Issues related to dehydration in crude oil storage tanks – seeking help! ! ! ! ! ! !
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A crude oil dehydration project is currently in progress. The crude oil tank area is equipped with 4 crude oil tanks, each with a capacity of 50,000 m3. An automatic dehydrator is installed at the bottom of each tank, and the oil content in the wastewater discharged by these dehydrators is ≤200 mg/L； The oily wastewater is collected and sent to a 30m3 oily wastewater tank, from where it is then pumped to the wastewater treatment system ； The maximum amount of crude oil in the oily wastewater tank is 0.8 m3. Problems existing: 1. Classification of the fire hazard for oil-containing wastewater tanks: The fire hazard classification for crude oil tanks is Class A B. Then how should the fire hazard classification for these oil-containing wastewater tanks be determined? Should they also be classified as Class A B? 2. The automatic dehydrator is installed beneath the storage tank as an auxiliary device for it. Can this oil-contaminated wastewater tank function as an auxiliary tank to the crude oil tank, be located within the crude oil tank area, with no restrictions on its distance from the crude oil tank? Is there a standard basis? 3. Can the transfer pump for oily wastewater also be located within the crude oil tank area and enclosed by a dike? I also ask all the experts for help; let’s have more discussions. I asked an experienced technician, and he said it should be considered an auxiliary tank, so there is no need to follow the 0.4D spacing requirement with respect to the crude oil tanks; however, I couldn’t find any regulatory basis for this. That’s so expensive! ! !
When dealing with oily wastewater and crude oil storage issues, it is necessary to strictly comply with local safety and environmental protection regulations. The following are some suggestions and general guidelines based on what you have described. Please note that specific standards and regulations vary depending on **and region; you should consult the local safety and environmental protection authorities or professionals for accurate guidance. 1. Classification of fire hazard for oil-containing wastewater tanks: Generally, the classification of fire hazard is determined based on factors such as the combustion properties of the stored medium, the gases that may be released, as well as the operating temperature and pressure. Since the oily wastewater tank contains a certain amount of crude oil, it may be classified as a storage category for flammable liquids. However, due to its relatively low oil content, its classification may differ from that of tanks used for storing crude oil directly. The final classification should be determined based on specific safety assessments and relevant regulations. 2. Layout of the oily wastewater tank as an auxiliary tank: Whether an oily wastewater tank can serve as an auxiliary tank to a crude oil tank and be located within the crude oil tank area depends on the design, operational, and safety requirements of such a tank. Generally speaking, auxiliary tanks pose a lower level of hazard and may not require strict adherence to the same spacing requirements as main storage tanks. However, for safety reasons, it is recommended to follow the relevant building codes and best practices regarding safe distances, and to consult qualified professionals to determine the appropriate layout. 3. Transfer pumps for oily wastewater and safety protection: The installation of transfer pumps should meet requirements for operational safety and explosion prevention. Installing transfer pumps in the crude oil tank farm and enclosing them with dikes is a common practice to prevent environmental pollution and fire hazards that could result from spills and leaks. The specific design and installation location of the pumping station should comply with local regulations and international best practices. In short, you should work with professional engineering design firms, safety consultants, and relevant **departments to ensure that your project meets all safety, health, and environmental standards. Additionally, it is recommended to consult local regulations, such as China’s \"Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals\" and the \"Code for Fire Protection Design of Petroleum and Chemical Enterprises\" (GB50160-2008), in order to obtain accurate requirements regarding classification and layout. .
Thank you for your feedback. I am also a designer; I have encountered some problems and would like to discuss them with everyone. After discussing this with the company’s chief engineer, it was decided that it can be installed as an auxiliary tank within the tank area, while the pumps should be placed outside the fire dike.
It mainly depends on the design standards; generally, it is determined by the properties of the oil and the capacity of the tank area, and then the design of the auxiliary tanks is carried out based on these parameters