Engineering Encyclopedia

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

COURSE OBJECTIVE EXERCISE

Note: The source of the technical material in this volume is the Professional
Engineering Development Program (PEDP) of Engineering Services.
Warning: The material contained in this document was developed for Saudi
Aramco and is intended for the exclusive use of Saudi Aramcos employees.
Any material contained in this document which is not already in the public
domain may not be copied, reproduced, sold, given, or disclosed to third
parties, or otherwise used in whole, or in part, without the written permission
of the Vice President, Engineering Services, Saudi Aramco.

Chapter : Mechanical
File Reference: MEX-203.09

For additional information on this subject, contact

PEDD Coordinator on 874-6556

Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

Section

Page

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 2
WORK AID 1: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A
CONTRACTOR DESIGN PACKAGE FOR A NEW ATMOSPHERIC STORAGE
TANK MEETS SAUDI ARAMCO REQUIREMENTS ....................................................... 3
WORK AID 2: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE NECESSARY REPAIR
OR ALTERATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EXISTING ATMOSPHERIC
STORAGE TANK .......................................................................................................... 13

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

INTRODUCTION
Previous modules covered the material that is necessary for
Participants to achieve the overall course objective. This module
does not present any new technical material. Instead, this
module provides Participants with the opportunity to apply the
material that was discussed during the course to solve actual
work tasks. The work tasks used in this module are provided by
the Participants and consist of either an atmospheric storage
tank Contractor Design Package or an atmospheric storage tank
Inspection and History Report. The typical content of these
items was discussed in earlier modules.
In these Exercises, typical work tasks that are provided by
Participants will be solved through the use of the knowledge that
was gained during the course. Participants have brought to
class either an atmospheric storage tank Contractor Design
Package or an Inspection and History Report. Each Participant
will individually complete either Exercise 1 or Exercise 2,
depending on the type of information that he has brought to
class.

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

WORK AID 1:

PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A

CONTRACTOR DESIGN PACKAGE FOR A NEW
ATMOSPHERIC STORAGE TANK MEETS SAUDI
ARAMCO REQUIREMENTS

This Work Aid provides an overall procedural summary of the steps that are required in
order to review a Contractor Design Package for a new atmospheric storage tank. The
Work Aid highlights the information that must be obtained and reviewed, and references
appropriate prior modules and Work Aids for additional information. Note that reviewers
must always look for information that may be missing from the packages that they
review. Reviewers also cannot assume that this Work Aid contains everything that
should be checked. Participants must also use their own experience, prior reviews that
they have made, problems that they have seen, and anything else that may be useful in
performing their evaluations.
1.

Identify the information that is contained in the Contractor Design Package that is
to be reviewed, to determine if the information is complete. The Contractor Design
Package should include at least the following items:

Tank Data Sheet and Form 2696.

Fabrication drawings for all tank components, such as the shell, roof, bottom,
wind girder, and nozzles.

Material specifications for all tank components.

Inspection requirements.

Hydrotest requirements.

Original design calculations for all tank components.

Vent and fire protection system details.

Completed Safety Instruction Sheet, Form 2693.

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

2.

3.

Gather all the industry and Saudi Aramco reference material that must be used to
evaluate the Contractor Design Package. This reference material includes the
following items:

API-650

API-2000

SAES-D-100

SAES-A-004

SAES-A-005

SAES-B-007A

SAES-B-007B

SAES-W-001

32-SAMSS-005

Identify the specified design conditions and fluid service.

Design Metal Temperature, C (F)
Maximum Operating Temperature, C (F)
Design Pressure, kPa (psig)
Stored Fluid
Flash Point, C (F)
Corrosion Allowance, mm (in.)

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

4.

Determine if the specified design conditions and loadings that are summarized in
Step 3 meet Saudi Aramco requirements. Refer to MEX 203.02, Work Aid 1, and
MEX 203.02.

5.

Determine if the specified materials meet Saudi Aramco material selection

requirements. Refer to MEX 203.02, Work Aid 1. Use the table that follows to
record the specified information and your conclusions.

