What is CCUS?

‘ExxonMobil and Nucor sign for CCUS’, ‘Koch and Chart Industries sign CCUS MoU’ and ‘Sekisui Chemical and Tokai Carbon partner for CCUS’. These are just a few of the recent headlines Tank Storage Magazine has covered. Every month, more companies announce they are joining forces to partner for carbon capture, utilisation and storage to help in the battle against global climate change. According to the IEA, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) refers to a ‘suite of technologies that can play a diverse role in meeting global energy and climate goals’. But exactly what is CCUS? And why are companies […]
In Conversation With: Jimmy Lindgren

Meet Jimmy Lindgren, partner at Heimdall Terminals, and one of StocExpo 2023’s Forty Under 40.Can you give us a brief outline of your career to date?Jimmy: In 2017, I entered the oil and gas industry, leveraging my previous experience in fundraising in different sectors. Since a young age, I have been deeply fascinated by the oil and gas industry, recognising its significant role as a fundamental component in almost every aspect of the world around us. A key driver of economic growth, powering industries, transportation, and providing essential raw materials for numerous products. The industry’s intricacies have fueled my passion […]
Hydrogen Takes Centre Stage

Molly Cooper investigates the factors involved in the transition to storing hydrogen as an industrial fuel Today, the majority of hydrogen is used by the refining and chemical industries. Hydrogen is a versatile and clean-burning fuel that has the potential to play a significant role in the global energy transition. Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen produces no greenhouse gas emissions when it is burned, making it an attractive alternative for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources, including water, natural gas, and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. When […]
Are Biofuels The Leading Future Fuel?

Cyann Fielding asks biofuels experts to share their predictions for the future of tank storage and sustainability Biofuels are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional fossil fuels. They offer a promising solution to the world’s growing energy needs, while reducing carbon emissions and other environmental damages. Derived from organic matter, such as plant material or waste, biofuels can be used in a wide number of applications, including transportation, heating, and electricity generation. However, it’s important to recognise that biofuels are not a new phenomenon; they are just becoming more popular. As industries aim to decarbonise, biofuels are particularly attractive to […]
VERSATILE TANK LININGS MEET DIVERSE NEEDS

Lab tests and field studies identify coatings that streamline tank cleanings, adhere under pressure and withstand aggressive chemicals Whether exploring offshore or onshore, oil and gas companies require versatility and consistency in their operations – particularly when it comes to the various tanks used to store and process fluids. Tanks holding aggressive chemicals may need to go lengthy periods between inspections. Likewise, drilling mud used one day may be swapped out the next as the wellbore requires different lubrication. Process vessels may need to run almost continuously, with rare stoppages permitted to inspect their interiors. All along the way, linings […]
How North Sea Port Is Leading The Way

Commercial manager at North Sea Port, Sandra De Mey, tells Tank Storage Magazine how it feels to win gold at the Tank Storage Awards In March 2023, North Sea Port won gold in the Port of the Future category at the Global Tank Storage Awards. This this prize goes to the port that is making huge strides in becoming a leading facility. That includes working hard to prepare for the energy transition, introducing digital initiatives and improving overall port customer service and efficiency. The judges were impressed with the port’s strategic focus on prioritising resources into energy transition initiatives that […]
HOUSTON-BOUND FOR ILTA

The Tank Storage Magazine team is heading off to Texas for the ILTA conference on May 22-24. Here’s a preview of what’s in store The ILTA conference is the largest liquid terminal industry event in the USA, and returns to Houston on 22-24 May 2023. Tank Storage Magazine is proud to be the official media partner and door-drop sponsor for the event – meaning many of you are likely reading this as you walk around the show. With expert-driven educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more, ILTA 2023 will equip attendees with a greater awareness of issues impacting terminal facilities, offering […]
Gold Star For Safety Technology: Real Safety

CEO of Real Safety, Torben Farup, discusses winning gold at the Global Tank Storage Awards and taking their technology into the tank storage sector At the 2023 Global Tank Storage Awards, gold was presented to Real Safety in the Safety Technology category for its anti-slip safety solutions.The judges said the winner was chosen due to it being an easy but necessary technology, even though it is not completely new. Slips, trips and falls are a leading issue in the tank storage sector, so Real Safety’s product is a must to ensure safety. ‘We have won awards in the past, but […]
VIRTUAL REALITY-BASED PROCESS AND SAFETY TRAINING

