2.6 Process Description and Requirements: Figure 1.8 Storage Tank Capacities and Levels
2.6 Process Description and Requirements: Figure 1.8 Storage Tank Capacities and Levels
Capacity determination is the one of the first steps in designing the tank. Only after the
capacity is known, the tank can be sized up.
The definition of the maximum capacity can be explained easily in Figure 1.8.
Top of shell
Overfill height
Design liquid
level
Overfill protection level
Minimum fill
level
Minimum operating volume
remaining in the tank
Top of bottom plate at
The maximum or total capacity is the sum of the inactive capacity (minimum operating
volume remaining volume in tank), actual or net working capacity and the overfill
protecting capacity.
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The net working capacity is the volume of available product under normal operating
conditions, which is between the low liquid level (LLL) and the high liquid level (HLL).
The storage tank capacity is sized in accordance with 85, 000 barrel tanker and 3 days of
unavailability of the off loading system at production rate 51 000 barrels per day.
This storage tank is designed to store the stabilised condensate which runs down from the
condensate stabiliser column. The stabilised condensate processed in the stabilsed system
is pumped to Stabilsed Condesate Tank prior to export via underwater pipeline to the
Single Buoying Mooring for ship loading.
Due to the waxy nature of the condensate, the liquid is heated above the wax dissolution
temperature (WDT) of 39°C to prevent wax precipitation and formation in the pipeline.
The condensate in the tank is circulated in an external heating circuit to maintain the
operating temperature at 44°C.
The stabilised condensate storage tanks are also equipped with motorized side entry tank
stirrers to blend the storage fluid to ensure uniform temperature distribution in the tanks.
It helps to prevent localized cooling that will result in wax formation in the storage tank.
The schematic sketch of the stabilized condensate tank is shown in Figure 1.9 with the
process design data and nozzle data in Tables 1.1 and 1.2 respectively.
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N8 M2 N6 N7 N12
N1
N15
D2
D3
N5
M1
N13 M3 N4
N2
D1
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