BOOK STOCKS UPDATED ACCORDINGLY.
TANKWISE STOCK VARIATION SHOULD BE WORKED OUT
FOR EACH PRODUCT
AND ANY ABNORMAL VARIATION
(MORE THAN THE SET TARGET) SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
ZONE / RO SHOULD BE KEPT ADVISED OF THE ABNORMAL
VARIATION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.

OIL WATER SEPARATOR

NEED AND CONSTRUCTION

OIL WATER SEPARATOR (OWS), IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF

TANK FARM OPERATIONS.
IT IS A MANDATORY
REQUIREMENT THAT DRAINS FROM LICENSED AREA SHALL
PASS THROUGH AN INTERCEPTOR SO THAT OIL TRACES
AND OIL SPILLAGES ARE TRAPPED BEFORE THE WATER IS
LET OUT INTO THE OUTSIDE DRAINS.
AN OWS IS OF RCC / CC/ BM CONSTRUCTION WITH 3 OR
MORE CHAMBERS. EVERY CHAMBER HAS AN INLET AT
THE TOP AND AN OUTLET AT ITS BOTTOM. FLOW INTO
AND OUT OF THE
OWS IS CONTROLLED BY INLET AND
OUTLET VALVES. WHEN OIL-WATER MIXTURE ENTERS THE
OWS, OIL BEING LIGHTER, REMAINS TRAPPED AND
FLOATING ON WATER, WHILE WATER FLOWS INTO THE
NEXT CHAMBER.
INLET AND OUTLET VALVES SHALL BE OF RISING STEM
TYPE AND WITH PROPER LOCKING ARRANGEMENT.

SAFETY CHECKLIST
SEWERS
WHETHER THE TANKFARM DRAINS ARE CLEAR?
WHETHER PROVISION EXISTS TO DIVERT TANK FARM
DRAINAGE EITHER TO STORM WATER DRAIN OR TO OIL
WATER SEPERATOR?

TANKS
WHETHER TANKS PROPERLY PAINTED AND IMPORTANT
SPECIFICATIONS ARE MARKED ON THE TANK ?
WHETHER
ALL
TANKS
ARE
CIRCUMFERENTIAL RAILINGS?

PROVIDED

WITH

WHETHER THE ROOF DRAIN OF FLOATING ROOF TANKS

IS PROVIDED WITH A CHECK VALVE
WHETHER ANY DEPRESSION DUE TO TANK
SETTLEMENT OBSERVED ON THE TANK PAD ALONG
THE CIRCUMFERENCE?

SAFETY CHECKLIST ( Contd.)

INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE :
WHETHER
FOAM/NEOPRENE
SEALS
ARE
CHECKED
REGULARLY
FOR PERFECT SEALING AND RECORD
MAINTAINED.
WHETHER ANY DOCUMENIED PROCEDURE EXISTS FOR TANK
CLEANING? WHAT IS THE METHODOLOGY TO ENSURE
STRICT ADHERENCE?
WHETHER THE
LADDERS, STAIRWAYS ARE IN GOOD
CONDITION
WHETHER THE PIPELINE RELIEF VALVES ARE KEPT
RELIEVING TO TANKS OR TO OUTSIDE?
WHETHER ANY INSPECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT ON
REPAIRED TANKS BEFORE TAKING THEM INTO OPERATION?
WHAT ARE THE SCHEDULES FOR PAINTING OF TANKS?

GAUGING
GAUGING IS THE PROCESS OF TAKING ALL THE NECESSARY
MEASUREMENTS IN A TANK IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE
QUANTITY OF LIQUID CONTAINED IN IT.
GAUGING INVOLVES :
1)TAKING OIL DIP IN THE TANK
2)TAKING WATER DIP IN THE TANK
3)OBSERVE TANK TEMPERATURE
4)OBSERVE DENSITY & TEMPERATURE OF THE TANK
SAMPLE.

GAUGING EQUIPMENTS:
1) DIP TAPE
2) DIP BOB
6)
3) WATER FINDING PASTE 7)
4) OIL FINDING PASTE

5)

THERMOMETER

HYDROMETER
SAMPLING EQUIPMENT
8)

SAMPLE CONTAINER

GAUGING
GAUGING IS THE PROCESS OF TAKING ALL THE NECESSARY
MEASUREMENTS IN A TANK IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE
QUANTITY OF LIQUID CONTAINED IN IT.

GAUGING TERMS:
1) GROSS DIP
2) WATER DIP
3) ULLAGE DIP
4) DIP HATCH

10) REFERENCE HEIGHT

11) REFERENCE POINT
12) SAFE HEIGHT

5) DATUM PLATE
13) DEAD STOCK
6) TEMPERATURE / SAMPLE HATCH
14) GROSS
CAPACITY
7) TANK TEMPERATURE
15) SAFE CAPACITY
8) SAMPLE TEMPERATURE
16) WATER
BOTTOM
9) SAMPLE DENSITY

 Thank You