Used widely across many industries, storage tanks are durable and long-lasting. However, many run the risk of damage if proper care is not practised. An imploded tank can cause your business valuable time and finances, so read on to discover one of the common causes of this equipment failure and what to look out for.
On 19 June 2019, a storage tank (R1) in a local facility imploded followed by a loud noise during an unloading operation to a road tanker. All operations were stopped immediately after the incident.
Imploded north-east section of R1
Slight bend on staircase structure
AGI was requested to conduct an onsite investigation to identify the cause of the storage tank implosion. The investigation included interviews conducted with relevant parties who were present during the incident as well as photos and sketches of observations seen onsite followed by a detailed analysis.
Below are the findings and results of the investigation and examination of the origin and cause of the storage tank implosion.
Upon establishing the chronology of incidents leading up to the storage tank implosion, it was identified that to fulfil the requirements to cater methanol storage, in January, the goose neck of R1 was to be replaced with a blank flange, while a breather valve was required to be connected on another spare flange. However, as a blank flange was unavailable, the goose neck was blanked by inserting a metal sheet between it and the connecting flange. A breather valve was then fixed on the connecting spare flange. Methanol was unloaded somewhere in the mid of March, following that the R1 was loaded with palm stearin.
In May, another storage tank required the breather valve, hence the breather valve from R1 with palm stearin in it was transferred to the other tank.. The following month during the unloading of the tank R1, the implosion occurred prompting a cease in operation.
Based on the damage assessment carried out by the team, several observations such as minor oxidation on the exterior valves, flanges and bolts, heavily corroded condensate pipeline, modified branch pipelines were noted.
Oxidation
Oxidation