- cts-tank. · PDF filesystems for new Air BP tank Suspended Floating suction ... engineered as a steel roof tank, ... as a result of higher deck

S Y S T E M S A N D P R O D U C T S F O R I N D U S T R I A L C A R G O T R A N S F E R A N D S T O R A G E

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VOPAK 60m diameter domeand internal floating roofcompleted in just 7 weeks

CTS40 double seal and drainsystems for new Air BP tank

Suspended Floating suctionline installed at Total RefineryAntwerp

W W W . C A R G O T R A N S F E R . N E T

®

C T S ® N e w s l e t t e r - I s s u e d : F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 6

water projects and for bulkstorage projects.

Where CTS is a new name, themanagement and staff as well asthe product lines both have anextensive track record in thisindustry. We are thereforeexcellently capable of selectingand installing the best productsin this area. A close cooperationwith global leaders in the area ofgeodesic aluminium dome roofsand aluminium internal floatingroofs together with a wellbalanced port folio of our ownengineered and manufacturedproducts makes us a strongpartner for any of the productlines.

When reflecting on 2005 we atCTS are looking back at a very

busy and successful year, wheremany projects were completed.The following list is a partial list ofcustomers where we havecompleted projects in 2005:• BP Sonatrach (Algeria),

through MW Kellogg Ltd. (UK)• DuPont de Nemours

(The Netherlands)• Holborn (Germany)• LBC (Belgium)• MOT (The Netherlands)• Odfjell (The Netherlands)• Oil Terminal (Romania)• Petrol (Bulgaria)• Petrom OMV (Romania)• Petrotel Lukoil (Romania)• Sabic (The Netherlands)• Shell (France)• TEAM Terminal

(The Netherlands)• Total Refinery (Belgium and

The Netherlands)• Total Fina Elf (France)• Vopak (The Netherlands)

In many of these projects wehave cooperated with tankcontractors realizing projectswithin the scope required, payingattention to safety, quality andprogress. We would like toexpress our sincere thanks toour customers, contractors andsub-contractors and our staff fortheir contributions to a very busyand productive 2005 without losttime incidents!

CTS completes a busy 2005:

In 2004 CTS was formedcontinuing the activities fromDeltaflex, Hofland Deltaflexand Econosto in the area ofstorage tanks. This with themission to support the design,manufacturing, supply,installation and maintenanceof products and systems forindustrial cargo transfer andstorage. Particular emphasiswas given to furtherdeveloping the product linefor atmospheric storage tankswhich includes amongstothers aluminium geodesicdomes, internal floating roofs,tank seals, drain systems andfloating suction lines.

Apart from this a dedicated andspecialist line of products for thesafe and effective transfer andstorage of chemicals andhydrocarbons was developed,covering engineered hosesystems, dry break couplers andemergency release systems. Wedesign, supply and install theseproducts around the world.

Besides this extensive range ofproducts for atmospheric tankstorage and transfer ofhazardous materials CTS alsooffers aluminium dome roofs forarchitectural projects, for waste


Suspended Floating suction lineinstalled at Total Refinery Antwerp

Suspended floating suction line arrangement after installation.

Quality requirements forhydrocarbons such as Jet Fuelare getting increasinglydemanding with respect towater content, and othercontaminants possiblyaffecting the performance ofthe product stored inatmospheric storage tanks.This aspect is particularlyimportant for externalfloating roof tanks, as rainwater penetration isinevitable with this tankdesign. On the other handemissions for external floatingroof tanks are low comparedto fixed roof tanks.

Floating suction lines:One of the ways to address thisrequirement in delivering a betterquality product from storagetanks is to include a floatingsuction line (FSL) arrangement inthe tank. The major advantage isthe fact that a floating suctionline will always collect product

from the higher end of the liquidcolumn present in the tank. Thisis not the case when pumping outover a high suction line wherethis nozzle is usually close to thetank bottom and thisautomatically results in morecontaminants such as water andcorrosion debris being pumpedout from the tank.

