ENERGY TRANSITION READY
North Sea Port is supporting the sustainability efforts of its customers and aims to be Western Europe’s largest hydrogen hub North Sea Port is the Dutch-Belgian cross-border port, stretching 60 km from Vlissingen and Terneuzen in the Netherlands, to Ghent in Belgium. The port, Europe’s number 3 in added value and number 6 in goods traffic in the Hamburg-Le Havre range, is a well-established player on the European port scene. The port’s direct access to the North Sea, multimodal connections to the European hinterland, 750 ha of space available for development, and lack of congestion on both water and land […]
STORAG ETZEL ON STANDBY AS UKRAINIAN CRISIS EVOLVES
The leading and only independent cavern operator in northwest Europe, Storag Etzel, explains why caverns have such an important role to play in times of crisis Storag Etzel, one of Europe’s largest crude oil storage companies, is preparing to release strategic oil reserves for the first time in 15 years. The cavern storage operator, centrally located in north Germany’s energy hub, is currently storing 11 million m3 of crude oil in 24 caverns and its capacity is regularly used for long term stockpiling. ‘We are in standby mode, and every day are awaiting instructions to release stockpiles to help balance […]
GOING THE WAY THE WINDS BLOW
Peter Vucins from energy transition-focussed storage company GES tells Tank Storage Magazine about setting up the new company The energy transition is a hot topic throughout industries dealing with traditional petroleum products. With an impending switch from oil, how will companies survive? One new company, Global Energy Storage (GES), has been set up specifically to handle products for the energy transition. GES was set up by CEO Peter Vucins and executive chairman Eric Arnold, with US$250 million (€205 million) in backing from private equity company and energy transition specialist Bluewater. ‘When we started GES we started with a strategy for […]
THE EUROPEAN TANK STORAGE SECTOR IN AN EVOLVING ENERGY LANDSCAPE
Lucia van Geuns and Irina Patrahau from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) discuss uncertainty and the need for collaboration the global energy transition will undoubtedly bring challenges for states and companies alike, changing the global power balance and the architecture of economies. The tank storage sector can be part of the solution to these challenges. While the products in storage will change, storage can continue functioning as an essential component of the new energy system. Storing and handling e-fuels, ammonia, liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC), flow batteries, or synthetic aviation fuels are some of the emerging roles of […]
THE EVOLVING IMPACTS OF RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE ON OIL FLOWS
Homayoun Falakshahi, Jane Xie and Matt Smith at Kpler try to make sense of the effects on the oil markets of Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the global oil market. After catapulting higher from pre-invasion prices of less than US$100/bbl to as high as US$139/bbl, international Brent crude prices continue to remain elevated. Availability of oil to refiners, particularly those in Europe, has been curtailed. This is, however, not because of any formal sanctions on Russian energy exports, which so far only the US and the UK have subscribed to. This is mainly due […]
OUT OF OILTANKING, ADVARIO IS BORN
Tank Storage Magazine’s publisher Margaret Dunn speaks exclusively to Advario’s CEO Bas Verkooijen and chief growth officer Douglas van der Wiel about the new company’s name, its sustainability goals and what comes next On 5 May 2022, Oiltanking launched its highly anticipated new company, Advario. Advario will concentrate on growth in chemicals, gases and new energies and puts sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) at the heart of everything it does. ‘We will be taking a focussed and adaptive approach to find solutions to further enable the energy transition, working closely with our partners’ explains CEO Bas Verkooijen. […]
FROM ROADS TO RENEWABLES
Gérard Lafite from Rubis Terminal Infra tells Tank Storage Magazine about the two terminals the company has had shortlisted for the Global Tank Storage Awards Having an entry shortlisted for the Global Tank Storage Awards is always something to be celebrated, but one company, Rubis Terminal Infra, has not one, but two terminals shortlisted in the 2022 awards. Wagram Terminal near Strasbourg in France has been shortlisted in the Terminal of the Future category, awarded to a terminal which is demonstrating its dedication to preparing for the energy transition and focussing on sustainability. Rubis Terminal Rotterdam in the Netherlands, meanwhile, […]
A GREEN FRONTRUNNER
Vesta Terminals Flushing, shortlisted for a Global Tank Storage Award, has many initiatives focussed on a renewable future, says Daan Schutte The Global Tank Storage Award for the Terminal of the Future, voted for by representatives from the industry, will be presented to the terminal deemed most dedicated to preparing for the energy transition. One of the shortlisted entries is the 388,553 m3 Vesta Terminal Flushing in Vlissingen in the Netherlands. Its 27 tanks, varying in size from 500-32,500 m3, store middle distillates, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), biodiesel, base oils and speciality products, and its position at the mouth […]
Paint four tanks for the cost of one
Carboline’s Dwayne Lum tells the story of the development of modern tank overcoat systems It seems to be a universal law of nature; maintenance painting budgets are the first cut when profits fall and the last reinstated when profits rise. Operators and supporting coating manufacturers, contractors, and other service providers continually face the challenge of protecting assets as economically as possible. This is especially true for the large and often very visible above-ground storage tanks. The most promising coating technology for cost-effective, environmentally friendly maintenance tank overcoating systems is not new. Nor was it developed for storage tank painting. Low […]
