Shop/ Pre-Fabricated Tanks
Shop/ Pre-Fabricated Tanks
(OP)
Dear All,
We have designed a brown field storage tank terminal (Mainly Chemicals, Partially hydrocarbons) for one of our clients located in the UAE. The tank diameters are 9M and 11M. One of the EPC Contractor came out with a suggestion of prefabricating these tanks and erect/install at the location. As per API-650 Appendix - J, the same is however permitted only for the tanks having diameter 6M and below.
With the recent fire in the Jabel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, client has asked us to review the EPC Contractors request, as prefabricated tank will reduce lot of site welding and in effect will increase safety. We are in a situation where the Contractor is confident of doing the work in shop and erecting at site, shop fabricated tanks will have better quality and adds to safety at site but API 650 does not allow the same.
Can the forum give the direction to this subject?
Thanks in advance,
Best Regards,
A.Raghuraman
araghuraman123@yahoo.co.in
We have designed a brown field storage tank terminal (Mainly Chemicals, Partially hydrocarbons) for one of our clients located in the UAE. The tank diameters are 9M and 11M. One of the EPC Contractor came out with a suggestion of prefabricating these tanks and erect/install at the location. As per API-650 Appendix - J, the same is however permitted only for the tanks having diameter 6M and below.
With the recent fire in the Jabel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, client has asked us to review the EPC Contractors request, as prefabricated tank will reduce lot of site welding and in effect will increase safety. We are in a situation where the Contractor is confident of doing the work in shop and erecting at site, shop fabricated tanks will have better quality and adds to safety at site but API 650 does not allow the same.
Can the forum give the direction to this subject?
Thanks in advance,
Best Regards,
A.Raghuraman
araghuraman123@yahoo.co.in





RE: Shop/ Pre-Fabricated Tanks
RE: Shop/ Pre-Fabricated Tanks
650 is clearly intended to relate to site built tanks above 6m, bigger than that being transported and erected as a single thing needs more support and rigidity to withstand transport and lifting into place than a site built tank and hence the design would be different. Building on site from larger sections than normal however is a different thing. If you can provide a bit more info that would be useful.
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Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Shop/ Pre-Fabricated Tanks
As I recall there were no problems experienced with such construction, transport, and installation, but does require careful planning. Having the shop and site close to nearby ports makes the job a bit easier.