Different FSL designs:Floating suction lines are availablein different designs. These includedesigns based on floats for fixedroof tanks, and suspended linesfor external floating roof tanks. Inthe latter version the suction lineis connected on a guiding railinstalled on the bottom of thefloating roof. Apart from thesebasic types, floating suction linesare available in multiple armdesigns, accommodating smalldiameter tanks with a high tankshell. Typically floating suctionlines are manufactured in eithercarbon steel, stainless steel oraluminium.The swivels used for floating

suction lines can either be style40F elbow swivels, or centralbalanced swivels. The advantageof central balanced swivels is thefact that these swivels preventbending moments on both thetank shell nozzle as well as on thefloating suction line. Disadvantageis their bigger size and weightcompared to elbow swivels.

Total Refinery Antwerp:In the third quarter 2005 TotalRefinery Antwerp awarded a FSLorder to main contractorVerwater Belgium, whereVerwater quoted the contractbased on the design and supply ofthe FSL by CTS. The floatingsuction line had a diameter of 12”,was manufactured in aluminium,and suspended from an externalfloating roof by a specialsuspension mechanism. As allparts in the line where made fromaluminium, stainless steel andFluor polymer components theFSL assembly supplied is suitablefor all hydrocarbons, including100% aromatics.


project will be operated by BPand Sonatrach, is a large-scalenatural gas development locatedin the Sahara desert, in thesouth-eastern region of theAlgeria approximately 100kmwest of the Libyan border. Majorparts of the actual constructionare supported by MW Kelloggfrom the UK, an operatingcompany of JGC and KBRHalliburton.

Aluminium dome roof for firewater tank:Important part of the In Amenasgas plant is the fire water tank,having a diameter of 36.7meters and a height of app. 13meters. Originally beingengineered as a steel roof tank,the limited time frame for thetank construction made the sitestaff change the design of thetank roof to an aluminium domeroof. This as the constructiontime required for installing analuminium dome roof was

significantly less than the timeand effort required building thetank as a steel roof tank. Apartfrom this it allowed building theroof next to the tank, while thetank was coated and watertested.

Design of the aluminium dome roof:Being slightly different than apetroleum storage tank, thedome roof was engineered with asolid counter flashing to keepsand out from the tank duringsand storms. Apart from thisaspect wind loads in the desertarea can be quite high, so theproject required the dome to beable to withstand wind speeds upto 180 kilometers per hour,requiring a stronger domestructure.

Project support by CTSNetherlands:MW Kellogg solicited bids fromseveral bidders and dome

Dome order for BP-SonatrachAlgeria through MW Kellogg Ltd.

Dome frame under construction.

Algeria has since long been animportant area for oil and gasexploration. As there is a vastpresence of natural gas thereare multiple projectsdeveloped to explore thissource of energy. JGC andKellogg, Brown & Root (KBR)are realizing an importantproject being the In Amenasgas development project inAlgeria.

Introduction In Amenas GasProject (IAGP):The project includes design,procurement, construction, andcommissioning services for anatural gas processing plant witha throughput of 1,050mm cfpd,offsite utilities, three pipelines,and related infrastructure. Thevalue of the contract isapproximately $ 745 million.Completion was scheduled for theend of 2005. The In Amenas


manufacturing companies, whereafter careful evaluation includingseveral factory visits the projectwas awarded to CTS. This basedon a competitive bid within thebidding deadline, and our ability tosupport the project at theremote location. It was agreedthat CTS would send in Dutchstaff to built the dome, where 3to 4 weeks of construction timewere planned in to completelyinstall the dome. Apart from thisCTS supplied all special toolsrequired at site, including a

certified lifting bonnet to allow asingle crane lifting the dome inplace.

Engineering and constructionof the dome:Other than just supplying thedome, CTS supported the designchange of the tank by engineeringthe top wind girder and walkwayand the interfaces between thetank shell and the dome roof. Thisby re-using some of theredundant materials available atsite for the steel roof. As part of

the usual CTS project approach asafety and installation plan weredrafted out, including the liftingplan for the dome. For theinstallation five operators of CTStravelled to Algeria to install thedome.

CTS was able to complete the jobin less than 3 weeks, leaving littleto be desired at the customerend for this project as it certainlymet the initial objectives of MWKellogg that were motivating thedesign change for this tank.

Frame is completed, dome panels are being installed.

Lifting the dome by crane on to the tank.

Stocexpo 2006:At the Stocexpo 2006

(from 28 – 30 March 2006)

CTS B.V. will be exhibiting in

Ahoy, Rotterdam, please see

us there to catch up with our

latest product developments.

