CHAPTER

Storage tanks
15
15.1 CODES AND REGULATIONS
The layout of process storage tanks requires strict observance of codes.
The following codes shall be reviewed when designing tank layouts:
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• National and Local codes and jurisdictions
• Earthquake codes (if applicable)
• Client Specifications and design philosophy
Other important design considerations that will affect layout are:
• Topography
• Access roads
• Railroads
• Local habitation
• Office buildings
• Control rooms
• Process units

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA)

Before tank layout commences the NFPA codes must be read for compliance.
An example of the codes that might affect the layout are:
• NFPA 30—flammable and combustible liquids code
• NFPA 58—storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gas
• NFPA 59A—production storage and handling of liquefied natural gas
• NFPA 321—basic classification of flammable and combustible liquids
• NFPA 11—low expansion foam and combined agent systems
The NFPA codes are the basis for tank regulations.
They were compiled to reduce any potential hazards to public safety. It must be
remembered that although compliance to the codes does not eliminate hazards when
flammable and combustible liquids are stored in process facilities, the aim is to
reduce the possibility of a hazard.
The Engineer’s Guide to Plant Layout and Piping Design for the Oil and Gas Industries.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814653-8.00015-1
361
# 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
362 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT (OSHA)

OSHA regulations with regard to the layout of storage facilities refer to:

• Access Ladders
• Platforms
• Stairways
• Catwalks
• Personnel access
• Safety at works

NATIONAL AND LOCAL CODES AND REGULATIONS

All the relevant documents that refer to both the national and local codes shall be
reviewed before any plant layout is started.
When designing overseas facilities, it is mandatory to refer to the national codes
of the country and also to their local codes as well as to international codes and
regulations.

15.2 TYPES OF TANKS

Atmospheric storage tank—this type of tank operates from atmospheric pressure to
0.5 psi/0.034 bar.

Photo of an atmospheric storage tank

Cone Roof Tank—this type of tank is a low-pressure storage tank with a fixed, cone-
shaped roof
 15.2 Types of Tanks 363

Drawing of coned roof tank

Photo of coned roof storage tanks

Closed floating roof tank—this has an internal floating roof but eliminates natural
ventilation of the tank vapor space. Instead, the CFRT is equipped with a pressure-
vacuum (PV) vent and may even include a gas blanketing system such as that
used with fixed roof tanks, these tanks are designed as in Appendix C of the API
Standard 650
364 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

External cone roof

Roof
seal

Floating
roof

Closed floating roof tank

Fixed roof—this is a low-pressure tank with a roof welded to the shell, regardless of
roof design or support methods.

Fixed roof tank

Double wall storage tank—is a tank with an inner wall to contain a liquid (as used in
LNG storage tanks), it has an annulus space filled with insulation and an outer wall.
 15.2 Types of Tanks 365

Double wall storage tank

Bullet—this type of tank is a long cylindrical high-pressure storage vessel that is
shaped like a bullet.

Photo of bullets
366 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

Horton sphere—this is a spherical vessel used to store liquids and gases at high
pressure.

Photo of a sphere

Intermediate storage (holding) tank—used for temporary storage of liquid until it

reaches a specified state, after which it is pumped downstream for process.

Photo of intermediate storage tanks

 15.3 Spill containment 367

15.3 SPILL CONTAINMENT

Owing to the possible risk of failure of a storage tank, an adequate means of spill
containment must be provided; this can be in the form of:
• Second tank wall around the tank
• Containment dike designed to contain the amount of liquid in the largest tank
A containment dike can be constructed of:
• Earth
• Steel
• Concrete
• Masonry
Earth dikes are the most popular followed by concrete for smaller containment
areas.

Photo of earth dike Earth berm or concrete / black dike wall

When storing a liquefied gas close to any population center it is mandatory to use a
double containment method. This can be in the form of a circular concrete wall sur-
rounded by an earthen dike; this provides a complete spill containment in the event
that the primary dike should fail.

LNG storage tanks showing earth berm

368 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

If tanks are located on sloping terrain, use of the slope must be taken into consider-
ation by locating the drainage sumps at the low point. When locating a diked storage
area, it should always be at a lower elevation than the process plant, so in the event of
spillage liquids will not flow back to the process units.

