CHEVRON PETROLEUM COMPANY

Inspecciones
Combustible

Externas

Tanques

de

Almacenamiento

de

PROCEDIMIENTO Y REQUERIMIENTOS
NOTA: El presente documento es un extracto del estndar ILAST de Chevron, enfocado
nicamente en lo relativo a inspecciones externas de tanques.

Safety
Safety shall ALWAYS be addressed as a minimum by referring to Chevron Safe Work Practices
(Internal) (SWP) & Chevron SWP's (External access). Additionally, comply with any other health and
safety requirements such as lead exposure tests, precautions while jacking columns, etc. Consult
local OE/HES Specialist for any other governing safe work practices that need to be followed.
Note: The Inspector must check all access structures for safety prior to inspection.

Glossary
Certified Inspector A tank inspector who meets the certification requirements of API 653 or other
acceptable qualification standard (see Section 3.1 of this standard). The inspector must be
technically qualified and certified/licensed for the purpose of conducting tank inspections. Local
regulations may require that the inspector be from a government regulatory agency.
Formal External Inspection (FEI) A documented inspection conducted by a Certified Inspector
without entry into the AST interior to assess its condition and suitability for continued service. There
is no expectation for entry onto the deck for an FEI.
Grounding per API 2003 Section 4.5.3 Storage tanks on grade-level foundations are considered
inherently grounded for dissipation of electrostatic charges, regardless of the type of foundation (i.e.
concrete, sand, asphalt). For elevated tanks, the resistance to ground mayreach 1 megohm (1 million
ohms), but is unlikely to exceed this value. Therefore, the tank can still be considered adequately
grounded for dissipation of electrostatic charges.
The addition of grounding rods and similar grounding systems will not reduce the hazard associated
with electrostatic charges in the fluid. However, additional grounding may be required for electrical
safety (NFPA 70) or lightning protection (see API 2003 Section 5 and NFPA 780).
For lightning strikes Tank grounding is defined as one of the following:
(1) A tank shall be connected without insulated joints to a grounded metallic piping system
(2) A vertical cylindrical tank shall rest on earth or concrete and shall be at least 20 ft (6 m) in
diameter, or shall rest on bituminous pavement and shall be at least 50 ft (15 m) in diameter.
(3) A tank shall be bonded to ground through a minimum of two grounding electrodes, as described in
Section 4.13, at maximum 100 ft (30 m) intervals along the perimeter of the tank.
(4) A tank installation using an insulating membrane beneath for environmental or other reasons shall
be grounded as in (3).

1.0

Standard Details
1.1

General

Tank inspectors and tank engineers must be qualified to perform their work as required by the Tank
Inspection Specifications, which can be found in Appendix B. In regions where American Petroleum
Institute (API) 653-certified inspectors are unavailable, the Power Team may follow the certification
standards of the Engineering Equipment Manufacturers and Users Association (EEMUA) 159 or the
South African Qualification & Certification Committee (SAQCC)*. If the Power Team wishes to accept
any other inspector certifications, they must contact the Infrastructure Projects and Standards Group.
For formal inspections, API 653 requires inspectors to be certified by passing a written test.
There are two types of formal inspections: Formal External Inspections (FEIs) and Formal Internal
Inspections (FIIs). Details of these inspections are covered in Sections 4.5 and 4.6, respectively, of
this standard. A formal inspection is performed by a Certified Inspector whereas an informal
inspection (also known as a routine in-service inspection) shall be performed by the Chevron terminal
personnel. Details of these routine in-service inspections are covered in Section 4.2 of this standard,
and occasionally are described by state or local regulation.

1.2

Formal Inspection Intervals

The interval from the last internal or external inspection to the next external inspection is the formal
external inspection interval (FEII). Typically, the maximum FEII is 5 years, unless regulations or other
factors impacting tank integrity dictate a shorter interval between external inspections.

1.3
Formal External Inspections (FEIs)
A formal external inspection is a documented inspection conducted by a Certified Inspector without
entry into the AST interior to assess its condition and suitability for continued service. Tanks are
usually in service during FEIs. If the tank is not in service, a formal internal inspection (FII) is
recommended instead of an FEI.
FEIs address:

Foundation
Bottom and shell-to-bottom weld accessible from outside the tank
Cathodic protection system (work by others)
Shell (UT thicknesses, paint, stiffeners, circumference, nozzles, manways, height, overflow
vent elevations, plumbness, insulation, and weld spacing) accessible from outside the tank
Appurtenances (valves, gauges, anchor chairs, vents, fire suppression systems, etc.)
Access structures (ladders, stairs, handrails, platforms, etc.)