S T O C


Nerefco (BP-Texaco joint venture)orders direct contact roof from CTS:

• only rim seal fire protectingfoam systems required formetallic full contact roofs

Honeycomb panel based fullcontact roof:Within the product range of CTSthere is an excellent Honeycombstructure aluminium full contactroof available. The CTS directcontact roofs are manufacturedfrom aluminium panels,incorporating a light weight butstrong honeycomb aluminiumstiffening structure. The individualpanels are fully welded andpressure tested prior toshipment, so the all importantintegrity of the panels isguaranteed. On the jobsite thepanels are positioned into thetank and easily assembled usinga state-of-the-art hook and pindesign to interconnect theelements. Apart from being very

effective a direct contact roof isalso low in height, maximisingstorage capacity for the tankinvolved.

Direct contact internalfloating roof, typical features:• emission reduction of

Volatile Organic Carbonsexceeding 98%

• maintenance free• compatible with all stored

products, including 100%aromatics

• light weight structuremanufactured from aluminiumand stainless steel

• can be fitted on tanks withdiameters between 6 and120 meters

• expected service life excess of 30 years

• designed for each specifictank

Internal floating roofs havedeveloped in recent decadesinto important systems toreduce emissions. Whenlooking at internal floatingroofs there are 2 basic designsavailable, being either a fullcontact roof or a non-contactinternal floating roof. The non-contact floating roofs are themost widely installed roofsworld wide, for economicreasons. Typically they arebased on aluminium pontoons,covered with a vapour tightdeck skin to prevent productvapours to migrate in thespace on top of the floatingroof. Being a reliable andeconomic roof, many of thesehave been installed atterminals worldwide in bothpetroleum and chemicalservice.

Full contact roofs:Full contact roofs have severaladvantages over non-contactroofs. Some of the moreimportant features for a fullcontact roof are the following:• high emission reduction, as

the roof eliminates theproduct-air interface overlarge areas, thusautomatically preventingevaporation of the productstored

• strong and rigid roof,therefore better suited forblending and Nitrogenpigging operations

• better corrosion resistanceas a result of higher deckskin material thicknesses

• low building height as aresult of the roof displacingliquid over its entire surface,so any submergence resultin equivalent buoyancy onthis complete surface

Direct contact roof, typical structure and seal details.


• easy installation, fullinstallation manuals andproject support available

• complies with API 650 (2003)Appendix H standard

• successfully used globally bymany major oil and tankstorage companies

• realistic engineering option fornew storage tanks

• suitable for high filling andemptying rates as well asNitrogen pigging, mixing andblending operations

• can be equipped with severaldifferent seal designs in anextensive range of materials

Based on these engineeringfeatures CTS will install a 36minternal floating roof for Nerefco(BP-Texaco joint venture) early2006, this in cooperation withMercon.

weather conditions. Despite thepresence of a peripheral handrailthese conditions have to be dealtwith by staff that accesses theroof. One of the possibleimprovements facilitating accessto tank roofs is to install a non-skid surface.

Recently CTS has completed anorder for the LBC AntwerpTerminal (Belgium), where we

applied a non-skid surface to atank roof for ensuring safeaccess. We installed a surfaceconsisting of a suitable rubbergrade reliably fastened on to theroof of the tank, ensuring safeaccess under all circumstances.

This as a continuation of our jobrecord from the past where weconverted multiple tanks in anidentical fashion for LBC Antwerp.

Non-skid surface on LBC tank:

Detail on panel interlocking system for HC direct contact roofs.

At CTS we support systemsand products for atmosphericstorage tanks. On a regularbasis we assist our customersin areas other than our mainproduct lines being tank seals,dome roofs and internalfloating roofs.

Access to fixed roof tanks:Both maintenance staff as wellas operators frequently climbfixed roof storage tanks toinspect and maintain storagetank systems as gaugingequipment and gauge hatches orto take level measurements orproduct samples. As safety isalways a key concern whenaccessing an elevation tankowners set high safety standardsfor the access to tank roofs.

Non-skid surface:Tank roofs can becomedangerously slippery as a resultof spilled product, rain or freezing

Non-skid surface on insulated tank at LBC Antwerp.