Karthik Govindarajan, president at Oak Tree Consulting, tells Tank Storage Magazine how VR and AR technologies are changing training procedures Virtual Reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies are increasingly popular in the field of process and safety training. These technologies provide an immersive learning experience, providing trainees with a hands-on approach to learning complex procedures and navigating hazardous scenarios. In traditional training methods, trainees learn through lectures, demonstrations, and role-playing exercises, which are often limited in their ability to replicate real-world situations. Computer-based lessons are now common and often used for introductory and refresher classes. In general, these are […]
How to Keep Your Terminal Safe From Lightning Fires

Tank Storage Magazine explores the latest lightning protection and mitigation techniques for tank storage facilities Hazardous facilities such as petrochemical terminals and oil and gas facilities can experience grave consequences if struck by lightning. This natural phenomenon is random, which means protecting against lightning can be difficult. While high points and tank roofs are at risk, strikes may also hit random locations on the open ground. This means some small ground-level tanks or pipework at tank terminals may also be susceptible to a lightning strike. ‘Reports indicate that more than 30% of external floating roof tanks (EFRTs) fires are caused […]
HYDROGEN’S ROLE IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Madana Nallappan, EIC analyst, Asia Pacific region, discusses the emerging developments of hydrogen supply chains and the need for policy changes With the urgent need to meet climate targets and enhance energy security, hydrogen has emerged as a leading contender for the energy transition. Europe has been at the forefront of this development, particularly in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. Other regions such as Australasia, North and South America, and Asia have also shown significant interest, with a total of 26 countries, including the UK, having developed comprehensive hydrogen strategies, and more than 20 governments working […]
EPC TANK BUILDING: APPROACHES & CONCERNS

Major EPC companies share their main areas of focus when carrying out projects tank engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) relies on dedicated teams of skilled personnel and often specialised equipment. For a tank design and construction process to be carried out successfully, companies need to maintain a high standard of health and safety, and quality. The engineering part of EPC often involves services to help terminals optimise existing systems to improve reliability, decrease construction costs, provide expertise, and provide professional engineering advice. For procurement, EPC companies will source the best quality materials and products to complete a terminal’s project. Often […]
LEGISLATING FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS

FETSA’s executive director, Ravi Bhatiani, looks at what’s needed from political leaders to enable the energy transition The Federation of European Tank Storage Associations (FETSA) is committed to help achieve the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets by replacing fossil fuels with low-carbon and renewable energy carriers. This transition must be driven by legislation (such as the ‘Fit for 55’ Package and the ‘REPowerEU’ Plan), market incentives, consumer choices and geopolitical needs. For this to succeed, investments will be needed to foster the adaptation of existing storage and distribution infrastructure, as well as research, development and innovation in the field […]
END-TO-END DIGITALISATION AND DECARBONISATION

Diamond Key International shares how its proven solutions can achieve terminal optimisation through a strategic approach traditional oil and gas terminals are facing increasing operational challenges for a number of reasons. Reduced in-house expertise, segmented control systems, legacy infrastructures, more stringent environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies, occupational health and safety (OHS) compliance, to name a few. Not to mention the rapidly changing storage needs due to the energy transition. Diamond Key International looks to help clients reduce operating costs, facilitate more flexible services to unplanned terminal customers, expand the facility with least capital expenditure (capex), and optimise day-to-day operations […]
What’s the Latest in Automated Terminal Management

Cyann Fielding finds out how digital processes are changing terminal operations The evolution of terminal management processes has been significant over the past few decades, with the adoption of digital technology and cloud-based software enabling greater collaboration and data sharing across the entire supply chain. ‘While terminal management software has been around since the 1980s, the data in these systems has primarily been siloed to the local terminal or an internal corporate data management platform,’ says Sam Reid, CEO of Dearman Systems. The move from locally-hosted operations to cloud-based has been a significant development. DIGTIAL REVOLUTION ‘Even with the data […]
Women in Tanks: Stefana Sopco

Embracing and encouraging diversity in the industry leads to endless possibilities, says Smartflow’s Stefana Sopco. Smartflow’s head of content marketing, Stefana Sopco, journeyed into the tank storage industry following a passion for technology and digitalisation. During her first two years of living in the Netherlands, before Smartflow, Sopco worked at another tech company that built a gamified learning app. Following this position, she landed the role of head of content marketing at Smartflow – a SaaS company with a solution used to digitalise inspections and checks within the energy, maritime and TIC industries. Sopco aims to inspire women and girls […]
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Tank Storage Magazine looks at how leak detection equipment is embracing the digital transformation Implementing gas and liquid leak detection systems to storage tanks helps to reduce potential harm to the environment and personnel. Pipelines remain the safest means of transporting any product from one location to another, but they are not without risks. Managing these risks effectively ensures that customers can minimise the downtime of their pipeline network. ‘Regularly monitoring for leaks using technology ensures that leaks are identified quickly and located accurately before they escalate into spills, ruptures and explosions which can cause not only reputational damage to […]
OFF-GRID ENERGY AND MEETING TARGETS