Critical inspections during construction
Dr Emerson John explains the value of inspection and test plans (ITP) to the successful completion of a storage tank construction project Inspection and test plans (ITP) are used during storage tank erection projects to ensure all construction activities are executed, tested, inspected, and accepted. However, because of the nature of a tank project every task under an activity does not represent a line item on the ITP. Tasks are often grouped. Examples of grouped tasks are soil compaction, foundation construction, and the erection of roof structure. Examples of work to be executed under the grouped heading ‘foundation construction’ are […]
The importance of coating maintenance for floating roofs
Anton Martinez and Adam Beers from KTA-Tator cover corrosion and remedies Popularised in the 1950s, floating roof tanks have become increasingly prevalent over the years. These tanks play an important role in the liquid storage industry, most notably oil storage. At refineries, millions of barrels of oil products are stored in tanks that use a floating roof. These tanks are defined by the roof that floats on the liquid and is sealed around the edge. An internal floating roof tank has both a floating roof and a fixed roof. The fixed roof protects the internal floating roof from the atmosphere. […]
Choosing the right loading arm system
A lot of time, thought and effort is needed when identifying a solution that optimises terminal operations, says OPW’s David Morrow Imagine seeing a notice asking for symphony orchestra musicians to be at a concert hall on a certain day and time, prepared to play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, without rehearsal. The individual musicians who responded would likely have the talent and some past experience, but the performance as a whole would be disjointed. Now try outfitting a storage terminal in the same manner, selecting loading-arm system equipment that probably should work well together, but with no past experience. The operation […]
Protecting secondary containment areas
Choosing the right coating and lining systems depends on multiple variables, say Bruce Toews, Johnny Pourciau and Rodney Cressionnie from Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Oil, gas and petrochemical facilities are required to provide both primary and secondary containment areas. Primary containment areas include tanks, feed piping, pumps and process equipment, while secondary containment areas (SCAs) include surrounding structures such as dykes, channels and sumps. Common requirements for SCAs include: Materials: SCAs must be constructed of or lined with materials that are compatible with the contents placed in primary containment vessels. Capacity: SCAs must have capacity to contain 100% of the […]
The future of AST life cycle management
Dr Steve Ziola considers non-invasive, in-service leak detection, bottom plate assessment and sludge gauging for decades aboveground storage tank (AST) owners and operators have struggled, and spent millions, working to balance operational constraints, contractual requirements and AST integrity management. Even with no known leaks, state and federal regulations mandate costly and time-consuming periodic openings and inspections. Robotic technology has found its way into the industry and allowed for AST bottom plate inspection without personnel entry and in some cases, while the AST is in service. Even without personnel entry, AST’s must still be opened, bringing into play certain regulatory requirements […]
Understanding rope access
HMT’s Manny Williams runs through the basics of industrial rope access In less than 30 years, industrial rope access has exploded. What was once an experimental technique used to address challenging maintenance issues on offshore facilities has become a mainstream technology for accessing hard-to-reach structural elements in the petrochemical industry and beyond. As a replacement for scaffolding and other structured support methods, industrial rope access technology is less costly and time-consuming to deploy, and provides workers with more flexible access without compromising their safety. But the applicability of rope access extends far beyond this. WHAT IS ROPE ACCESS TECHNOLOGY? In […]
Rimfire protection issues
Cornelis Jan Kallemein and Maarten van Abeelen from the Safety Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond have uncovered a problem with some foam dam constructions on tank floating roofs The Rotterdam-Rijnmond area is unique due to its large harbour and industrial area. In this harbour there are a lot of vertical atmospheric storage tanks to store flammable and combustible dangerous goods. Protecting these tanks is critical to the area’s economy, environment and safety. We are the advisors of the department of industrial safety, part of the Safety Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond (the regional emergency services). We work with tank operators and tank equipment suppliers to advise […]
The three lines of environmental defence
Shirley Miles from Adler and Allan, discusses how partnering with a trusted environmental protection provider can ensure standards are implemented correctly Primary (tank), secondary (bund) and tertiary (separator) containment systems are the first, second and third line of defence against environmental pollution. Regular asset maintenance is essential to keep all pollution prevention equipment working at optimum efficiency, safeguarding operations handling and storing oil or other hazardous materials. WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? Two of the key pieces of legislation on containment are: The Water Resources Act 1991 states that ‘It is an offence to cause or knowingly permit any poisonous, […]
Why install lightning protection on a process control plant?