BURIED STORAGE TANKS

Typical buried petroleum tank at gas station

LNG storage tank

 15.4 Dike access 369

Schematic of buried LNG storage tank

15.4 DIKE ACCESS

Adequate access to diked areas must be considered. Maintenance access is required
and this can be in the form of:

• Personnel access by stairways (to OSHA standards)

• Personnel access by stile way over dike walls
• Vehicle ramp (if a ramp is used the maximum grade of the ramp must not
exceed 15°)
• Pumps must be located outside the diked area with access from the
perimeter roads
• When a new tank farm is located within an existing facility there must be no
obstruction from existing equipment or structures
370 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

All spacing requirements between the outside wall of the tank and any obstruction
or related equipment, roadways or buildings, etc. must conform to NFPA and local
codes. Studies must be performed for location of fire ring mains, fire hydrants and
monitors and deluge systems at diked areas
Adequate roadways should be provided around the diked areas to allow for access
egress and firefighting facilities.

15.5 SIZING TANKS AND DIKES

When sizing tanks and dikes the engineer must take into consideration the following:

• Volume of product to be stored

• Reference to API 12F Standardized shop fabricated tank sizes
• Use of standardized tanks for smaller capacities
• Larger field fabricated tanks to be sized and designed to suit the specific site
• Availability of real estate
• Terrain on which it is to be built
• Is it in an earthquake zone?
• Foundation design

DEVELOPING TANK HEIGHT AND DIKE SIZE

For example, 200,000 barrel (42 US gallons per barrel) 180 ft/55 m dia tank. To con-
vert tank volume to ft3/m3
 15.5 Sizing tanks and Dikes 371

200, 000
42
¼ 1122:994ft3 =31:8m3 liquid
7:48

h ¼ 4V 4
1122:994
Tank height ¼ ¼ ¼ 44:13ft=13:45m
3:14
D2 3:1417
1802

SIZING TANKS AND DIKES

Sizing Tanks and Dikes

To calculate the tank berm
180′ / 55 m 3′ / 1 m

V = 3.1417⫻h
(r 2 + rR + R2)
3
Where:
r = top of berm radius
R = bottom of berm radius
h = berm height
1′ / .3 m
1.5′ .457 m r cl. tank
Using the example then: R
V = 3.1417⫻1
(8649 + 8788 + 8930)
3
= 1047⫻26367 = 27606ft3 / 781.7m3 (volume of soil in the berm)
to calculate volume required in the diked area
1122.994cuft (stored liquid) less 27606ft3 (berm soil) = 1095.38ft3 / 31.02m3

How to size the volume of a tank berm (the volume required in the diked area).
372 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

15.6 TANK DETAILS

Top head platforms

 15.6 Tank details 373

Top head platforms Top platform outside tank wall

Bottom outlet platform Circular stairway

Spheres with circular stairs & top platform

374 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

Tank farm

Access platform at vertical storage tanks

Steam heater
 15.6 Tank details 375

Finned tube heater

Pipe through bund wall, a pipe sleeve and a suitable seal needs to be provided to seal
the pipe in the wall. There are many proprietary seals on the market that can be used
for this purpose.
Atmospheric relief vents and flame arrestors are used on storage tanks.
A flame arrester is a device that stops fuel combustion by extinguishing the flame.
Flame arresters are used:

• to stop the spread of an open fire

• to limit the spread of an explosive event that has occurred
• to protect potentially explosive mixtures from igniting
• to confine fire within an enclosed, controlled, or regulated location
• to stop the propagation of a flame traveling at subsonic velocities

They are commonly used on fuel storage tank vents.

376 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

ATMOSPHERIC RELIEF VENTS

Atmospheric relief vents

Tank mixers

Piping arrangements at tank farms

DIKE

Piping arrangement at tank farm

 15.6 Tank details 377

Optional Sleepers
(typical)

Layout for
flexibility

Piping showing expansion loops, tanks settlement must be

allowed for when setting the sleepers

Prefered piping
layout

Alternative
flexibility Pumping
piping layout

Piping plan at tank farm

15.7 TANK SUPPORTS

Manway & support legs Horizontal vessel with saddle

Vertical storage tanks with legs Tank farm storage on berm

15.8 LNG STORAGE TANKS

LNG flow diagram

 15.8 LNG storage Tanks 379

LNG FLOW DIAGRAMS

Flow of the BOG re-liquefaction process
BOG compressor To LNG
M vaporizer

BOG
re-liquefaction
facilities

LNG tank

Re-liquefied BOG transfer pump

BOG re-liquefaction flow diagram
Compressor running

LNG

Flare
1st 2nd
Stage Stage

Send out
Desuperheater

Suc. K.O drum

After cooler
LNG tank

Quick start-up system

LNG tank
380 CHAPTER 15 Storage tanks

Sections through an LNG tank

LNG tank showing piping