The document provides recommendations for controlling static electricity accumulation at oil and gas production sites to prevent fires and explosions. It outlines best practices for installing grounding and bonding systems on tank batteries, including using ground rods or plates to dissipate static charges into the earth. For fiberglass and lined steel tanks, it recommends installing inductive neutralizers inside the tanks to increase the rate of static charge relaxation. The document aims to help users identify areas at risk of static issues and apply suitable control methods.

1. Technical
Note_002
Lightning
&
Static
Protection
for
Oilfield
Assets
015-­‐0108
Rev
1
Jan
2015
www.petroguardian.com
Disclaimer:
This
engineering
recommendation
are
based
on
industry
standards
and
practices.
This
guideline,
when
applied,
does
not
guarantee
a
production
location
will
not
be
susceptible
to
lightning
strikes
or
static
discharge
events.
By
using
these
guidelines
and
industry
practices,
the
likelihood
of
lightning
or
static
related
damage
will
be
decreased
but
not
eliminated.
Technical
Editors:
Chief
Technical
Officer:
Terry
Charrier
Jr
Director
of
Engineering
Services:
Harshul
Gupta
©
2015
Petro
Guardian
LLC
Page1
BEST
PRACTICES
FOR
STATIC
PROTECTION
ON
TANK
BATTERY
INTRODUCTION
At
oil
&
gas
production
and
SWD
sites,
fire
incidents
due
to
ignition
that
may
have
the
result
of
electrostatic
discharge
are
often
reported.
This
document
provides
a
set
of
recommendations
to
control
possible
static
electricity
accumulation
for
purposes
of
preventing
fires
and
explosions.
The
purpose
of
this
document
is
to
assist
the
user
in
identifying
the
key
areas
at
risk
of
static
generation,
accumulation,
and
discharge
in
applying
suitable
products
and
practices.
As
per
NFPA
77
–
7.1.2
Ignition
hazards
from
static
electricity
can
be
controlled
by
neutralizing
the
charges,
the
primary
methods
of
which
are
grounding
isolated
conductors
and
air
ionization.
This
technical
note
outlines
best
practices
that
can
be
used
as
a
guideline
during
tank
battery
installation
and
operation
start-­‐up.
KEY
AREAS
OF
STATIC
ACCUMULATION
1. Fiberglass
&
Lined
Steel
Tanks
2. Thief
Hatch
3. Truck
Load
Out
SCOPE
This
technical
note
outlines
considerations
for
installation
of
grounding
and
bonding
systems
for
the
purposes
of:
1. Controlling
static
electricity
on
production
equipment
or
structures
where
a
spark
could
cause
an
ignition
and
result
in
a
fire.
2. Preventing
damage
to
sensitive
electronic
components.
CONTROLLING
STATIC
ELECTRICITY
Grounding:
Static
protection
systems
require
an
earth
electrode
(ground)
system
to
dissipate
the
electro-­‐static
energy
into
the
earth.
The
earth
electrode
systems
must
consist
of
appropriately
sized
ground
electrodes.
A
low
resistance
earth
ground
is
most
effective
to
dissipate
energy.
For
moderately
conductive
soil,
a
low
resistance
earth
ground
can
be
established
by
installing
a
10Ft
vertical
ground
rod,
20Ft
horizontal
UL96
rated
Class
1
Lightning
Conductor
or
18”x18”
ground
plate.
For
areas,
with
high
corrosiveness
or
high
resistivity,
any
one
of
the
above
grounding
electrodes
can
be
installed.
They
shall
be
encapsulated
within
a
conductive
cement
type
soil
enhancement
material.
The
resistivity
of
the
soil
enhancement
material
should
be
such
that
the
ground
electrode
installed
shall
have
a
stable
resistance
of
25
Ohms
or
less
in
all
seasons
and
the
components
shall
be
such
that
corrosion
of
ground
electrode
is
minimized.
For
the
purpose
of
safety
and
identification,
all
connections
to
ground
must
be
secured
with
a
Poly-­‐plastic
Inspection
Well.
The
well
lid
must
be
lockable
and
the
body
material
should
be
able
to
withstand
3000Lbs
of
weight.
The
test
wells
shall
be
min.
10”
in
diameter
and
marked
for
identification
of
grounding
points.
In
no
case
shall
a
ground
rod
protrude
above
ground
and
create
a
tripping
hazard.
Fiberglass
Tanks
and
lined
steel
tanks:
The
movement
of
volatile
fluids
in
and
out
of
an
insulated
tank
generates
static
charge
that
accumulates
on
the
fluid
surface
and
on
the
walls
of
the
insulated
tank.
Inductive
neutralizers
(per
IEEE
std.
142
–
3.2.6.4)
can
be
effective
to
increase
the
rate
of
charge
relaxation
when
installed
within
the
tank.
The
fluids
within
the
tanks
can
be
highly
corrosive.