Understanding the differences between different types of lightning protection with Lightning Master MORE AND more plants are being equipped with structural lightning protection (lightning rod) systems. Many of these are ‘fuzzy ball’ lightning rods, but what are they? In high lightning areas, plant operators understand that lightning is a real problem, damaging equipment and producing plant outages and down time. Hence, the presence of structural lightning protection systems. However, in order to secure benefits, if any, from the system, it helps to understand the purpose, nature, and operation of such systems. INHERENT SELF-PROTECTION OF TANKS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES A […]
Optimising hazard identification, control and suppression activities
Sharé Mason-Bailly and Stefano Armani from SA Fire Protection look at the options Highly flammable liquids and gases call for dedicated fire protection. As a result, a good fire safety strategy is an essential part of any terminal operator’s plan. Effective plans will include a fire detection, alarm and suppression system. Reliable detection of flames, smoke, heat and gas leaks in its incipient stage is critical in ensuring that people, property and operations are safeguarded in a fire situation. Therefore, it would be appropriate to consider the fire and gas (F&G) system as the heart of a plant’s protection system. […]
Intracontinental hydrogen supply chain development and integration
Jeannette Baljeu, a member of the executive of the Province of Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands, tells Tank Storage Magazine about the challenges and possibilities HYDROGEN IS OFTEN SAID TO BE ‘THE GAME CHANGER’ FOR INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORT. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS? As the province of Zuid-Holland we are working on sustainable solutions for industry and transport in various ways. Hydrogen is one of them. Green hydrogen is essential for the transition to a greener industry and sustainable transport. The province of Zuid-Holland focusses on a broad range of energy sources to meet the climate goals for the region. […]
Testing fluorine-free firefighting foams
Dr Niall Ramsden and Dr Eleanor Lister look at the efforts of Lastfire Group members The ISSUE of transitioning to fluorine-free foams is undoubtedly the greatest challenge currently facing industrial firefighters. Lastfire, the industry group developing best practices in storage tank fire hazard management, has taken a pragmatic approach. It is recognised that it is inevitable. It is time to stop the emotional statements and the comparison with previous types of foam and instead focus on making the process as efficient, cost effective and practicable as possible. It is also seen as an opportunity to develop a much better database […]
Under pressure
Owen Stephens, safety relief valve specialist for Nacional Safety Valves UK, discusses the importance of correctly sizing, selecting and maintaining a safety relief valve The primary reason to use a safety relief valve is to prevent a pressurised vessel or system from over pressurising. It is there to protect life, property and the environment and is the last line of defence should other safety systems fail. As the last line of defence, the accuracy and quality of a safety relief valve is paramount in ensuring an overpressure situation is avoided. Overpressure scenarios can be defined as a situation resulting from […]
Re-Gen Robotics: The by-word for safety in tank cleaning
Intelligent tank cleaning solutions for companies that prioritise safety The foundations for a new era in tank cleaning safety were laid in 2019 and in less than three years Re-Gen Robotics has already forged its reputation as the go-to company for 100% non-person entry tank cleaning solutions. With an ambitious, young, pioneering team driving the company’s success, they have singlehandedly disrupted the sector by establishing the new norms of safety, service, integrity, and trust. Managing director Fintan Duffy is at the helm of the team setting these new safety standards, unknown before in the industry. He and his team have […]
Planning for the Energy Transition
FETSA’s Ravi Bhatiani looks at the contribution of the tank storage industry The Federation of European Tank Storage Associations (FETSA) represents European national tank storage associations and independent private storage companies operating bulk liquid storage terminals. FETSA represents 141 companies operating 743 terminals across Europe. Increasingly storage assets are being used in new ways such as flow batteries, or storage for waste that can be then re-used in the circular economy. Looking to the future, whilst liquid products will evolve to meet climate obligations, the importance and function of liquid storage within European supply chains will remain constant. Key figures […]
Connections and changes
Sandra De Mey from North Sea Port on the importance of relationships with customers and colleagues Tank Storage Magazine’s Women in Tanks series has covered a variety of roles and industries relating to the tank storage industry, and in this edition, we turn to the vital port industry. Sandra De Mey is the commercial manager at North Sea Port (the Dutch-Belgian cross-border port), with responsibility for liquids, chemicals, food (non-containerised) and agri-products. Her role has two main concerns – trade and investment. ‘Trade relates to account management, so that means that you have to be very close to your clients […]
Pioneering terminalling in the Middle East
Fujairah Oil Terminal, shortlisted for the Terminal Innovation Award at the Tank Storage Global Awards, explains the innovative services it offers Over the last decade, Fujairah has seen tremendous evolution from a small costal town in northeast UAE to being the third largest oil storage, petroleum products trading centre and second largest bunkering port in the world. Fujairah offers one stop shop for traders – bunkering, trading and maintaining vessels. The Port of Fujairah system is so commercially designed that all terminals are connected to the common matrix manifold (piping/berth) system, and they have two: MM1 and MM2. This allows […]
API standard 2350 5th edition – What’s new?