60m diameter dome and internalfloating roof for Vopak Oil Rotterdamcompleted in just 7 weeks

In May 2005 CTS was awardedthe contract by Vopak OilRotterdam to supply andinstall an aluminium domeand a cable suspendedaluminium internal floatingroof for a tank with adiameter of 60m and a heightof 30.5m The order comprisedof converting an existingexternal floating roof tank toan internal floating roof tank.Special to this project was thefact that the aluminiuminternal floating roof is cablesuspended from thealuminium dome roof,eliminating legs penetratingthe roof and contacting thesteel bottom. This reducesmaintenance costs as well asemissions by these legpenetrations.

Backgrounds of this project:For Vopak there were severalconsiderations motivating thistank conversion. The main aspectwas the fact that the externalfloating roof involved raisedserious concern as a result ofsignificant corrosion found in thepontoons. This despite the factthat the tank had undergoneextensive maintenance in 2001.Replacing the external floatingroof with a new external floatingroof would be a costly and timeconsuming exercise. Installing analuminium dome and analuminium internal floating roof instead reduces the futuremaintenance costs considerably

as no blasting and coating ofmaterials of the dome andinternal floating roof are required.Apart from that also emissionsof volatile organic carbons aresignificantly reduced as the windand sun are denied access to thetank. Finally rainwater no longerpenetrates the product stored,which is another reason toconvert the tank.

Tank emissions acc. Chapter19, API:When calculating the emissionsfor the different tank types,based on the rather low numberof 4 turnovers per year thefollowing are the results:

TTaannkk ttyyppee EEmmiissssiioonn EEmmiissssiioonn IInnccrreemmeennttaall rreedduuccttiioonn((llbbss//yyeeaarr)) ((kkgg//yyeeaarr)) ppeerrcceennttaaggee ((IIPPPPCC BBRREEFF))

External floating roof tank 35,903 16,285 0Internal floating roof tank 14,984 6,796 58%

Dome structure during assembly.


Under IPPC BAT requirementsreducing emissions significantlybeyond initial reductions isbecoming more and moreimportant. Covering externalfloating roofs with dome roofs,and taking out the sun and windfrom the tank results insignificant emission reductions,and is classified as BAT (BestAvailable Technique) reducingemissions. Please notecalculations were made forgasoline (RVP10).

Tank availability and leadtimes:Looking at the fact that tank0903 has an overall height of30.5 meter (100’) the lead timeof the project was critical inawarding the project to CTS. Thisas the tank capacity for tank0903 represents an impressive85,000 cubic metres, soavailability would be a majordeciding factor for any

commercial tank terminal. Apartfrom this CTS has satisfactorilyinstalled multiple dome andinternal floating roof projects forVopak in the past decades,amongst others acting asDeltaflex and Econosto.

CTS supplied the materials onsite in less than 12 weeks fromdate of order, including a 3 weekshipping time. Installation of boththe dome and the internalfloating roof took less than 7weeks, working 2 shifts of 7operators during 6 days a week.Completion of the project wasrealized per the end ofSeptember 2005, where workbegan only the 8th of August2005. The cooperation withDijksman Verwater, the tankcontractor on this job, workedout well, and their contribution tothe project certainly paid off incompleting the project as perexpectations.

Building the dome andinternal floating roof:The most challenging aspect ofthe project was the fact thatmultiple modifications had to be

done in a minimum of time, whilenot compromising safety andquality for the project. Installingthe dome and internal floatingroof required modifications to thefire fighting system, the laddersand the internals of the tank.Working at height also introducesa careful approach safeguardingpersonnel involved. The mainstages of the project were asfollows:

• built the structure of thedome on the tank bottom

Panelled dome resting inside the tank prior to being lifted.

Dome lifting cables connected to the dome, top view.

Lifting configuration for the dome roof.


Dome is lifted out of the tank.

Cable suspended internal floating roof, view from underneath.

• panel the structure withaluminium panels and skylights, enabling day light entry

• meanwhile modify the tank toenable positioning of the dome

• lift the dome to the top of thetank

• complete dome structure andwalkway on top of the dome

• install and suspend internalfloating roof

Lifting the dome:As the tank involved is very likelythe highest atmospheric storagetank in the world, the dome liftwas a critical phase of theproject. Normal lifts only requirea dome to travel a distance from12m (app. 40’) to 20m (app. 66’).Here the lifting height was 30.5m(100’), and as a result of this tookmore time than our earlier domelifts. The lifted dome weight wasapp. 35 tons, and 28 pneumaticactuated grip hoists were usedfor lifting the dome on top of thetank. After the lift was completedthe dome had to be secured tothe top angle of the tank.

