6 replies to this topic

[Qalander (Chem)]

Dear Forum Colleagues,

At one of the upcoming Refinery Installation.
An (External) floating roof membrane recently fabricated has extra ordinary unevenness;any expert comments/seggestions
for removing the fault at the earliest with minimum extra work.

Need guidance on applicable codes for repairs/judging extent of issue.
tank's Diameter is around 68 meters.Soon commisioning may be needed.

Repairs/remedial action is to be initiated soonest accordingly.

Thanks in advance.
Best Regards
qalander

[kimo]

qalander

removing the fault! need a lot of work/time/effort, based on general & sound engineering practices and availability of original final desig/specs ./code based on, as well as vendor/manufacturer's docs/drwgs.etc. this issue/problem cann't be solved free of charge if intereted send me further details

kimmo

if interested i so

[astro]

Qalander, I'm not a tank engineer scouting for business but here are a couple of references that may help:

API 650 Design Considerations
Tank seal issues
Epoxy repair of floating roof tank

Given the limited details, it's hard to offer a whole lot more. I would note though that this problem appears to sit more in the realms of mechanical engineering, unless the cause of the problem is a process issue (e.g. pooling of rainwater and a blocked drain).

Final thought, if I was reviewing a repair specification I would keep in mind the following from API as the means of specifying repair requirements:
API Std 653 Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction
and then assessing the quality of repair:
API RP 579 Fitness for Service

[Qalander (Chem)]

Dear astro

Thanks for really pertinent reply, You are really a friend indeed!

1) Your feeling is correct that the matter relates to 'mechanical fabrication' a brand new tank's floating roof membrane' as indicated in my OP.

2) We right now await data to share with forum helping friends/ colleagues for issue's better awareness and remedial course identification. May be a in few days time!

3) Someone mentioned API620 for the floating roof, but I am not clear; any guidance on this!

Probably API653 is not very much applicable/related!

Whereas API579 addresses used/rehabilitated, re-strengthened process components

Kindly correct if wrong.
Thanks in advance.

Best regards
Qalander

[Qalander (Chem)]

Dear all,

Nobody there with any help on this mainly mechanical related issue, Any Hopes/Ideas etc.?

Thanks/Best regards
Qalander

[Art Montemayor]

I am adding my comments to this thread on request and generally they fall in line with kimmo’s and astro’s comments. Specifically, I have addressed the three points raised in the initial post because I believe they are inter-related within the bigger problem (which hasn’t been identified and which I believe is related to the need to identify who has the responsibility for this flaw and for the remedy in order to initiate a fix and schedule a commissioning). My interest is not in pointing the blame; rather it is an engineering necessity to identify who is legally responsible for the fix and who is qualified to confirm/approve any remedies. Identifying the flaw and its cause is only the beginning.

1. An (External) floating roof membrane recently fabricated has extra ordinary unevenness; any expert comments/seggestions for removing the fault at the earliest with minimum extra work?
We don’t have any basic data (fabrication as-built drawings and installation drawings detailing the flaw in the design and/or the installation. We don’t know the quality of the flaw/error or the quantity of other possible related flaws/errors. We also would require the calculations that produced the flaw. All this also requires a detailed scope of work description of what the tank is supposed to do and under what conditions. All these requirements indicate that this is not an easy fix and will probably cost a lot of time and effort on the part of consulting engineers prior to even attempting a commissioning. There is little, if anything we can contribute in a positive manner.

2. Need guidance on applicable codes for repairs/judging extent of issue. tank's Diameter is around 68 meters. Soon commisioning may be needed.
These code/standards recommendations are the ones mentioned by Astro. Commissioning may be needed soon, but based on what has been said about the “unevenness”, I seriously doubt if this would be allowed to proceed without a proven and accepted fix.

3. Repairs/remedial action is to be initiated soonest accordingly.
Good. But how can repairs or remedial actions be implemented if the cause and accepted remedy hasn’t been discovered/confirmed? I believe that – like the commissioning – this is like putting the cart before the horse.

4. We right now await data to share with forum helping friends/ colleagues for issue's better awareness and remedial course identification. May be a in few days time!
We are waiting for any basic data, drawings, and calculations that may perhaps describe exactly what the problem is.

I hope this assists in evaluating what the problem is.

[Qalander (Chem)]

Thanks Dear,Respected Art for requested reply.

As Regards info, will the snapshots of roof will be of any help? these may be forwarded.

Definitely blame fixing is not the intent. Rather, we have to get out of trouble and truly the legal responsibility needs to be ascertained.

As regards Drawings, Fabrication sequences, details, etc., these might take some time/be difficult to obtain & transmission might also prove to be areal issue.

However whatever is manageable will be forwarded the soonest.

Best regards
Qalander