If SAQCC certification is accepted, Inspector must have at least 2 years overall experience working with
ASTs to perform FEIs and at least 5 years overall experience to perform FIIs. Inspector must also have a high
school diploma at the minimum.

Fixed roof (accessible from the top of the roof)

Internal floating roof and roof seals (viewed from the top of the tank)
External floating roof and roof seals (viewed from the top of the tank)

Note: Review Appendix B, the ILAST Technical Specification, for information on Chevron
requirements. Review the LAST External Inspection Checklist for all items covered under
an FEI.
A representative sample of thickness measurement locations is to be chosen by the
Certified Inspector for new (baseline thicknesses) and in-service tanks. If available,
consult prior FEI/FII reports to determine the relative location of prior thickness
measurement locations to use as a reference as such locations may not physically be
marked on the tank itself. Efforts should be taken to take new measurements on locations
with prior history as much as possible. The number of thickness measurement locations
shall be adjusted accordingly at the Certified Inspectors discretion to account for areas of
higher or localized corrosion.

1.3.1

Shell/Roof Remaining Thickness Reporting

A corrosion rate and remaining life analysis shall be provided by the Certified Inspector based on
thickness measurement data. If available, prior thickness measurement history shall be taken into
account to establish the corrosion rate. Use baseline thicknesses, or those from constructions
drawings, if such information is not available. Corrosion rates are not required for new tanks or new
bottoms from the inspector.
Areas of localized corrosion should be clearly indicated. Checks should be made to ensure that there
is adequate remaining thickness above the minimum required. In general, there should be enough
remaining thickness such that the tank will not reach retirement before the next scheduled inspection
date.
In the event that an integrity issue is noted, additional inspection and analysis maybe required.

1.4

Fall Protection Anchorage Point Inspection

SWP 566 requires that anchorage points be regularly inspected per recognized standards, and that
anchorage points be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per attached person per US OSHA
29 CFR Part 1926.502(d)(15). The frequency of anchorage point inspections is recommended at no
more than one year before use, and shall be conducted during each external inspection (every 5
years).
See inspection checklist for details.

1.5

Inspection Report

Before leaving the work site, the Inspector must present his handwritten preliminary report and obtain
a signature and date indicating acknowledgement of report content from both the Terminal Manager
and the Facility Engineer. All parties must keep a copy of this signed document. The Inspector shall
include a copy of the signed handwritten preliminary report in the final inspection report.

The handwritten preliminary report must also include the Chevron Inspection Checklist (Internal or
External) in the Tank Inspection Specification as a verification of work complete while onsite (our
checklist is not the same as the vendor default checklist).
The Inspector shall provide a formal report to Chevron documenting the inspection and all
recommendations. The report shall be submitted using Chevrons Inspection Report Template, which
can be found in Appendix C. Additional requirements regarding the report submittal are located in
Appendix C as well.

2.0 Appendix A Tank Inspection Preparation Forms

Chevron Pre-Inspection Checklist Reviewed as part of pre-job by Power Team.
Chevron Pre-Inspection Checklist

CVX_Pre-InspectionC
hecklist v2.doc

Scope of Work Submitted as part of Vendor Cost Proposal

ILAST
Scope_of_work_form v2.doc

3.0 Appendix B Tank Inspection Specifications

The following Chevron requirements are to be given to the Certified Inspector who is to perform the
formal external or internal inspection. Several appendices and tools are part of the specifications,
including the Tank Bottom Corrosion Rate Life Calculator, the LAST External Inspection Checklist,
and the LAST Internal Inspection Checklist.
ILAST Technical Specification

TechnicalSpec App B
v3.doc

Note: The following three documents are embedded in the LAST Inspection Technical Specification
above, but direct links are also provided below:

External Checklist

Technical Spec External Insp Checklist.doc

4.0 Appendix C Technical Specification Report Template

The Inspector shall use the following report template:

Technical Specification Report Template

TechnicalSpec
Report Template v2.doc

The Inspector shall provide a formal report in the above format documenting the inspection and all
recommendations. The report shall be provided in both hard copy and electronic forms. Two hard
copies shall be submitted: one for the terminal and one for the terminals central area office. An
electronic copy shall be submitted as well. The final report shall be certified by a registered
professional engineer only if a fitness-for-service evaluation was conducted. The final report shall be
provided to Chevron within 25 business days after completing the field inspection. The Inspector
shall also submit a preliminary report to the terminal manager and facility engineer by the conclusion
of the last day of the inspection.
The preliminary report will have attached the required Checklist shown in Appendix B above.