Suspended internal floatingroof:After completing the dome theinternal floating roof was built

underneath the dome, ontemporary supports for thestructure. After completing thestructure, the 180 cablessupporting the roof weretensioned and the temporaryroof supports were removed. Thefull load of the internal floatingroof load being app. 13 tons wasnow fully suspended from thealuminium dome roof.

Completion note:Without any lost time incidents,and within the challenging timeframe as agreed the job was

completed and the staffresponsible for the projectcompleted 2 complex aluminiumstructures with a combinedweight of 55 tons in tank 0903.

On behalf of CTS we would like tothank Vopak Oil Rotterdam,Dijksman Verwater and all othersinvolved for their contribution tothis remarkable result, where allparties have contributed morethan their fair share in realisingthis complex project in time andwithout compromises withrespect to safety and quality!


NPCC orders tank seal and integralfoam dam for Adma Opco

CTS40 seal arrangement as on order for ADMA OPCO (UAE).

CTS has built an impressiveinternational track record forthe engineering, supply andinstallation of aluminiumdome roofs, internal floatingroofs, tank seals, drainsystems, floating suction lines,vapour holding membranes,special hose systems andother tank related systems.Jobs have been conducted inmost countries in Europe,Asia, South America andAfrica.

NPCC order for ADMA OPCO inthe United Arab Emirates:Amongst a string of recentorders we received an orderfrom NPCC, one of the majortank contractors in the MiddleEast. The materials are destinedfor ADMA OPCO in the UnitedArab Emirates. ADMA-OPCO (AbuDhabi Marine Operating

Company) is a pioneering oil andgas producer whose operationsdate back to the 1950s, and arecentred in the offshore areas ofAbu Dhabi. The company is partof the ADNOC Group ofcompanies, representing amassive force in Oil and gasproduction in the Middle East.The ADMO-OPCO Oil and gasproduction comes from twomajor fields, being Umm Shaifand Zakum. The crude iscollected from these fields usinggiant steel structures calledsuper complexes, and thentransferred to Das Island, anearby industrial base, forprocessing, storing and worldexport. The order placed at CTSinvolved the supply of a doubleCTS40 compression plate sealwith an integral foam dam. Thisrepresents a modern sealcombination and foam dam, bothexecuted in stainless steel andboth bolted directly to the rim

angle of the floating roof of a79m diameter tank.

The main reasons for using anintegral foam dam are thefollowing:• no water and debris

accumulating on the area ofthe floating roof between theseal and the foam dam,causing the steel roof tocorrode

• less foam required for firefighting purposes, which willresult in more efficient fireextinguishing

• the fact that less foam isrequired to fill up the sealarea could also reflect in costsavings when designing thefoam piping and foam makersfor new tanks, as less foamwill be required per time unit

Both the seal as well as theintegral foam dam will be suppliedearly 2006.


EN 14015 fire fighting foamrequirements for secondary seals

The well accepted BS2654standard for the constructionof atmospheric storage tankshas been replaced by a newstandard, the EN 14015. Thisnew standard is now in theprocess of being ratified forthe independent memberstates of the European Union.In many aspects there arechanges from earlierstandards, so one shouldrealise that these changesmay have their impact onengineering aspects forstorage tanks.

Apart from the basic standardfor tank design of atmospherictanks this new standard EN14015 has amongst othersfollowing Annexes (not all arelisted here, the final Annex is Annex R):• Annex A: Documentation

requirements• Annex B: Operational and

safety considerations• Annex C: Requirements on

(internal) floating covers• Annex D: Requirements

for (external) floatingroofs

• Annex E: Requirementsfor rim seals for(external) floating roofs

Tank seal requirements, Annex E (external floating roof tanks):When reviewing therequirements for tank sealsas per this new standard,the following paragraphs arerelevant for seal design andfire fighting arrangementson external floating rooftanks:

Liquid mounted seal:In the Standard the phrasing isas follows: “In order to achievethe best possible sealing, a lowerelement of the seal shall projectinto the stored liquid, close tothe tank shell.”This requires primary seals to beliquid mounted, which is a newrequirement compared to thereplaced BS2654.

