Oil Storage in Pits

[SaCaZu]

...Greetings Friends.

I'd like to know if there's some international code that forbids the usage of pits to store oil.

Thanks in advance.

 

[IFRs]

I don't think so. I don't know about international but from a safety, fire, pollution and odor perspective I would hazard a guess that the various local, state, province or country departments would discourage open pits of oil and would have regulations you would have to comply with. If the pit were resistant to leaks and had a cover (either fixed or floating) then it would be similar to an oil/water separator.

 

[JStephen]

Out in Monahans, Texas, they have the Million Barrel Museum. I don't know the details, but understand that the Million Barrel Tank there was basically a concrete-lined pit. I don't believe the idea was a success.

Here in the US, underground tank owners have had to spend a lot of money due to leaking tanks letting petroleum into the groundwater. And aboveground tank owners have had to spend a lot of money to comply with emissions requirements from their tanks. I can't foresee pit storage ever becoming popular under those circumstances.

 

[SaCaZu]

...According to this quote:
Texas Administrative Code

Whenever hydrocarbon or geothermal resource fluids are encountered in any well drilled for oil, gas, or geothermal resources in this state, such fluid shall be confined in its original stratum until it can be produced and utilized without waste. Each such stratum shall be adequately protected from infiltrating waters. Wells may be drilled deeper after encountering a stratum bearing such fluids if such drilling shall be prosecuted with diligence and any such fluids be confined in its stratum and protected as aforesaid upon completion of the well. The commission will require each such stratum to be cased off and protected, if in its discretion it shall be reasonably necessary and proper to do so.

(2) Prohibited pits. No person may maintain or use any pit for storage of oil or oil products. Except as authorized by paragraph (4) or (7)(C) or (8) of this subsection, no person may maintain or use any pit for storage of oil field fluids, or for storage or disposal of oil and gas wastes, without obtaining a permit to maintain or use the pit. A person is not required to have a permit to use a pit if a receiver has such a permit, if the person complies with the terms of such permit while using the pit, and if the person has permission of the receiver to use the pit. The pits required by this paragraph to be permitted include, but are not limited to, the following types of pits: saltwater disposal pits; emergency saltwater storage pits; collecting pits; skimming pits; brine pits; brine mining pits; drilling fluid storage pits (other than mud circulation pits); drilling fluid disposal pits (other than reserve pits or slush pits); washout pits; and gas plant evaporation/retention pits. If a person maintains or uses a pit for storage of oil field fluids, or for storage or disposal of oil and gas wastes, and the use or maintenance of the pit is neither authorized by paragraph (4) or (7)(C) or (8) of this subsection nor permitted, then the person maintaining or using the pit shall backfill and compact the pit in the time and manner required by the director. Prior to backfilling the pit, the person maintaining or using the pit shall, in a permitted manner or in a manner authorized by paragraph (3) of this subsection, dispose of all oil and gas wastes which are in the pit.

... at least some references exist to consult a kind of retained fluid like reserve pit, mud circulation pit, fresh makeup water pit, fresh mining water pit, ompletion/workover pit, basic sediment pit, flare pit, or water condensate pit shall dewater;...

...I guess that part of this info was obtained of some international code, but I don't get it.

 

[SaCaZu]

..I'm sorry but I can not completely paste this link so that some of you can directly check it, from all way I paste it and you copy and put it on the browser of your explorer...

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub...oc=&p_ploc=1&pg=9&p_tac=&ti=16&pt=1&ch=3&rl=8

 

[JLSeagull]

Most projects identify codes and standards. National, state and local regulations apply. A US or European contractor would likely apply their own standards to a project.

The Export Import bank often requires compliance with international environmental requirements for financing. Call me jaded if you wish, but nothing really prevents a sleazy project manager operating somewhere in the third-world like Chad from disregarding codes, standards and regulations. Such actions may lead to law suits, criminal charges and embarrassment for the operating company and contractors involved. If anyone goes to jail it is more likely to be the workers than the sleazy decision maker.