Crude oil tanks are usually made of steel and undoubtedly strong enough to hold, protect and transport oil. However, remember that steel is a material that can corrode with time thanks to environmental factors like moisture and salt in the air.\u00a0This corrosion can lead to the consequent oil leakage and reduced tank and beam structural integrity. Besides, deterioration also leads to fault lines rendering the tank vulnerable to failure and fatigue. The solution to the problem lies in providing the tanks with protective coatings in the manufacturing stage. While the layer does prevent corrosion, it is not permanent.<\/p>\n
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You will need to reapply tank and beam coatings<\/a> every 5 to 10 years for continual protection.<\/p>\n There are four ways in which wear and tear lead to corrosion of crude oil tanks<\/a> with time. They include:<\/p>\n Multiple factors can trigger corrosion in steel tanks like:<\/p>\n The best way to prevent tank erosion is to prepare the tank surface and apply a protective coating adequately. It\u2019s also essential to apply the layer when the tank is free of debris, salts, and humidity and at the ideal temperature.<\/p>\n The perfect environment provides quicker drying times to complete the project quickly.<\/p>\n With so many benefits to layers and the importance of proper preparation, it\u2019s better to leave tank and beam coatings in the hands of professionals. Experts like Extreme Epoxy Coatings<\/a> apply tank and beam coatings every day to give your tanks a better, quicker, and more professional layer.<\/p>\n<\/div>Four types of oil tank corrosion<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n11 Factors promoting crude oil tank corrosion<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>Without any protective layer, the tank remains exposed to destructive environmental elements.<\/li>\n
\nAge, wear and tear, and improper usage can break down the coating and, in turn, trigger localized corrosion. There’s also the chance of accelerated pitting occurring once the breakdown starts an electrolytic action.
\nApplying tank and beam coatings is not always enough; you must maintain and re-apply them every 5-10 years.<\/li>\n
\nThe microorganisms<\/a> that come in contact with crude oil tanks release corrosive acidic compounds that corrode tanks.<\/li>\n
\nThe oil tank remains in constant exposure to water and humidity in the form of wash water, condensation, leaks, stop tanks, and poor drainage. This exposure promotes bacterial growth, which in turn encourages microbial-influenced corrosion.<\/li>\n
\nThere is always the chance of accumulated sludge and scale at the bottom of the tank hiding pitting and harmful microorganisms.<\/li>\n
\nThe heat of oil tanks can increase the possibility of tank corrosion by promoting bacterial growth and consequent microbial erosion.<\/li>\n
\nSometimes the ineffective grounding of electrical equipment can corrode oil tanks. Any current flowing through the steel tank triggers electrolytic actions and pitting corrosion.<\/li>\n
\nCrude oil with a high sulfur<\/a> content mixes with seawater to form acidic compounds, a consequent active corrosion cell, and corrosion or pitting.<\/li>\n
\nHigh tensile steel tanks manufactured using a thermal-mechanical control process tend to rust quicker than other steel types.<\/li>\n
\nProlonged containment of oil leads to the tanks developing a waxy protective layer. However, fluctuating seawater temperatures tend to wash the protective layer away to expose the tank surface to moisture, salts, and oxygen.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>It is always better for tanks to have inert gases with a less than 8%, or even better still, less than 1% oxygen content level. Tanks with poor quality inert gases combine with flue gas soot and sulfurous compounds to trigger corrosion when moisture condenses in the tanks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nImportance of proper tank and beam coatings<\/h3>\n
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