Foam penetration ports:The exact phrasing printed in EN14015 is: “Note: Metallic sealelements completely coveringthe rim space between floatingroof and tank shell should beequipped with foam ports toallow the entry of fire-fightingfoam under fire conditions.”One has to realise that the risk ofrim fires is negligible on adequatedouble tank seals (primary andsecondary seal). On the otherhand one can never rule out rimfires completely, and relevantapplicable standerds requirecompliance. On the foampenetration ports it is possible to

include these on metalliccompression plate seals such asthe CTS20 and CTS40 seals byincorporating ports covered witha fabric reinforced rubbermaterial. Different methods offoam application are available,including systems penetrating thesecondary seal or systems usingpiping entering the rim spaceunder the primary seal. Thisshould make the foam portrequirement redundant, as thesesystems clearly address thebackground of this requirementeffectively.

Finally it should be noted thatamongst others the NFPA11 hasvery different requirements onfire fighting arrangements for rimfires on external floating roofsthan the new EN 14015. Apartfrom that different standardsand relevant codes could begoverning tank engineering aswell, such as API 650 and 653,EEMUA, European legislation andlocal requirements. Feel free toask for our support in this areawhen maintaining or replacingtank seals.Secondary CTS-seal with foam ports.


CTS30 primary seal installed at Odfjell:

Liquid mounted primary sealsare the most effective sealswith respect to emissionreduction for external floatingroof tanks. CTS suppliesseveral types of liquidmounted primary seals suchas shoe plate seals and liquidmounted foam seals. Liquidmounted seals however willhave to deal with liquidexposure for the sealmaterials in contact with theliquid phase of the product.

These materials are pronegetting damaged by this liquidexposure where materials justbeing exposed to the productvapours are less likely to bedamaged. The liquid contactingseal materials can result incompatibility problems especiallywhen the product stored has a

high content of aromatichydrocarbons such as Benzeneor Toluene.

CTS30, liquid mountedcompression plate seal:Since more than a decade CTSsupplies a seal based on stainlesssteel compression platespenetrating the liquid, beingbacked up by a vapour and liquidtight PTFE (Teflon®) vapourbarrier. The main advantage ofthis seal is that all materials usedare 100% resistant against allknown aromatic hydrocarbonsand chemicals while being liquidmounted.

Vigorous seal testing programat CTS:To ensure reliable performanceof our seals CTS has the ability toput seals to the test. A factorytesting rig travels seals up anddown, allowing the rim gap to be

changed from maximumallowable rim gaps to minimal rimgaps. Apart from this the seal istested on an abrasive background,simulating corrosion deposits onan actual tank shell. This uniqueseal testing facility allows CTS toreliably predict and test theperformance of tank seals.

Odfjell Tank TerminalRotterdam:At Odfjell (formerly known asPaktank) there is great interest inrealising a greater aromaticcompatibility for tank seals, this incombination with using liquidmounted primary seals formaximum emission reduction.Based on the experience of CTSdesigning, testing and supplyingthese seals an order wasawarded to CTS for installing aCTS30 liquid mounted primaryseal with a CTS20 secondary seal.Both the primary CTS30 and thesecondary CTS20 seals wereinstalled at a 36m diameterexternal floating roof tank, wherethe seals were installed in lessthan 5 working days despite theawkward weather conditions.

CTS30 primary seal after complete installation.

CTS30 primary seal duringfactory testing.


Rehabilitating leaking floating roof pontoons

CTS Pontoon balloon inflated in leaking pontoon.

After several decades ofservice an external floatingroof requires moremaintenance efforts to makesure the roof will still travelup and down withoutintroducing concerns about itsintegrity. When looking atexternal floating roofs thereare multiple systems thatrequire increasingmaintenance when the roof isageing. The most importantsystems are the following (inrandom order):- coating systems- rolling ladder and ladder

track- tank gauging system- fire fighting system- tank seal- gauge pole cover- leg sleeves and roof legs

Roof pontoons and theirintegrity:The buoyancy of an externalfloating roof is typically based onpontoons at the perimeter of the

roof for single deck type roofs.For double deck roofs thepontoons are located on the fullsurface of the roof. It is quitecommon for pontoons to get leakafter decades of service. Theseleaking pontoons will then collectproduct, reducing the buoyancy ofthe floating roof.