Flogas Britain’s business development director, James Rudman tells Tank Storage Magazine how it’s keeping up with the ever-changing energy market Flogas Britain has completed a tripartite deal with North Sea Midstream Partners Limited (NSMP) and Exolum Seal Sands (Exolum) at the Teesside gas processing plant, UK. The deal is set to boost the resilience of off-grid energy across the north of England and Scotland and provide security of supply to homes and businesses in the region. At present, the Teesside plant handles much of the gas extracted from the North Sea, including a significant tonnage of propane. However, James Rudman, […]
In Conversation with: Aldrich Varilla, IT director, Odfjell Terminals US

Fresh from his ORBIE award win, Aldrich Varilla, IT director for Odfjell Terminals US tells Tank Storage Magazine about the company’s digital initiatives. IN 2021, Odfjell Terminals US (OTUS) launched a multi-year digital transformation programme at its US terminals. The ambitious programme aims to harness the latest technologies to help maintain the highest safety standards, boost efficiency, and provide a future-proof foundation for business scalability and growth. Two years on, Aldrich Varilla, IT director, received the Corporate ORBIE for organisations with up to $300 million (€273 million) annual revenue. The ORBIE Awards is the leading technology executive recognition program in […]
THE BEST STOCEXPO YET!

Find out what happened at the industry’s leading trade event: StocExpo. On 14-16 March in Rotterdam, the Tank Storage Magazine team, along with organiser Easyfairs, held the StocExpo conference and exhibition. The leading event brought together a whole host of terminal professionals and industry experts looking to connect with each other and share exciting new innovations. A year of firsts With fresh branding to represent the energy transition and future fuels, this year’s StocExpo kicked off with a terminal tour of Koole Terminals’ leading Tankstorage Botlek facility in the Port of Rotterdam. Led by a representative from the port, a […]
PREVENTING FALLS AND PROTECTING WORKERS
![[12:38] Cyann Fielding Carbis Loadtec Containerised Metering Skid with Vertically Elevating Platform and Arms 1](https://tankstorage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MicrosoftTeams-image-scaled-1-1024x827.jpg)
Cyann Fielding speaks to industry experts to gain the best advice for your terminal’s fall prevention and protection measures. In tank storage operations, working conditions often involve heights, bringing risks for manual workers. The risk of falls is common in the process of unloading trucks, working on tank roofs, or accessing higher areas. So, operators need to be aware of these risks and know how to mitigate them. For terminals, maintaining an environment with the least possible threat of an incident occurring is imperative for safe and efficient operations. Fall prevention measures allow operators to implement solutions to protect their […]
INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION FOR MAMMOTH PROJECTS

Bora Aydin at Walter Tosto delves into a recent project for the design, fabrication, construction and supply of bullet tanks for the biggest LPG storage plant in Italy. bullet tanks are both aboveground and underground (mounded) cylindrical vessels, which are considered to be one of the storage options to hold liquids or gases at pressure values different from the atmospheric pressure. They provide an ideal solution for supporting high capacities of bulk storage with efficient project delivery, lower risk of failure, easy maintenance and operation. Based on the application and the geographical conditions, bullet tanks can be installed both verically […]
INCORPORATING AUTOMATIC DEPOT MANAGEMENT

Discover how OKQ8 works with PlantVision to increase reliability, with a future-proof system using Siemens’ software and products. When OKQ8 needed to streamline depot management at its oil port in Sundsvall, Sweden, the company selected the Siemens solution partner, PlantVision, to modernise and fully automate the fuel loading and unloading process. Using Siemens’ innovative Digital Enterprise portfolio has resulted in a future-proof and significantly more efficient fuel management solution. ‘We want to get away from the ‘we’ve always done it this way’ mindset,’ says Marcus Lundmark, project manager at PlantVision, who focuses on helping customers prepare for the future. ‘We […]
LOADING ARM OPERATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND ADVANCED SAFETY

