Fuel tank specialist Ledbury Welding and Engineering (LWE) is pointing out to operators that may be considering replacing their fuel tanks that storage above ground is significantly more efficient than that underground.
“There are very strict regulations covering fuel storage and the consequences and penalties for any neglect can be huge,” says the company.
“Best engineering practice and design of fuel storage tanks has continued to develop to a point where above-ground storage tanks offer 100% integrity.
“That has been achieved mainly by the introduction of the self-bunded tank, advanced leak detection and online contents monitoring.”
It adds that above-ground tanks are easier to inspect and maintain on a day-to-day basis; the tank also remains an asset and it can be relocated easily if operational requirements should change.
Underground tanks, by contrast, are fixed. Older tanks below ground can be a liability, says LWE. Besides the costs of decommissioning, there are also environmental considerations.
“We are now in an age where the community is more aware of the risks of pollution and flooding,” the company adds. It says that above-ground storage gives the most flexible fuelling arrangements.
