Requirements of the Ten Regulations on Fire and Explosion Prevention in Oil and Gas Tank Areas

Thread Content

Ten Regulations on Fire and Explosion Prevention in Oil and Gas Tank Farms 1. It is strictly prohibited to operate oil and gas storage tanks beyond their temperature, pressure, or liquid level limits, as well as to change the storage medium arbitrarily. This regulation outlines the requirements for the proper use and management of oil and gas storage tanks. The storage medium, storage temperature, pressure, and liquid level in oil and gas storage tanks must comply with the design specifications and process control parameters; deviations from these parameters can lead to safety risks such as leaks, fires, and explosions. During the design phase, storage tanks are designed for a specific type of storage medium, with the design considerations limited to the physical and chemical properties of that medium as well as the requirements of its storage and transportation processes. If the storage medium is to be changed, it is necessary to determine whether the existing design parameters of the tank meet the requirements for storing that new medium, in order to ensure the safe operation of the tank. Arbitrarily changing the storage medium or the purpose of the storage tank can pose safety risks and lead to accidents. 2. It is strictly prohibited for operators to leave the site when performing manual water removal, tank switching, or loading/unloading operations in oil and gas tank farms. This clause specifies the management requirements for such operations in tank farm areas. Manual water cutting refers to the process of intermittently opening the water cut valve by hand to discharge the water accumulated at the bottom of the oil and gas storage tank. Tank transfer involves switching the material in and out from one storage tank to another. Loading and unloading refers to putting material into a storage tank or transferring material from a transport vehicle into a storage tank. Operations such as water cutting, canning, loading and unloading must be carried out in strict compliance with safety standards, procedures, and regulations, under the on-site supervision and oversight of designated supervisors. If supervision is inadequate, it is very likely to cause oil and gas leaks, leading to accidents. 3. It is strictly prohibited to shut off the safety valves and cut-off valves of oil and gas storage tanks that are in use, as well as to install blind flanges on the pressure relief and discharge systems. This provision specifies the safety operation requirements for safety valves and pressure relief and discharge systems. A safety valve isolation valve is an isolation valve installed in front of and behind a safety valve to facilitate its testing or replacement. A pressure relief and discharge system is a system that can quickly release the pressure from a storage tank, typically referring to a flare system or a dedicated discharge system. If the safety valve or cut-off valve is closed, or if a blind flange is installed on the pressure relief system, the tank will be unable to release pressure in cases of overpressure or emergencies, leading to serious accidents such as explosions and fires due to excessive pressure. 4. It is strictly prohibited to deactivate the alarms for temperature, pressure, and liquid level in oil and gas tank areas, as well as the alarms for flammable and toxic gases, explosion-proof emergency shut-off valves, and interlock systems. This provision sets out the management requirements for alarms and interlock systems related to key parameters such as temperature, pressure, liquid level, flammable and toxic gases, and explosion-proof emergency shut-off valves in oil and gas tank areas. Oil and gas storage tanks should be equipped with level gauges, thermometers, pressure gauges, and detectors for flammable (toxic) gases, in accordance with standard and regulatory requirements. They should also have mechanisms for detecting high liquid levels and for automatically shutting off feed when such levels are reached. The alarm signals must be sent to the control room or operation room where operators are stationed, and audible and visual alarms should be provided to enable timely detection of any abnormalities and prompt action to address them. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the alarm and interlock systems are in good condition and operational at all times. 5. It is strictly prohibited to carry out welding work or enter confined spaces in oil and gas tank areas without conducting gas testing and obtaining an operation permit. This clause specifies the management requirements for welding work and operations in confined spaces within oil and gas tank areas. Before carrying out hot work, it is necessary to analyze and test the concentration of combustible gases in the area around the point where hot work will be performed in the oil and gas tank area. Before entering confined spaces, it is essential to analyze the levels of combustible and toxic gases as well as oxygen content within the tanks. Hot work and operations in confined spaces have always been areas prone to accidents. Oil and gas storage areas contain large quantities of materials, and accidents in such areas can have severe consequences. Therefore, strict approval procedures are necessary; it is essential to identify potential hazards and risks at the work site and during the operation process, to establish corresponding safety measures and ensure their implementation. Relevant personnel must sign off according to their authority, and supervisors should be present to oversee the operations. The specific management procedures should comply with the requirements of GB30871 \"Safety Regulations for Special Operations in Chemical Production Units\". 6. It is strictly prohibited for the floating disk of an internal floating roof tank to touch the bottom during operation. This provision mainly sets requirements regarding the liquid level in such tanks. The float settling to the bottom refers to the situation where, due to an excessively low liquid level in the tank, the float ends up on the support legs. During normal operation, once the floating disk settles at the bottom, a gas space is formed between the disk and the oil surface. When the flow rate of the material is too high, static electricity tends to accumulate at the outlet of the material pipeline, which can easily lead to fires and explosions. 7. It is strictly prohibited to directly add substances of unknown properties or those that may undergo violent reactions into oil and gas storage tanks or the pipelines connected to them. This provision sets out the safety management requirements for the use of various additives and auxiliaries in the processing and blending of oil and gas. Before adding them for use, it is necessary to understand the physical and chemical properties of the additives and auxiliaries, conduct risk assessments, and establish corresponding control measures and emergency plans. During the operation process, a dedicated additive system should be used, and the operating procedures must be strictly followed. 8. The use of non-explosion-proof lighting, electrical equipment, tools, and electronic devices in oil and gas tank farms is strictly prohibited. This provision mainly sets out the requirements for the use of explosion-proof equipment in such areas. The media stored in oil and gas tank farms are generally flammable and explosive. Using non-explosion-proof tools, electrical equipment, communication devices, etc. in such areas poses significant safety risks and can easily lead to accidents. 9. It is strictly prohibited to allow unqualified personnel and contractors without the necessary qualifications to work in oil and gas tank farms. Motor vehicles and unauthorized persons are not permitted to enter the tank farm. This clause mainly stipulates the requirements for training of operators, as well as the management requirements for contractors, unauthorized persons, and motor vehicles. Operators of oil and gas tank farms must be trained to proficiency and possess the necessary skills to perform their duties. It is a prerequisite for ensuring the safety of operations that contractors entering the tank farm possess the appropriate qualifications; unauthorized personnel and motor vehicles entering the tank farm can introduce many uncontrollable safety risks. 10. It is strictly prohibited to operate equipment and facilities in oil and gas tank farms when they are in poor condition or faulty. This clause mainly specifies the management requirements for such equipment and facilities. The storage tanks, pipeline fittings, safety accessories, lightning and static electricity protection systems, fire emergency equipment, as well as other facilities in the oil and gas tank farm must all be regularly maintained to ensure their proper operation.