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HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING
A TECHNOLOGICAL
TANK STRATEGY
O
ften overlooked, tanks are vital to the global economy. This article will explore the
MUC Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy project for the SOCAR AURORA Fujairah
Terminal FZE in Fujairah, UAE, to store white and black petroleum products, beginning
with an examination of the state of the oil industry today, and how it affects the
storage facilities required around the globe.
Energy is the life blood of any modern society. That said, much of what is needed is often not
located at the majority of the world’s major centres of conspicuous consumption. Just as there are
not petrol stations located in every driveway, the bulk storage and eventual distribution of liquid
hydrocarbons and their many byproducts are necessary for the efficient and gradual distribution of
these commodities.
In past years, storage tank capacity has gently climbed to meet both increased demand at new
industrial and process centres, and also to augment capacities in already established industrial
locations. In addition, new storage tanks are being built to replace ageing
infrastructure and facilities. But all of that occurred before the current glut of oil,
and the resultant pressure on current storage facilities.
Crude oil stocks
In both June 2015, and in December of the same year, stocks of crude oil in the US peaked at
more than 490 million bbls, both 80 year highs for stocks of crude oil, and a 34% increase over