Tank

Specified Material

Component

Specification

Acceptable
Yes

No

Shell
Roof
Bottom
Annular Plate
Roof Support
Roof Support Structures
Nozzle Necks
Flanges
Bolting
Reinforcement

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

6.

Determine if the specified shell material allowable stresses are acceptable. Refer
to MEX 203.02, Work Aid 1. Use the table that follows to record the specified
information and your conclusions.

Shell
Course

Specified
Materials

Specified Allowable
Stress kPa (psi)
Design

Hydrotest

Acceptable
Yes

No

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

7.

Determine if the specified shell course thicknesses are acceptable. Refer to MEX
203.03, Work Aid 1. Use the table that follows to record the specified information
and your conclusions.

Shell

Specified Thickness

Course

mm (in.)

Acceptable
Yes

No

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

8.

Is this an external floating roof tank?

Yes

No

If "Yes," proceed with this step. If "No", go to Step 9.

Is a top wind girder specified?
Yes

No

If "No," this is unacceptable.

If "Yes," confirm that the section modulus of the top wind girder is acceptable.
Refer to EX 203.03, Work Aid 2.
Is an intermediate wind girder specified?
Yes

No

If "Yes," confirm that its section modulus and location are acceptable. If "No,"
confirm that an intermediate wind girder is not required. Refer to MEX 203.03,
Work Aid 2.

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

9.

Determine if the specified details for opening design are acceptable. Refer to MEX
203.03, Work Aid 3. Use the table that follows to record the specified information
and your conclusions.

Opening
Number

Size, mm
(in.)

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Height Above
Bottom, mm (in.)

Reinforcement
Size, mm (in.)
Length

Width

Acceptable
Yes

No

Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

10. Is this an external floating roof tank?

Yes

No

If "Yes," proceed with this step. If "No," go to Step 11.

Confirm that the buoyancy and other roof design requirements have been met.
Refer to MEX 203.03, Work Aid 4. Go to Step 12.
11. Has emergency venting been specified (fixed roof tank)?
No

Yes

If "No," proceed with this step. If "Yes," go to Step 12.

Identify the following information:
Roof attachment fillet weld size, mm (in.)
Top angle size, mm (in.)
Length

Width

Thickness

Confirm that the roof-to-shell joint is frangible. Refer to MEX 203.03, Work Aid 4.
12. Determine if the specified thickness of the roof is acceptable. Refer to MEX
203.03, Work Aid 4.
Specified roof thickness, mm (in.)
Acceptable?

Yes

No

13. Determine if the specified thickness of the bottom is acceptable. Refer to MEX
203.03, Work Aid 5.
Specified bottom thickness, mm (in.)
Acceptable?

Yes

No

14. Has a butt-welded annular plate been specified?

Yes

No

If "No," is this acceptable? Refer to MEX 203.03, Work Aid 5.

If "Yes," identify the following information for the annular plate:
Thickness, mm (in.)

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

Projection outside of shell, mm (in.)

Distance to nearest lap-welded bottom plate, mm (in.)
Determine if the specified annular plate dimensions are acceptable.
15. Determine if the fabrication details for the storage tank are acceptable. Refer to
MEX 203.04, Work Aid 1. As a minimum, check the following items:

Shell circumferential weld details.

Shell longitudinal weld details.

Nozzle attachment weld details.

Bottom lap weld details.

Annular plate butt-weld details.

Shell-to-bottom attachment detail.

Roof-to-shell attachment detail.

References to appropriate weld procedure and welder qualification

requirements.

References to appropriate fabrication tolerances.

16. Determine if the specified inspection and testing plans are acceptable. Refer to
MEX 203.05, Work Aids 1 and 2. The following checklist may be used to assist in
this determination:

Extent of shell radiography specified:

Consistent with shell thicknesses?

No

Yes

Other specified inspections:

Acceptable?

Yes

No

Confirm that a full height hydrotest has been specified.

