Petrochemical and refining complexes require offsite facilities to service the new production units, to handle additional products and also to support the operations of the company. This include catalysts and chemicals specialist storage facilities and tank farms.

The offsite tank farm is generally located adjacent to the refinery process units and is integrated to the refinery's daily operations. Storage tanks are required to store fresh feedstock, intermediate and component storage is needed for routine operations and blending as well as for final product storage, prior to export and local distribution through a combination of ocean going tankers and road tankers.

Before constructing any storage tank facility companies have to undertake rigorous environmental and safety measurements. "Storage of large quantities of hazardous substances entails risk for population, environment and surrounding area. Spills of hazardous substances into the soil can lead to expensive decontamination processes," says Sherman Nunis, operations manager at SGS Industrial Services.

There are many measurements companies need to take before building storage tanks. "The main criteria is to select the right material of construction or the inner lining of the tanks - the material or the coating should be compatible with the products intended for storing," says Satyabrata Mukhrerjee, terminal director at Petrochemical ME. "The tank should be fitted with centre sump for easy emptying of the tank," he adds.

Materials used for the construction of storage tanks are different, but it should be of high resistance. "It varies, but mainly stainless steel tanks are used to avoid the corrosion," says Riza Altunergil, sales and marketing manager at Ergil Group.

Safety requirements should also be taken before the start of the construction of tanks. "The main issue is always the staff health and safety. In order to avoid any accident, staff have to be trained properly, and at least one health and safety officer has to be on site all the time," says Altunergil.

"Secondly, quality of the fabrication, erection and installation is very important, therefore during all stage quality control has to be done by experts to avoid any mistakes," he explains.

By Abdelghani Henn, Petrochemichal Middle East

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