Shell Corrosion Allowance For Aboveground Storage Tanks: Debra Tetteh-Wayoe, P.Eng
Shell Corrosion Allowance For Aboveground Storage Tanks: Debra Tetteh-Wayoe, P.Eng
Shell Corrosion Allowance For Aboveground Storage Tanks: Debra Tetteh-Wayoe, P.Eng
IPC2008-64501
DISCUSSION
TYPES OF SHELL CORROSION Figure 2: Uniform Corrosion on Unpainted Shell Exterior
There are different forms of corrosion to consider when
determining a corrosion rate for an above ground storage tank. Even if the exterior tank is coated, corrosion can occur if the
Figure 1 below illustrates some of the areas that will be coating is not maintained. Figure 3 shows general corrosion on
discussed with respect to tank corrosion. a painted tank.
Often an external coating is used on the shell exterior to “The purchaser, after giving consideration to the total effect of
combat atmospheric corrosion. However, a corrosion allowance the liquid stored, the vapor above the liquid, and the
can be used in lieu of coating. With respect to using a coating atmospheric environment, shall specify in the Data Sheet,
Phil Meyers states the following in his text titled Aboveground Tables 1 and 2, any corrosion allowance to be provided for all
Storage Tanks: “When the general corrosion rate is less than 10 components, including each shell courses…” 6
mils/yr, then the addition of the corrosion allowance is often
economical and effective. For higher rates, a coating is most
2.6 x150 ft ( 48 ft − 1) x 0. 94 The next adjustment factor affecting the internal corrosion
td = + CA rate is the liner age. If an API 653 out-of-service inspection will
26000 psi
be performed between 10 to 20 years of construction, the liner
will be inspected at that time. Therefore, the Lining Age
td = 0 .663 inches + CA Adjustment Factor is 1.0.
If a specific gravity of 1.0 is used in the above equation with no The adjusted internal corrosion rate is the base corrosion
corrosion allowance, td = 0.705 inches. The hydrostatic test rate multiplied by the above two adjustment factors (5 mpy x 0.5
shell thickness, tt, would be 0.657 inches. Since the design shell x 1.0 = 2.5 mpy).
thickness values, using either specific gravity, are greater than
the hydrostatic test thickness values, the design determines the The external base corrosion rate is calculated based on
minimum required shell plate thickness. The difference between climate conditions and the temperature of the product stored.
the design thickness calculated using a specific gravity of 1.0 The majority of the tanks on the Enbridge Pipelines system are
versus 0.94 is only 0.042 inches. Whether or not this amount of not heated. Consequently, the temperature of the product
An unpainted Enbridge Pipeline crude oil tank built in the Nonetheless, historical inspection reports are useful for
Edmonton, Alberta area with a liner installed as per API 652 comparison purposes. The corrosion rates calculated using the
would have a base external corrosion rate of 1.0 mpy. An API 353 methodology discussed above were comparable to the
adjustment factor would not be applied since it is an unpainted corrosion rates calculated from historical inspection reports.
tank. The internal corrosion rate would be 2.5 mpy. Based on The comparison gives a sense as to whether or not the
past inspections, the most likely type of internal corrosion is predicted corrosion rates are reasonable. For example, the
pitting. Hence, the combined corrosion rate would be the greater previously mentioned tank to be built in the Edmonton area
of the two corrosion rates. Using a 25 year service life, the would have an expected corrosion rate of 2.5 mpy according to
corrosion allowance specified for this tank would be 0.0625 the API 353 methodology. The corrosion rates for the 22 tanks
inches (2.5 mpy x 25 yrs). sampled at the Enbridge Pipelines Edmonton facility ranged
from 0 to 2.3 mpy, with an average of 1.3 mpy. The 2.5 mpy
A corrosion allowance of 0.0625 inches, as determined estimated using the API 353 method is higher than these
using the API 353 methodology, can now be compared to the historical values, yet still within reason considering the
value illustrated in the example from the Minimum Shell corrosion rate determined using historical inspection is
Thickness Calculation section of this paper. The difference, potentially underestimated.
0.042 inches, between the thicknesses calculated using specific
gravity water versus product would not be as much as the PUBLISHED CORROSION RATES
corrosion allowance deemed ‘appropriate’ according to API 353. There are a few sources for published corrosion rates.
Table 1 below is an excerpt from the Atmospheric Corrosion
Technology Laboratory section of the Kennedy Space Centre
website10. Table 1 shows the corrosion rate of carbon steel at
HISTORICAL API 653 INSPECTION REPORTS various locations: