Tank Terminals and Farms

Proper tankage is essential for safe shutdowns and startups at refineries. Shut downs may occur during routine maintenance, but full plant shutdowns are not always necessary. Redundant systems (e.g., System 1A and 1B) enable one to operate while the other is maintained, ensuring continuous operations.

If production drops or halts due to a pipeline failure, tankage provides the buffer needed to keep the refinery operating or allow for a safe and controlled shutdown. Full shutdowns can take 2–3 days, and startups may require 3–5 days. Each system must be carefully brought back online to achieve proper temperature and pressure.

Tanks can be temperature-controlled using thermal or steam coils. For example, in Bakersfield, California, operators frequently heat high-viscosity oil to achieve the consistency needed for shipment.

Key Functions of Tankage

Maintain Operational Continuity: Tankage buffers variations in pipeline delivery and allows for controlled feed rates.
Enable Safe Shutdowns: Proper tank levels allow safe sequencing when systems need to go offline.
Support Startup Conditions: Tanks provide the right suction/discharge balance for equipment charge pumps.
Ensure Product Storage: Tanks are essential for storing both crude feedstock and finished product.
Prevent Damage: Abrupt shutdowns can be avoided by redirecting flow into tanks.

Crude Oil Processing & Storage

Feedstock tanks are always required. Pipeline flow rates vary, while refineries demand consistent feed. Tanks compensate for this imbalance and allow the refinery to continue operating through brief pipeline interruptions.

If a pipeline shutdown is prolonged, plant operations must cease. The plant should shut down before feedstock drops below safe minimums, as defined by engineering analysis.

Operational Best Practices

Maintain Feedstock Supply: During temporary shutdowns, incoming feed continues to flow into tanks until the plant resumes operations.
Avoid Abrupt Shutdowns: These are dangerous and costly. Proper tankage prevents this.
Include Product Tanks: Essential for blending and continued operation when product pipeline flow is interrupted.
Support Distribution: Tanks simplify truck and rail loading operations and buffer against distribution delays.
Support Customer Requirements: Customers may require onsite product reserves to ensure uninterrupted supply.

The amount of tankage needed beyond the engineering minimum is determined during CivTek’s Business Case Analysis (BCA), which evaluates the cost of additional storage versus the potential losses from shutdown-related disruptions.

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