ivymike
Mechanical
- Nov 9, 2000
- 5,653
Hello,
I've recently come across a setup which makes me worry a bit. A contractor is blending crude with condensate to achieve a desired API gravity. They have been using a cylindrical trailer-mounted mud tank and a small diesel pump for this purpose. Short version is they hook up a truck of condensate, pump it in, hook up a truck of crude, pump it in, run the mixer, check the gravity, pump it out into several trucks. Often some of the mixed product is left in the tank overnight. To me this seems like a fire risk - I expect the tank will be full to the brim with flammable gas when they start pumping fluids into it in the morning, and that the displaced gas will potentially find oxygen and a source of ignition in the surroundings. Can anyone here provide comments w/r/t (1) how common this sort of process is, (2) whether I'm right to be concerned, and (3) what precautions are recommended to prevent ignition at such a site?
I have a copy of API RP 500, it seems like "Combustible Liquid Storage Tank in a Nonenclosed Adequately Ventilated Area" might be a representative scenario?
I've recently come across a setup which makes me worry a bit. A contractor is blending crude with condensate to achieve a desired API gravity. They have been using a cylindrical trailer-mounted mud tank and a small diesel pump for this purpose. Short version is they hook up a truck of condensate, pump it in, hook up a truck of crude, pump it in, run the mixer, check the gravity, pump it out into several trucks. Often some of the mixed product is left in the tank overnight. To me this seems like a fire risk - I expect the tank will be full to the brim with flammable gas when they start pumping fluids into it in the morning, and that the displaced gas will potentially find oxygen and a source of ignition in the surroundings. Can anyone here provide comments w/r/t (1) how common this sort of process is, (2) whether I'm right to be concerned, and (3) what precautions are recommended to prevent ignition at such a site?
I have a copy of API RP 500, it seems like "Combustible Liquid Storage Tank in a Nonenclosed Adequately Ventilated Area" might be a representative scenario?