Upstream Oil and Gas - 500 bbl vs 1000 bbl API 12F Tanks 1

[ChEMatt]

Other than the cost and the fact that API 12F doesn't have a 1000 bbl tank, what other considerations should be reviewed when considering a 1000 bbl vs 500 bbl tank for a new upstream central tank battery?


Talking with these vendors, they'll build the 1000 bbl tank "to API 12F" criteria, so I assume for the moment they've got 4" nozzles and the same size thief hatch, etc. Why is it more folks don't use the 1000 bbl tanks?

(Of course, you can't integrate one of these into an existing facility so easily as it's higher. This is a new build.)

Thanks,

-Matt


PS I didn't see an Upstream/Midstream/Downstream forum on here. Did I miss them?

 

[zdas04]

I've installed many 1,000 bbl tanks in upstream facilities. Basically, you pick a storage level and then select tanks that optimize the cost of that much storage. It isn't very complicated. 1,000 bbl tanks cost more to purchase, cost more to transport, and cost more to install. All of these costs vary from time to time. There have been times where the economics of 2,000 bbl of storage favored 4 500 bbl tanks, other times it favors 5 400 bbl tanks, other times it favors 7 300 bbl tanks, and other times it favors 2 1,000 bbl tanks. It is just economics.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[ChEMatt]

Fair enough. I wasn't sure if the additional stairs tend to tick off the operators, or if there's some height restrictions (could be a permit thing preventing structures over a certain height).

I appreciate the feedback. Seems pretty straightforward. Thanks!

-Matt

 

[mk3223]

The API-12F is for the "shop" fabricated tank, and the Standard is to provide the adequate safety and economy for the tank design, and the convenience for ordering and fabrication.
For the "field" fabricated tank, API-12D can be used for the larger size tank.

 

[ChEMatt]

I hadn't considered API-12D before. For me it's either 12F or 650. I'll give that a look, thank you for that suggestion.

 

[zdas04]

The 12D tanks are really rare in upstream. I see them every so often, but the convenience to move 12F tanks as a well's conditions change is just too valuable to opt for a huge 12D built in place.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[LittleInch]

Presumably the issue of transportable tanks like this are key to the 500bbl limit.

If your facility is going to be there for years then design for what is the most economic for your location.

Maybe a bunch of these tanks are more economic / quicker to install makes the difference.

Upstream on here tends to be in the petroleum engineers section - petroleum production engineering, midstream and downstream are in the mechanical engineers "pipelines, piping and fluid mechanics" forum, which also tends to see more "traffic" than some of the others.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[zdas04]

LittleInch,
I've seen a lot more of the mobile frac tanks remain on wells as production tanks in the last couple of years, but they are so much more expensive than an API-12F tank, that I'm not sure how the economics works out. Maybe the downturn made so many of them surplus that it makes more sense to use the ones on the ground (many of which have been sold cheep at bankruptcy sales) until activity picks up again and frac tanks once again are in demand. I sure don't see those road-friendly tanks used as production tanks for the long term.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[LittleInch]

That's fair enough - looking at the 500bbl API 12F tanks, the issue of delivery / ease of trucking seems to be important as well.

~There's any number of types of horizontal cylindrical tanks to a variety of standards or no particular standard, but around 500 bbls is the most you'll get on a standard flatbed.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[zdas04]

I've purchased both squat and tall 750 and 1,000 bbl tanks from West Texas (I live 400 miles away in NorthWest New Mexico), and had them trucked. The logistics start getting expensive at a squat 500 bbl (the tall 500 bbl is not even a wide load and doesn't require a pilot car), and can get really expensive with a squat 1,000 bbl. You have to have a really specific reason for needing a squat 1,000 to make shipping it very far reasonable economics. Usually the reason is to maximize surface area for some specific process reason, but there can be others (sometimes the tall 1,000 bbl is tall enough to mess up the view from nearby housing, and no one wants to be THAT kind of neighbor).

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist