Review of New API-Recommended Practices for Petroleum Production Above Ground Storage Tank Installation, Inspection, and Repair

Abstract

Abstract Safe operation and mechanical integrity of above ground storage tanks are very important to the petroleum industry due to both environmental and financial considerations. Recent work by API and the industry resulted in new, consensus recommendations for production tanks. These recommended practices have been detailed in a new API document that covers installation, leak detection, inspection requirements, maintenance and repair of the above-ground production storage tanks. Also included in this document are qualification requirements for the three levels of personnel and the different inspections that they can do. This paper reviews the major, new recommended practices and changes to the previous edition of the API Recommended Practice 12R1. Introduction The 1988, diesel fuel tank failure in Pennsylvania spurred the petroleum production, refining and transporting industries to develop environmentally safe practices for the inspection and maintenance of above ground storage tanks (AGSTs). Originally, the American Petroleum Institute (API), which coordinated the efforts for the petroleum industry, had the Refinery Department developing a document that could be used for the entire industry. This was undertaken since the majority of refineries are located near waterways, rivers, etc. and their large volume AGSTs posed a greater risk for environmental problems than storage tanks from the production side of the industry. The Refinery Department's main document developed for maintenance and inspection of AGSTs was API Standard 653. While this document was being developed, the API had two independent studies conducted. The first was a survey of AGSTs. This survey developed estimates of the number and capacity of AGSTs in the petroleum industries. The results of this survey are shown in the following comparison table.