Building on a boom
It was in Poland that Ignacy Lukasiewicz invented the first method of distilling kerosene from rock oil. He went on to develop his techniques on a commercial level, and in 1856 was responsible for the first industrial crude oil distillery, which included storage tanks for both crude oil and derivative products.
Discoveries of oil became more common from the midnineteenth century and with it a direct demand for storage spurred on the tank construction industry.
Tank storage through the ages
Those in the petrochemical industry found it difficult to access the early storage tanks due to poor infrastructure.
Locations were often fixed near specific supply or delivery companies. After more investment from independent traders, making the product more mobile and expanding the reach of the industry, the locations of storage tanks became more strategic, and closer to transport routes.
As technology developed, automation systems were implemented, cutting labour costs and improving accuracy. Automated loading and unloading facilities, vapour recovery and safety systems became standard. Flexibility of tank storage was an attractive benefit, with numerous companies building storage tanks at their construction shops or on the field, satisfying customer requirements.
The building of steel tanks to store petroleum, or petrochemical products has been a growing industry for over 150 years. In late 2005, Ivens, a Belgium-based tank construction company, had constructed 40 storage tanks. This has quadrupled this year, and Ivens is now building more than 160 storage tanks, and negotiating a number of other projects.
Tanks are generally constructed to meet a storage requirement. Some clients speculate on the potential storage market and construct new tanks so that the storage space can be sold to meet client demand. Alternatively, tanks are constructed to replace existing tanks that have come to the end of their working life. ‘Most storage facilities would expect their tanks to last a significant length of time. However, how long it takes is all down to the type of product stored in the tank and the maintenance regime adopted at the facility,’ comments UK-based Land and Marine business development manager Dave Wilson.