In all design codes for externalfloating roofs there is a provisionfor roofs still to float despite acertain percentage of pontoonsbeing leak and having productinside. This in combination withthe roof being loaded with acertain amount of rainwater.Independent from this leakingpontoons represent a concernfor tank owners, especially whenthese leaking pontoons aredirectly adjacent to each other.They can destabilise the roof, andthis could easily result in anexternal roof sinking partially orcompletely.

Rehabilitating leakingpontoons on tanks in service:Ensuring the integrity of an

external floating roof in servicediagnosed having leak pontoons,has been a request to CTS fromseveral tank owners over therecent years. CTS has developeda system where polymer balloonsare inserted in the pontoon, andinflated with an inert gas. This tostop further product penetration,and to ensure the buoyancy ofthe roof. While not being a longterm solution, this approach canhelp bridging the gap betweentank inspections showingpontoons being leak and thescheduled maintenance cycle forthe tank involved. It should beemphasized that the onlydefinitive way to address thisconcern would be a full repair onthe floating roof involved.

It can be worthwhile to considerinstalling an aluminium dome roofwith an internal floating roofreplacing an external floating roofand changing the design of thetank involved.


CTS40 double seal and drainsystems for new Air BP tank

Air BP is the specialisedaviation fuels and lubricantsdivision of BP, one of theworld’s major energycompanies. Air BP suppliesaviation fuels (both JetKerosene & AviationGasoline) and lubricants (forboth turbine and piston-engined aircraft) to allsectors of the aviationindustry. In addition, Air BPprovides technical servicesand engineering consultancyto partners worldwide.

As part of the Air BPinternational expansion newatmospheric storage tankcapacity for Jet Fuel at theNerefco Europoort refinery hasbeen contracted out to FabricomGTI. The contract awarded

involved the construction of anew 60m diameter externalfloating roof tank for storing JetFuel, where the tank had to bebuilt according BS 2654 as nowreplaced with EN 14015.

Tank seal required:As per governing Europeanlegislation this new externalfloating roof tank required a newdouble seal arrangement. CTStendered different seal designs,also taking into consideration thatrain water penetration should beminimal and the tank shell wouldbe completely coated internallyas well.To reduce wearing impact of theseal arrangement during thetravelling up and down of theexternal floating roof it wasdecided to install a double CTS40compression plate seal instainless steel. It is equipped witha skirt penetrating the productstored in the direct vicinity of thetank shell, resulting in a liquidmounted and very effective sealarrangement.

Despite the bad weatherconditions during theconstruction period in November2005 the seal was completelyinstalled in just 7 working days,allowing Fabricom GTI to continuethe project by finalising theirscope of work and to water testthe tank early January 2006.

CTS40 seal at Air BP tank.

Bottom view of CTS40 double seal arrangement, and bumper wheel.

Your distributor:

Offices:Coventrystraat 23047 AD RotterdamThe Netherlands

W W W . C A R G O T R A N S F E R . N E T

®

Tel.: +31 (0)10 - 2622160Fax: +31 (0)10 - 2622190E-mail: [email protected]: www.cargotransfer.net

S Y S T E M S A N D P R O D U C T S F O R I N D U S T R I A L C A R G O T R A N S F E R A N D S T O R A G E

Multiple drain lines:Draining capacity for externalfloating roofs is of paramountimportance. This to ensure longterm integrity of the roof, and toreduce corrosive effects ofrainwater present on the roof.For the double deck floating roofinvolved the design involved 3drain lines. These drain lines arebased on using carbon steelpiping, in combination withpivoting hose elements. CTSquoted the Drainmaster drainelements, based on a hose ableto deal with 100% aromatics in adiameter of 6”. Special in the Drainmaster designis the full box structure for thepivoting part of the drain line,resulting in a very reliable anddurable pivot for tank drainsystems.

Every individual Drainmaster pivotelement is pressure tested priorto shipment, so its integrity andtightness is proven prior toinstallation. Other than standardswivels, Drainmaster drain

elements have no vulnerablebearings nor rotating seals. Thisresults in a product with a

maximum long term integrity,without any preventivemaintenance required.

CTS Drain provision in Air BP tank.

Documents

- cts-tank. · PDF filesystems for new Air BP tank Suspended Floating suction ... engineered as a steel roof tank, ... as a result of higher deck