1. NPMA Alan Watson Alexandria May 2012 Tank foundations Presenting
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2. AST Operating Locations are all over the world
Join API 653 & EEMUA 159 together to have One world wide inspection Standard
If you THINK that it is SAFE don’t do it ~ Do it when you KNOW that it is SAFE 2

3. A.P.I. 650 and 653 only give general guide lines to the type of foundation

4. If all 3 elements are present then corrosion can occur
Air
Moisture
Steel
If all 3 elements are present then corrosion can occur
Corrosion Triangle

6. Murphy Oil Anniston, AL relocation of a 90 ft diameter tank the job was completed Feb 2001

12. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
Ground Pressure
Tank shell
Ground level
Tank Bottom
Concrete ring wall
Water changes ground bearing pressure under concrete ring wall
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EEMUA 159
Edge settlement
Tank shell settled below ground
Edge settlement
If you THINK that it is SAFE don’t do it ~ Do it when you KNOW that it is SAFE
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Uneven foundation settlement
- 3 in
-1in
- 4 in
Causes the top of the tank to become oval and jam the floating roof.
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Lost Capacity in Tank
Lost storage capacity over whole tank
Product level
Easily fixed
Shell edge punching causes lost product capacity in tank
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39. Tank Settlement into the Foundation
EEMUA 159
Tank Shell
Water and Debris Collected
Tank Bottom
Location of Possible Corrosion
Shape after Repair

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Tank Foundation Settlement
Tank
Foundation
Ground level
Compacted Ground
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69. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
Summary
Why install cathodic protection API 651
Why install double bottoms API Appendix “I”
Why install concrete under tanks API Appendix “B”
We are still making the same mistakes with tank foundations.
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70. Oklahoma State University
THE NEXT STEP
Oklahoma State University
“Determining the Long Term Performance of Tank Foundations through the use of Case Studies”
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71. Cooperative Research Program
Together we are destined to do Great things
AST Tank Foundation Standard
Reflections of Professional Pride

72. API
American Petroleum Institute (API) For more than 75 years, API has led the development of petroleum and petrochemical equipment and operating standards.
API 650 “Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage
API 653 “Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration and Reconstruction” Publication.
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73. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
API Standards 650 and 653 were produced as a guide for storage tank owners / operators
State regulators are now starting to mandate the API Standards into State regulations
API Standards have never investigated to see if some of the recommendations work
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74. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
International Liquid Terminal Association (ILTA)
ILTA represents 81 companies and partnerships that operate bulk liquid storage terminals in 43 countries
Provides members with essential informational tools to facilitate regulatory compliance and improve operations, safety and environmental performance;
Offers opportunities for relationship building, networking and knowledge sharing
Represents the bulk liquid terminal industry before Congress and government agencies.
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75. EEMUA Engineering Equipment Material Users Association (EEMUA)
EEMUA 159 “User’s Guide to the Maintenance and Inspection of Above-Ground Vertical Cylindrical Steel Storage Tanks “
EEMUA 183 “Guide for the prevention of Leakage from Vertical, Cylindrical Steel Storage tanks”
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76. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
Codes and standards covering the steel tank design and construction are based on over 100 years of experience and lessons learned.
The integrity of the tank structure as a primary container is dependent on the Foundation on which it sits.
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77. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
The primary function of a tank foundation is to minimize differential settlement, transfer the weight of the tank structure into the ground strata and prevent corrosion
It has been reported that after 20 years of service more than 20% of the petroleum storage tanks have required major repairs to their foundations
Owners /operators report a much higher percent
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78. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
While some of these foundations have performed satisfactory others have not and have required significant investment in repair. People have theories over which foundations are the best
No one has taken an in-depth look at the actual performance of different foundations in different weather environments
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79. The records obtained to date have shown over 15 varieties of tank foundations
Repairs performed on the tank are also of interest to the research team in conjunction with the type of foundation used, this information can be crucial in understanding the corrosion / settlement of the tank
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80. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
Tank owners would benefit from a Cooperative Research Program and an unbiased review based on inspection records and case studies and analysis
The use of case studies to evaluate the performance of infrastructure system has been successfully used before by the Federal Highway Association to investigate the performance of asphalt and concrete pavements
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81. Tomorrow is your reward for working SAFE today
The Oklahoma State University research team has already been in contact with several international owners that have agreed to and have supplied construction and inspection records for over 1000 tanks in North America
Oklahoma State University research team will require additional feedback from tank owners / operators / Consultants / inspectors from around the world to increase the size of the data base.
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82. Road Ahead Currently no standard exists for Foundations What is needed
-- A Cooperative Research Program to Improve the reliability of Tank Foundations through development of a Joint Standard
-- We need your help in a supporting a joint Academia, Industry & Government Cooperative Research Program
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83. The assembled database will be used to;
To investigate the performance of design and construction of tank foundations
Effectiveness of cathodic protection
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84. Performance of double bottom tank repairs
Tank foundation repair recommendation and strategies.
Today we are still installing tank foundations that failed in the past and continue to fail
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85. “Watson Air Lift®” Technology
Thank you
For more information visit us at
“Watson Air Lift®” Technology