Storage tank grounding 2

[LuizSouza]

Hi, Fellows

Could you tell me if thre is a standard concerning oil and gas storage tank grounding.

Some people here, in Brazil,says it doesn't exist, 'cause the tank by itself is already a lightning arrester.

I don't believe it

thaks in Advance

Luiz Souza
Brazil

 

[metengr]

Here is some interesting information regarding electrical arcing of petro storage tank floating roofs from static charge build-up during filling or from near-by storm cells and corrective measures;

http://www.manufacturing.net/ple/article/CA309778

 

[JoeTank]

Both documents below address this issue. Yes, some tanks are considered to be inherently ground by virtue of contact with the ground and their size. Closed top tanks are also proteced by the Faraday effect.

• NFPA 780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2000 Edition.

• API Recommended Practice 2003, Protection Against Stray Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning and Stray Currents, Sixth Edition, September 1998.

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants

http://www.tankindustry.com