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Increased plant safety puts focus on tank gauging

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The demand for safety technology in bulk liquid storage plants is increasing world wide. This market trend can clearly be seen in tank gauging projects where Safety Integrity Level (SIL) requirements are now being incorporated.

Discussions in recent years on safety and environmental protection in tank farms for refineries and terminals have very much focused on the Buncefield incident. On December 11th 2005, tank 912 at the Buncefield oil storage and transfer depot was overfilled [1]. The escaping fuel generated vapor clouds that soon after exploded and started a large fire, injuring over 40 people. The investigation showed, among other things, that although the tank was being filled with gasoline, the mechanical servo level gauge indicated a static level. A mechanical high level switch was also installed, but failed to generate any alarm.

Shortly after the incident, the Buncefield Standards Task Group (BSTG) was formed. The aim of BSTG was to translate the lessons from Buncefield into effective and practical guidance for the industry. In parallel with this work, the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) also performed an investigation into what happened at Buncefield. Information on this work is being published on an ongoing basis at the Buncefield Investigation website.

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