[Haichuan Overseas Engineering] The installation of the floating tank for Tank A, the first large-scale crude oil storage tank with a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters at the Lobito refinery, was successfully completed

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This post was last edited by HaiChuanLaoYu on 2025-11-3 20:09. Message dated October 14, 2025. After nearly 4 months of intensive construction, the installation of the floating tank for Tank A – the first large-scale crude oil storage tank with a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters at the Lobito refinery, carried out by the Angola branch of China National Chemical Engineering Third Construction Company – has been successfully completed. This achievement lays a solid foundation for the installation of subsequent storage tank floats. One of the key construction tasks for the Angolan company on the Lobito refinery project in Angola is the installation of a cluster of 6 large crude oil storage tanks with a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters each. Each storage tank has a diameter of 87 meters and a designed height of 17.65 meters; both feature an external floating roof structure. They represent the \"heavy-hitting equipment\" for crude oil storage in the Angola refinery project. The floating roof, as the \"heart\" component of these tanks, is directly related to the safety and stability of crude oil storage. Tank A, which was installed this time, is one of the six large crude oil storage tanks. The main structure of Tank A’s floating hull consists of 463 bottom plates, 593 trusses, and 538 top plates; its total weight is approximately 730 tons. The length of the welds on this floating hull alone amounts to 22,000 meters, which is equivalent to 55 laps around a standard sports field. Faced with the challenging aspects of installing floating tanks – namely their heavy weight, complexity, and potential risks – the project’s chief engineer led the technical team in conducting repeated discussions and revisions to the construction plans. Professionals who had experience in building various key energy projects both domestically and internationally were brought in to handle the construction work, and a multi-dimensional safety protection system was established to ensure the success of the project, relying on a combination of technology, skilled personnel, and effective systems. The successful installation of the floating vessel for Tank A has provided replicable experience in installing large-scale floating vessels for the subsequent construction of 5 more tanks. Next, the project team will conduct a comprehensive review of the technical challenges encountered during construction and the corresponding solutions, as well as the quality control methods and safety management strategies. They will optimize the construction process for the next 5 storage tank barges, striving to advance the project with higher efficiency and better quality. This will help Angola establish a more stable and efficient crude oil storage system, contributing Chinese expertise and strength to the development of the local energy sector.