CoatingsPro Magazine

MAR 2013

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

Issue link: http://coatingspromag.epubxp.com/i/114701

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 48 of 84

Old Oil Tank keeps COaTings Crew riveTed! By Jack inniS, contriButing editor PhotoS courteSy of h&W; induStrial SerViceS unoco Logistics keeps crude oil flowing throughout the Southwest and Midwest regions of the United States by operating 4,900 miles (7,886 km) of trunk pipelines, 500 miles (805 km) of gathering pipelines, and 42 refinedproduct terminals. All those pipes and tanks make Sunoco a very important client for coatings companies. So when Sunoco requested pre-bid input on a possible oil tank rehab project at their Corsicana, Texas, tank farm, H&W; Industrial Services senior field superintendent Greg Boston turned his attention to finding out more. He was fascinated to learn that the 1960s-era crude oil tank had sat empty for years. But what Boston found riveting was the tank's construction. In a day and age in which most tanks are welded, riveted tanks are relative rarities. But the Kilgore, Texas-based H&W; had done plenty of work for Sunoco in the past and was eager to help out. Boston fixed his attention on three details within Sunoco's request. He thought it a bit interesting that Sunoco wasn't soliciting bids for the project. What they wanted instead was a pre-bid walkthrough to gather information to decide if the tank was worth saving. Fair enough. He also was concerned that the tank had been sitting empty for several years. Had it settled too much to be brought back? Finally, Sunoco needed the tank back in service in a hurry: A six-week turnaround. But Boston didn't really grasp the scope of the project until the pre-bid walkthrough. "A normal walkthrough takes about two hours," said Boston. "This one took four and a half. We took a great deal of notes and brought up to the project engineer anything we could see that might be a problem. It quickly became obvious that the internal floor of the tank had to be totally replaced." The process would involve cutting the tank's base around the circumference and jacking it up about four feet (1.22 m). The old steel floor would be cut away, the concrete foundation made level, and a new steel floor and wall ring installed. After the tank was lowered and welded to the new base, H&W; would install SherwinWilliams DuraPlate UHS epoxy coating system on the floor and three feet (0.91 m) up the sides. A non-Sherwin-Williams caulking would be applied to rivet seams. The H&W; crew would then coat the floating roof dome with Sherwin-Williams Macropoxy 646. Finally, the crew would coat the exterior shell with Macropoxy 646 followed by a topcoat of Sherwin-Williams Epalon 7. As usual in crude oil storage tanks, the interior shell would be left bare. Not much corrosion occurs on steel that's slathered in oil. Sunoco green-lighted the project. Boston felt secure his crew could do their part. But the big question was whether or not the completed tank would leak! S 48 coatingsPro g March 2013 focuSing forceS Access is never guaranteed on coatings projects, but in this case, H&W; was able to focus forces right at the tank. H&W; transports machinery and materials in a 52-foot (15.89 m), 18-wheeler-type trailer. But they pay an outside firm to haul it to and from job sites, which is a bit unusual. "We sold our truck last year and now pay a company to haul it from job to job," said Boston. "We did a cost analysis including

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of CoatingsPro Magazine - MAR 2013