The document discusses the growing acceptance and usage of API storage tank standards in Brazil, driven by increased regulation and the discovery of significant crude oil reserves. It highlights the importance of skilled management and the role of various API standards in ensuring the reliability and safety of storage tanks. The author emphasizes the need for further dissemination of knowledge about these standards and the continuous improvement of inspection and maintenance practices in the industry.

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BLOG
API Storage Tank Standards: Their Acceptance and Usage in
Brazil
By Orlando Costa. September 24, 2014
Two separate forces have driven growth in the usage of
API storage tank standards in Brazil. The first force is an
increased regulatory presence in the refining, chemical,
and petrochemical industries, which creates a need to
thoroughly document any actions taken to ensure worker
health, environmental protection, and the integrity and
availability of assets. The second force is the discovery of
vast crude oil reserves in the Pre-Salt layer of the Brazilian continental shelf, which has
resulted in a rapid increase in tank farms and storage units.
API Standards
With a number of complex failure modes, storage tanks require skilled management, from
construction to operation, in order to avoid downtime, losses, and incidents. API
documents have been widely used in Brazil and are helpful tools in the training and
development of storage tank reliability teams. These documents are used to direct
inspection, maintenance, and repair activities on static equipment.
There are numerous API standards that assist in end-to-end management of a storage tank
reliability program. The following API documents are often referenced for specific, separate
purposes:
API 2610 (Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Inspection of Terminal
& Tank Facilities) in management;
API 650 (Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage) and API 620 (Design and
Construction of Large, Welded, Low-pressure Storage Tanks) in manufacturing and
assembly;
API 651 (Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks), API 652
(Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks), API 653 (Tank Inspection,

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Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction), API 2015 (Safe Entry and Cleaning of
Petroleum Storage Tanks, Planning and Managing Tank Entry From
Decommissioning through Recommissioning), and API 2016 (Guidelines and
Procedures for Entering and Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks) in inspection and
maintenance; and
API 2350 (Overfill Protection for Storage Tanks in Petroleum Facilities), API 2550
(Method for Measurement and Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks), API 2000
(Venting Atmospheric and Low Pressure Storage Tanks), and API 520 (Sizing,
Selection, and Installation of Pressure-Relieving Devices in Refineries), for changes in
the operation and service of tanks.
These standards, when used in conjunction with one another, and when utilized by a well-
trained team of experts, can result in an effective storage tank reliability strategy.
The Changing Perception of Storage Tanks
In the past, storage tanks were thought to be the likely culprits in soil and groundwater
contamination. This viewpoint has largely been changed due to the development of
proactive storage tank reliability programs and the training of highly skilled professionals.
However, the view needs to be further disseminated through technical conferences and
summits, highlighting these changes and promoting the creation of new documents such as
API 625 and API 2350 (mentioned above). Only by raising awareness of API documents
will their widespread usage become apparent; by leveraging media outlets such as technical
societies, trade publications such as Inspectioneering Journal, conferences, and of course,
the internet, this promotion is made possible.
On another note, API 570 (Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of In-Service Piping
Systems) is a quite effective standard that we commonly refer to in Brazil. Beyond the
storage tanks themselves, there are multitudes of piping circuits connecting the equipment.
These circuits are oftentimes largely restricted in the amount and types of maintenance
that can be performed due to the demand for maximized plant uptime. API 570 (through
Appendix D) provides definitive inspection and maintenance procedures that are less
palliative than short-term fixes such as clamping and hot tapping.
Conclusion

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The Pre-Salt layer of the Brazilian Continental Shelf will continue to create crude oil
production opportunities, and the demand for crude oil and refined product storage will
remain as long as these opportunities are available. Inspectors and engineers in Brazil and
abroad should continue to look to standards and best practices such as those published by
the American Petroleum Institute to achieve excellence in their pressure equipment
integrity and inspection programs.
Thank you for your feedback!
About the Author
Orlando Costa
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