Tank Storage Magazine explores the future of loading arms with improved safety, operations and efficiency. Loading arms facilitate the transfer of liquid or liquified gas, from one tank to another through an articulated pipe system. This usually consists of rigid piping and swivel joints. Loading arms unfold to get the required working envelope to load or unload the tanker, and the reverse to retract or get a minimal space for parking or storage. With increasing demand for digitalisation across the sector, loading arm suppliers are being expected to implement safer and more efficient products. So, Tank Storage Magazine consulted the […]
NOBODY WANTS TO THINK ABOUT WASTEWATER

The experts at Aquacycl explain new sustainable wastewater treatment options to achieve permit compliance at tank terminals. Wastewater generated from operations at bulk storage terminals can include process wastewater, secondary containment wastewater and stormwater management. Dealing with these wastewater streams are usually not considered core to the business, but it needs to be carefully managed to avoid unpermitted discharges of harmful chemicals and petrochemicals to the environment. Permit violations can result in large fines, negative publicity and, ultimately, potential disruption to operations. One of the main sources of process wastewater is from cleaning operations, washing out tanks to facilitate changeovers […]
FASTER, SMARTER, SAFER: NO-MAN ENTRY TANK CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Re-Gen Robotics’ no-man entry tank cleaning service provides huge logistics, cost and risk benefits for tank owners. Tank cleaning is required at oil terminals as part of their ongoing maintenance programmes, generally every three to five years, or to undertake specialist tasks, such as changing product in the tank, decommissioning, assessing contamination, structural defects, and corrosion. SLUDGE AND SEDIMENT Sludge and sediment removal is a necessary operation that operators of oil storage facilities, refineries and processing plants manage as part of their facilities’ maintenance procedures. Sludge and sediment can mount up in oil storage tanks in various ways. When the […]
WHY USE HUMANS WHEN WE HAVE ROBOTS?

Molly Cooper explores no-man entry tank cleaning robots and why there is no longer a need for humans to do the job. No-man entry tank cleaning in the sector has grown over recent years. Companies have an obligation to protect their staff and keep them out of harm’s way. Entering tanks is not an easy task and requires qualified, registered personnel. ‘Thinking about what is considered the worst kind of manual labours, in terms of working environment and type of manual activity, tank cleaning definitely fits the description,’ says Daniel Devò, export sales manager at Gerotto. According to a 2021 […]
FIRE SAFETY UPDATES

A collection of experts share their insights into the latest in fire safety, including fluorine-free foams, strategies and the right equipment PHASING IN FLUORINE-FREE FOAMS Hans Huizinga, extinguishing foam consultant, Kenbri Fire Fighting Back in 2021, the big industrial users of the foam were complaining about the cost of a fluorine free foam. Now, this excuse isn’t working and instead of a choice – it is a must. Change in opinion Public opinion is evolving. In the Netherlands, the government has gotten involved with the discussions on foam. Environmentalists are asking questions to the Ministry of Public Health and […]
THE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AND FLEXIBLE CARRIER FOR THE ENERGY OF THE FUTURE

Rail transport will be essential to transport LNG across the globe, says VTG. In April 2021, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union agreed on a new European climate law and substantially raised the EU’s greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030. At the same time, greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 – which is at the heart of the Green Deal – was for the first time anchored in law at the EU level. Energy-intensive industries and the mobility sector in particular face huge challenges as a result. Transitioning from processes previously based on fossil fuels demands innovative […]
THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF TANK STORAGE

FETSA teams up with the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies to manage geopolitical challenges facing the storage sector. Recent geopolitical changes have led to, and are leading to, fundamental changes in the global energy system, energy policy and trade. These include decoupling between ‘the West’ / G7 economies and Russia, as well as decoupling of critical supply chains between this bloc and China. These trends have been elaborated in strategic documents issued by the USA, G7, NATO, the European Union and to a lesser extent the G20. Energy security has become a priority. The energy transition has been accelerated through […]
A MODERN WOMAN IN A MODERN WORKFORCE

Gizil GmbH CEO, Esma Gulten, shares her story of perseverance and entrepreneurship in a male-dominated industry. Established in 2012, Gizil is a full-service engineering, procurement, and construction provider for the tank terminal industry that focuses on the digitalisation of facilities. CEO Esma Gulten founded the company with her partner, having worked in the tank terminal industry for some time previously. ‘I graduated technical university as an industrial and mechanical engineer with a double major,’ says Gulten, who began her career with Siemens – one of the giants in energy industry. ‘Although I had no idea about oil and gas industry […]
CUSTOMER IMPORTANCE & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

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