GP 09-07-03 Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric Storage Tanks February 2005

Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric

Storage Tanks
GP 09-07-03

Scope
1) [I] This Global Practice (GP) covers the design and selection of vents for use on fixed roof
atmospheric and low-pressure storage tanks for both normal and emergency venting.
2) [I] An asterisk (*) indicates that a decision by Purchaser is required or that additional information is
furnished by Purchaser.

Refining/Chemicals, Upstream,
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Downstream Imperial Oil

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 GP 09-07-03 Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric Storage Tanks February 2005

Table of Contents

1. Additional Requirements........................................................................................3

2. Design.......................................................................................................................3

Record of Change............................................................................................................5

Attachment: Purpose Codes Definitions...........................................................................6

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 GP 09-07-03 Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric Storage Tanks February 2005

1. Additional Requirements
1) [S] API STD 2000, Venting Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks Nonrefrigerated and
Refrigerated Fifth Edition; Errata - November 15, 1999, shall be used for vent sizing, as a minimum.
2) * [E] Local environmental regulations for vent settings shall take precedence, if more restrictive than
this GP.

2. Design
1) * [S], [C] Flame arresters shall not be installed except when required by local authorities.
2) [S] For asphalt service, and other high viscosity and high pour point stocks that have a plugging
tendency, the following limitations shall apply:
a) Open vents: Screens shall not be used.
b) Pressure-vacuum vents shall not be used except when the tank is blanketed with gas injected at
the vent nozzle.
3) [S] Both Open and Pressure-vacuum vents shall be covered with a 4-mesh (4.75 mm avg. opening)
screen except as noted in Section 2, Item (2a). Local meteorological conditions causing ice build up
on the screens may justify removing the screens during the winter.
4) [S] Open vents shall be of the gooseneck or mushroom type.
5) * [S] Pressure-vacuum vents shall be used when one or more of the following conditions apply,
subject to the Owner Engineer's review:
a) The stock stored has a flash point below 100F (38C).
b) Temperature of the stored product is above or within 15F (8C) of its flash point at the highest
operating temperature.
c) The stocks stored are valuable and have a low vapor pressure, such as alcohol.
d) Tanks are gas or nitrogen blanketed.
6) * [S] Non-freezing features of pressure-vacuum vents. In areas where climatic conditions are such
that the daily mean temperature falls below 30F (−1C) or below the freezing point of the stored
material for periods exceeding 24 hours duration, pressure-vacuum vents shall be provided with non-
freezing features including:
a) Pallets with drip rings
b) Pallets with flexible diaphragms to prevent a metal-to-metal contact on seating surfaces
7) * [S], [E] Pressure-vacuum vents shall be set to open at 1.30 in. of water (0.32 kPa) pressure and 0.87
in. of water (0.22 kPa) vacuum. Lower opening pressures (minimum of 0.87 in. of water [0.22 kPa]
pressure) may be used provided the additional breathing is acceptable to the Owner's Engineer from a
process standpoint and complies with local regulatory requirements. The capacity of pressure-

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GP 09-07-03 Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric Storage Tanks February 2005

vacuum vents shall be determined at 1.50 in. of water (0.37 kPa) pressure and 1.00 in. of water (0.25
kPa) vacuum. For existing tanks, the capacity of pressure-vacuum vents may be determined at the
MAWP.

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GP 09-07-03 Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric Storage Tanks February 2005

Record of Change
Version 1.0.0 Date: 02/02
Location Action Description
Initial Publish.

Version 1.0.0 Date: 09/03

Global Practice version number and format updated to comply with new
process; however, original publish date remains, and no content was
modified.

Version 1.0.0 Date: 02/05

Reaffirmed without changes.

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GP 09-07-03 Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric Storage Tanks February 2005

Attachment: Purpose Codes Definitions

Code Description

C Assigned to paragraphs containing specifications whose primary purpose is reduced costs.

Reduced cost in this context refers to initial investment cost and does not include Life-Cycle
cost considerations. Life-Cycle cost considerations are captured under reliability,
maintainability, or operability purpose codes.
E Assigned to paragraphs containing specifications whose primary purpose is driven by
environmental considerations. Environmental considerations typically include specifications
intended to protect against emissions/leakage to the air, water, and/or soil. Deviations from the
specifications contained in such paragraphs require formal review and approval according to
local environmental policy.
I Assigned to paragraphs that provide only clarifying information such as Scope statements,
definitions of terms, etc.
M Assigned to paragraphs containing specifications whose primary purpose is to provide for
maintainability of equipment or systems. Maintainability provisions are those that facilitate the
performance of maintenance on equipment/systems either during downtimes or during on-
stream operations.
O Assigned to paragraphs containing specifications whose primary purpose is to assure
operability of equipment or systems. Operability is the ability of the equipment/system to
perform satisfactorily even though conditions are off-design, such as during startups, process
swings, subcomponent malfunction, etc.
R Assigned to paragraphs containing specifications whose primary purpose is to improve or
assure the reliability of equipment or systems. Reliability is a measure of the ability of
equipment/systems to operate without malfunction or failure between planned maintenance
interventions.
S Assigned to paragraphs containing specifications whose primary purpose is avoidance of
personnel or operational safety incidents. Any deviation from the specifications contained in
such designated paragraphs requires formal review and approval according to local safety
policy.
Personnel Safety: Refers to the avoidance of recordable personnel injuries; i.e., burns, cuts,
abrasions, inhalation, or exposure to dangerous substances, etc., that
could result in medical treatment, restricted work, lost-time incidents, or
fatalities.
Operational Refers to the prevention and control of process releases, fires, explosions,
Safety: etc.

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