Midstream consultant Earl Crochet examines the changes in the latest edition of API 2350 Earl Crochet The American petroleum institute (API) publishes industry standards, recommended practices and other documents to help industry worldwide. Typically, these documents are updated every five to seven years by members of the industry including owners/operators, manufacturers, and contractors. One of these documents that was recently updated is API Standard 2350 – Overfill Prevention for Storage Tanks in Petroleum Facilities. Table 1 compares the last three editions of API 2350 and highlights a number of changes that have taken place over the last 15 years. LOTS […]
Future fuels and future storage
Channoil’s Mark Waddington looks at the energy transition, demand developments and their impact on the storage sector in Europe The world is on a pathway to the most significant energy transition since the emergence of fossil fuels as a major global energy source. The evidence for climate change is no longer under serious dispute, the major question now, is how quickly the mitigating actions need to take place. There will be a repositioning in the tank storage sector and there will be localised casualties. Increasingly, investment is going to be driven by the requirements to be sustainable and green. The […]
Is net-zero a reality in the Middle East?
Nicholas Kramer, Angela Croker and Rekha Ajoodha from law firm Norton Rose Fulbright look at the possibilities for the energy transition in the Middle East On 12 December 2015, global leaders of 196 countries congregated at COP 21 in Paris to negotiate and resolve the world’s first legally binding treaty on climate change (the Paris Agreement), which sets a goal to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Underpinning this goal is the energy transition, aptly defined by S&P as ‘a transformation of the global energy sector from fossil-based systems of energy production […]
Looking to the futures
Siavash Alishahpour tells Tank Storage Magazine about VTTI Fujairah’s plans for growth ON 29 MARCH 2021, the new Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Abu Dhabi (IFAD) commodities exchange began to trade Murban Crude futures, a new oil benchmark and the UAE’s flagship crude oil. It joined leading futures contracts including Brent and WTI in the ICE network. One Murban futures contract equates to 1,000 bbl of Murban crude oil delivered from the ADNOC Terminal located in Fujairah, UAE. With the launch of Murban futures, other terminals in Fujairah began to spy new opportunities for growth, not least Dutch terminal company VTTI, […]
Compulsory stocks for future energy carriers
Ravi Bhatiani, executive director at FETSA, looks at how requirements for compulsory stocks needs to evolve with the energy transition The storage capacity of FETSA members also includes strategic reserves held for emergencies and supply disruptions under the Compulsory Stocks Obligation (CSO). Strategic reserves has been a prominent issue in political discussions over the last few months with strategic storage of gas, as well as future energy carriers being discussed by EU heads of state and strategic oil reserves being released by major non-OPEC economies to reduce fuel prices. Today the situation on strategic storage is relatively clear cut. There […]
Navigating through the energy transition
IHS Markit’s Olivier Maronneaud looks at the effects of the energy transition on oil products, petrochemicals and subsequently tank storage companies the last 24 months and the COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedent period in many respects. For the first time in decades – except during war times – governments around the world have imposed restrictions or closed borders, limiting domestic and international travel for holidays or business. Fortunately technological improvements have allowed many of us to work from home, avoiding daily commutes on public transportation. Numerous products, markets and companies have been negatively impacted by these major disruptions and […]