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Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

17. If this is a fixed roof tank, proceed with this step. If this is an external floating roof
tank, go to Step 18.
a. Confirm that pressure/vacuum vents have been provided and that they are
sized in accordance with API-2000 for the maximum tank filling and emptying
rates. Refer to MEX 203.06.
b. Has a frangible joint been provided (See Step 11)?
Yes

No

If "No," confirm that emergency venting has been provided in accordance with API2000. Refer to MEX 203.06.
18. If this is an external floating roof tank, confirm that bleeder vents and rim vents
have been provided. Refer to MEX 203.06.
19. Confirm that the specified fire-protection system is acceptable. Refer to MEX
203.06, Work Aid 1.
20. Determine if the Safety Instruction Sheet has been correctly completed. Refer to
MEX 203.07.

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Engineering Encyclopedia

Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

WORK AID 2:

PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE NECESSARY

REPAIR OR ALTERATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AN
EXISTING ATMOSPHERIC STORAGE TANK

This Work Aid provides an overall procedural summary of the steps that are required in
order to review the Inspection and History Report for an existing atmospheric storage
tank. The Work Aid highlights the information that must be obtained and reviewed and
references appropriate Work Aids that are contained in MEX 203.08. Note that
reviewers must always look for information that may be missing from the reports that
they review. Reviewers also cannot assume that this Work Aid contains everything that
should be checked. Participants must also use their own experience, prior reviews that
they have made, problems that they have seen, and anything else that may be useful in
performing their evaluations.
1.

Gather the information that is identified in Steps 1 through 3 and Steps 5 through
14 of Work Aid 1, at least for the portions of the storage tank that will be evaluated.
Note that, if it is desired to change the maximum fill height, internal pressure,
maximum operating temperature, or design metal temperature of the storage tank,
these new conditions must be identified. Also obtain copies of SAES-D-108 and
API-653.

2.

Identify the following additional information:

The year the tank was placed into operation

Any changes in service and when these changes occurred:

Service

3.

Year

Review the Inspection and History Report that has been provided, and identify the
following:

Specified initial and subsequent external inspection intervals.

Changes that have been made to the subsequent inspection intervals and the
reasons for the changes.

Repairs or alterations that have been made to the storage tank, including
information on when and why these modifications were made.

Defects or deterioration in the storage tank that have been noted in the
inspection report. Use the following to assist in gathering the necessary
information:
Cracks
+ Location
+ Length

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Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

+ Depth

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Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

General Corrosion in Shell

+ Location
+ Length and Width, mm (in.)
+ Remaining Thickness, mm (in.)
Pitting in Shell
+ Location
+ Maximum length in 200 mm (8 in.)
distance
+ Maximum Depth
General Corrosion in Bottom
+ Location
+ Maximum Depth, mm (in.)
Topside Pitting in Bottom
+ Location
+ Maximum Depth, mm (in.)
+ Average Depth, mm (in.)
Underside Pitting in Bottom
+ Location
+ Maximum Depth, mm (in.)
+ Average Depth, mm (in.)
4.

Based on the information that was determined in Steps 1 through 3, determine the
appropriate initial and subsequent external and internal inspection frequencies.
Refer to MEX 203.08. Note that it may be necessary, based on the information that
is contained in the Inspection and History Report, to adjust the subsequent
inspection frequencies that were originally specified.

5.

Based on the information that was determined in Steps 1 through 4, determine if

the storage tank shell is suitable for continued service in view of the corrosion
and/or other deterioration that has been reported. Refer to MEX 203.08,
Work Aid 1.

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Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation

Course Objective Exercise

6.

Based on the information that was determined in Steps 1 through 4, determine if

the storage tank bottom is suitable for continued service, in view of the corrosion
and other deterioration that has been reported. Refer to MEX 203.08, Work
Aid 2.

7.

Determine if the condition of the roof is suitable for continued operation. Refer to
MEX 203.08, Work Aid 3.

8.

Has any differential shell settlement or bottom settlement been reported?

Yes

No

If "Yes," determine if the reported settlement is acceptable for continued operation.

Refer to MEX 203.08, Work Aid 4.
9.

If Steps 5, 6, 7, or 8 determine that the storage tank is not suitable for continued
operation at the desired design conditions, determine the appropriate design and
fabrication details for any repairs or alterations that are required. Refer to MEX
203.08 and its Work Aids 1, 2, 3, or 4.

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