Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Tanks used for storing crude oil in tank farms are usually cylindrical and made up of concrete foundation As a result of age, loading and off loading of crude oil from the tanks, geological condition of the site and other environmental factors, the foundation upon which these tanks are constructed are subjected to movement particularly settlement at the tank foundation. The safety of the tanks becomes of paramount importance as any catastrophic failure will adversely affect the environment. At the Forcados Tank Farm, there are ten tanks currently used for crude oil storage. In this study, only tank 209 was used as case study scenario for the Subsidence monitoring of the tanks foundation under loading. In order to monitor these tanks, studs were attached to the base of the tank at equal intervals. Measurement for subsidence was carried out on the studs position from primary Geodetic controls located within the tank farm in 2000, 2003 and 2004 respectively. The result of the study revealed that maximum subsidence of 20.39mm occurred at stud 12 and minimum of 5.49mm occurred in stud 1 for tank 209. A conclusion that the tank foundation is not stable.

Keywords: tank farm, bundwall, subsidence geodetic monitoring

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