HANDLING THE PRESSURE

Tank Storage Magazine talks to engineering specialist Transtech Energy about the challenges involved with building Vopak Moda Houston’s bullet tanks. As part of the Vopak Moda Houston project, EPC contractor Transtech Energy, which has over 30 years of experience in the design and construction of liquefied gas terminals and transloading facilities, was tasked with fabrication of the facility’s five pressurised 120,000 gallon bullet tanks. These tanks have a total storage capacity of 14,285 barrels for products such as propane or butane or other liquefied hydrocarbon gasses. ‘Typically bullet style tanks are built for aboveground installations, Mark Wenik, market director for terminals, power generation and cryogenics explains. ‘Around 95% of the installations we do are aboveground applications. But in this case Vopak Moda Houston wanted the tanks built for a mounded installation. By installing the tanks in a mound, it provides an additional layer of safety for the terminal. With a tank that is buried, there is a much lower risk of damage to the tank if there is a fire or thermal incident at a location. The mound also helps maintain the internal temperature and pressure...