Aramco Oil and Gas: Jyaymah NGL Spherial Tanks
Industry: Oil, Energy & Mining
Location: Saudi Arabia
Products: Super Therm
Global Partner: SPI Coatings
In the Natural Gas tank fields, the sun radiation (UV, Visual and IR) waves heat the skin of the tanks causing a critical increase in psi pressure inside the tanks that causes flaring. Most all flaring is burned off with a constant flame. This, in itself, is dangerous and is a concern for the safety engineers more so than the loss of gas. Super Therm® was applied to a full tank to compare directly to the identical tanks around it being the same size and shape.
The Super Therm® tank allowed the interior temperature to drop low enough to stop the blow-off or reduce the pressure to stop the flaring. This was very significant in employee protection but loss of gas.
Project Description
Due to the hot desert temperatures, the client was searching for method of reducing flaring/boil off of their spheroid tanks containing CH4 feedstock at Juaymah NGL fractionation facility. Since a shutdown was not possible at the time of coating application in November, the solution needed to approved by safety manager as it would be applied on a live tank which was storing active gas.
Coating Solution
Super Therm® at 10 mils DFT was applied to NG Spheroid Tank 203A in June 2013, no primer or topcoat was used. 3,500 psi power wash was used to remove dirt, oil and debris. Both rope access and telescopic lift were used during painting.
Results
Saudi Aramco Consulting Services Department reported that Super Therm® reduced flaring resulting in reduction of lost feedstock, and more importantly the reduced flaring resulting in additional safety and environmental benefits. Site engineers reported a 50% reduction in flaring. Thermal imaging camera pictures comparing tank 203A vs 203B shows a 95°F / 35°C Super Therm® to 124°F / 51°C in the winter time, considered the coldest time of the year.
Super Therm® is approved under SAES H001-APCS 5A
NOTE: These readings may vary in different locations, weather conditions or climates.
