"To Avoid Major Disaster In Tank Farm"

As we are aware a Tank Farm operation and its performance is based on, as to how are we equipped to avoid any disaster in a Tank Farm. Since, it has been seen in the past that any disaster in Tank Farm creates a havoc at the place where such a tank farm exists and others effected including neighbourhood.

We are also clear that one cannot avoid to have Tank farms for receipt, storage & dispatch of crude oil, semi-finished or finished products, including in refineries & petrochemical complexes. So we (myself & one of my colleague & friend Mr Raichur) designed this program for those who are already engaged or working in this field and wish to gain information towards avoidance of any type of disaster in these tank farms.

So it had clear planned take-away for participants like;

(a) Deeper understanding and improved ability to critically analyze the methods employed in this oil industry;

(b) Become familiar with new fire protection technology and its impact in storage tanks;

(c) Appreciate how correct product blending can minimize quality giveaway, add value and improve Tank Farm Operations and Performance;

(c) Enhance users understanding of correct sampling; and

(d) Technical skills advancement and knowledge to comprehend Emergency plan.

We also considered the target audience could be... Anyone employed in oil and or product storage facility, oil storage depots handling storage, receipt & dispatch of products. In addition, it is intended, but not limited to professionals involved in handling, loading, or discharging of oil and gas cargoes. Persons engaged in related activities like Engineering, Project design, Operation & maintenance of Tank farms will be immensely benefited. Those who are engaged in fire fighting system operation & maintenance will also be get more insight on the subject matter.

While designing the program all these aspects were kept in mind also a shade of skepticism bugged us, whether this program being done first time ever, how will it fair. We also had doubts about the way the title of program will be taken by the operating companies and if sufficient nominations will come forward.

We had series of pre-event meetings with sales team of International Business Conferences, to make them fully conversant about the topic & outcome for the Persons who will attend this program. They contacted various companies and posted us a few pre-event questionnaire, which helped us to modulate a few of our deliberation.

This two days seminar was dedicated about  avoidance of any major disasters in a Tank Farm in the Oil & Gas sector, during its operation and maintenance. It also provided an overview of the Petroleum Rules, OISD standards, American Petroleum Institute API-650, API 620 and API 2610 specifications as well as the API 653 the inspection standard.

Emphasis was given both to “safety” as well as “safe operability” of such large storage tank farms and the seminar included real life examples of fire and emergency reports, how these were handled in past.

Indeed we were happy to learn that almost 20 plus nominations are received within a short spell of time after the brochure was published. Number got improved with every passing week. Ultimately on final day we had 48 participants, who attended this seminar. Also it gives us a sense of great satisfaction that these participants were from different disciplines of Oil & Gas sector.

During the deliberations, there was a thorough exchange of experience sharing amongst participants as well as with faculties. The flow of sessions was quite logical & led to a conclusive last session on dealing with actual major disaster. A set of films of actual Tank farm disasters & few case studies gave a clear direction towards the essential "Don'ts" to avoid major disaster in any Tank Farm operation.

Upon completion of this two days seminar, participants in their own word but clearly echoed that they gained knowledge on some very important & finer points about tank farms designing, methods of tank gauging, and safe operations, dealing with oil spill and avoidance of fire emergencies etc. Their positive comments have really humbled us, whereas we simply shared our experiences & learning thereof.