It
is
recommended
that
inductive
neutralizers
selected
be
made
of
non-­‐
corrosive
materials.
They
need
to
be
in
contact
with
the
fluid
along
the
full
length
of
the
storage
tank.
The
neutralizers
should
be
conductive
but
not
be
a
traditional
metal
conductor
so
they
have
zero
capacity
(no
capacitance)
to
storage
static
charge.
Accumulated
charges
are
always
at
risk
to
discharge
instantly
creating
a
source
of
ignition.
The
Inductive
Neutralizer
shall
be

2. Technical
Note_002
Lightning
&
Static
Protection
for
Oilfield
Assets
015-­‐0108
Rev
1
Jan
2015
www.petroguardian.com
Disclaimer:
This
engineering
recommendation
are
based
on
industry
standards
and
practices.
This
guideline,
when
applied,
does
not
guarantee
a
production
location
will
not
be
susceptible
to
lightning
strikes
or
static
discharge
events.
By
using
these
guidelines
and
industry
practices,
the
likelihood
of
lightning
or
static
related
damage
will
be
decreased
but
not
eliminated.
Technical
Editors:
Chief
Technical
Officer:
Terry
Charrier
Jr
Director
of
Engineering
Services:
Harshul
Gupta
©
2015
Petro
Guardian
LLC
Page2
attached
to
the
tank
through
a
bolt
on
the
Thief
hatch.
A
bonding
Lug
shall
be
installed
above
the
flange
of
thief
hatch
to
bond
the
thief
hatch
and
static
inductive
neutralizer
to
the
facility
lightning
protection
grounding
system.
Thief
Hatch:
The
Thief
hatch
lid
and
flange
are
connected
through
a
pin
that
allows
the
lid
to
rise
and
fall
back
into
the
seal
after
it
releases
the
pressure
in
the
tank.
When
the
pressure
is
released
volatile
gases
escape.
The
sudden
separation
of
two
conductive
surfaces
(lid
and
the
flange)
generates
a
risk
of
static
discharge.
With
an
adequate
oxygen
to
escaping
volatile
gases
ratio,
the
static
discharge
can
ignite
the
gas.
Similar
risk
exists
when
an
operator
may
open
the
thief
hatch
without
ensuring
that
the
tank
is
not
under
pressure
and
the
operator
and
thief
hatch
assembly
are
at
ground
potential.
A
stainless
steel
flexible
bonding
strap
is
recommended
to
be
installed
between
the
thief
hatch
lid
and
flange.
The
bond
keeps
the
lid
and
flange
at
the
same
potential
even
when
the
two
are
physically
separated.
The
bonding
strap
needs
to
be
of
adequate
width
(around
1”)
and
of
a
braided
construction.
The
braided
construction
provides
flexibility
and
larger
surface
area.
The
bonding
strap
is
attached
to
a
bonding
lug
on
the
thief
hatch
flange.
The
lug
is
bonded
to
the
facility
lightning
protection
grounding
system.
Truck
Load-­‐out:
Each
Truck
Load
out
should
have
a
dedicated
ground
electrode
installed.
Bond
the
ground
electrode
to
Fill
Pipe
using
#6
Green
Insulated
multi-­‐strand
grounding
cable.
Attach
the
Truck
Load
Out
grounding
cable
assembly
to
the
Fill
Pipe
Clamp.
The
Truck
Load
Out
Ground
electrode
shall
be
bonded
to
the
C-­‐veil
grounding
terminals
using
#6
Green
Insulated
multi-­‐
strand
grounding
cable
and
further
to
one
of
the
lightning
protection
ground
electrodes
using
#6
Green
Insulated
multi-­‐strand
grounding
cable
routed
along
the
fill
pipe
using
the
shortest
route.
The
Truck
Load
out
cable
shall
be
attached
on
the
trucks
at
the
designated
grounding
lug
provided.
ABOUT
PETROGUARDIAN
Petro
Guardian
engineers
systems
to
protect
your
oil
and
gas
field
assets
from
damage
caused
by
lightning
strikes
and
static
discharge.
Petro
Guardian’s
experienced
engineering
team
works
alongside
your
operations
and
engineering
team
to
develop
a
standardized
plan
that
prevents
ignition
from
lightning
strikes
and
static
discharge.
Contact
team@petroguardian.com
to
schedule
an
appointment.
REFERENCE
SANDARDS
API
RP
2003:
Protection
against
ignition
arising
out
of
lightning,
static
and
stray
current
NFPA
780:
Standard
for
the
protection
of
Lightning
Protection
Systems
NFPA
77:
Recommended
practices
for
static
electricity
IEEE
std.142:
Powering
and
grounding
of
commercial
and
industrial
equipment
IEEE
std.
1100:
Recommended
Practice
for
Powering
and
Grounding
Sensitive
Electronic
Equipment,
IEC
61643:
Surge
protective
devices
connected
to
low
voltage
power
IEC
62305
Protection
against
lightning