Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1415432
Spring 2019 39 3 M ore and more frequently, engineers are called out to instances where steel tanks have become victims of corrosion and rusting, which is generally due to chemical or electrochemical reactions between a tank and the environment. The oil industry is certainly no exception, with corrosion seen as a major cause of expensive equipment failures and reduced operational functionality. For example, in 2018 the UK experienced an extremely cold winter which was followed by an incredibly dry summer. This led to a 23% rise in callouts to instances of corrosion and reports of fuel contamination. More often than not, steel tanks are used to store bulk amounts of fuel due to their preferable characteristics when compared to plastic tanks. They are a sturdier option for fuel storage so are able to withstand more impact when onsite and they are generally non-porous, meaning they will not absorb any of their contents. Hot stuff Unfortunately, despite their comparable strengths, steel tank properties also mean that they are more prone to corrosion from weather conditions, such as UV light, heat and condensation. Water in fuel tanks is particularly common during spring and summer due to heat gain and evaporation. When the temperature increases, condensation forms internally and causes the tank to breathe. This exacerbates contamination and causes water and bacterial microbial contamination to build up. Chris Beatty, Crown Oil Environmental, UK, explains how a multitude of measures can be taken to protect against troublesome tank corrosion.