Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Conditions in Rural Alaska David Lockard P.E., Lead Engineer Alaska Energy Authority Rural Energy Conference, Fairbanks April 26 th, 2016 1
Alaska Energy Authority Mission: To Reduce the Cost of Energy in Alaska AEA is an independent and public corporation of the State of Alaska Created by the Alaska Legislature in 1976 44.83.070: The purpose of the Authority is to promote, develop, and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of the state by providing a means of financing and operating power projects and facilities that recover and use waste energy and by carrying out the powers and duties assigned to it under AS 42.45. 2
Presentation Outline History of Bulk Fuel Upgrades in Rural Alaska 2015 Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Assessment Report Photos and deficiency lists from seven facilities ( Name that code violation! ) Assessment scoring sheet, scores, and results 3
Alaska Bulk Fuel Upgrade History Many of the earliest bulk fuel facilities in rural Alaska were built for the Bureau of Indian Affairs schools starting around 1920 First statewide bulk fuel assessment done around 1990 Through the 1990 s AEA did low budget bulk fuel repair projects. Second statewide assessment was done in 1998 by AEA and included 170 communities Since 2000, with Denali Commission and other funding: AEA has completed 78 bulk fuel upgrades AVEC has completed 29 bulk fuel upgrades 4
2015 Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Assessment Report Requested and Funded by the Denali Commission Performed by AK Energy Authority Assessment work was contracted to three engineering firms: CRW Engineering Group LLC ERM Alaska Inc. Great Northern Engineering LLC Assessments Performed in 57 Communities in 2015 242 Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Facilities Assessed 5
History of flooding Inadequate containment Insufficient foundation Missing pressure relief Missing emergency vents No overfill protection No check valve at fill point Improper valve material Active leaks Inadequate pipe supports No evidence of grounding No fence Insufficient regulatory signs Regulatory plans not available No locks on closed tank issue valves Spill response equipment not available Tanks > 90 years old! Recommendation: Replace facility 6
History of flooding Threatened by coastal erosion No secondary containment No tank foundations Improper emergency venting Excessive tank corrosion No overfill protection Missing pressure relief Active leaks No evidence of grounding Inadequate fence Insufficient egress Insufficient regulatory signs Regulatory plans not available Recommendation: Replace facility 7
History of flooding Threatened by coastal erosion Inadequate secondary containment Missing emergency venting Excessive corrosion Improper valve material Active leaks Inadequate pipe supports Improper wiring No evidence of grounding No fence Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Inadequate separation from buildings No locks on closed tank issue valves Recommendation: Replace facility 8
History of flooding Threatened by coastal erosion Inadequate secondary containment Missing emergency venting Excessive corrosion Improper valve material Active leaks Inadequate pipe supports Improper wiring No evidence of grounding No fence Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Inadequate separation from buildings No locks on closed tank issue valves Recommendation: Replace facility 9
Tank farm within 100 of a well Inadequate secondary containment Failing tank foundations Missing emergency venting No check valve at fill point Missing pressure relief Improper valve material Active leaks Damaged or stressed flex connectors Inadequate pipe supports Improper wiring No evidence of grounding Insufficient egress Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Regulatory plans not available Spill response equipment not available Recommendation: Replace facility 10
Tank farm within 100 of a well Inadequate secondary containment Failing tank foundations Missing emergency venting No check valve at fill point Missing pressure relief Improper valve material Active leaks Damaged or stressed flex connectors Inadequate pipe supports Improper wiring No evidence of grounding Insufficient egress Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Regulatory plans not available Spill response equipment not available Recommendation: Replace facility 11
Inadequate secondary containment Insufficient or failing tank foundations Missing emergency venting Improper valve material Active leaks Improper wiring No evidence of grounding Insufficient egress Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Regulatory plans unavailable Recommendation: Replace facility 12
Inadequate secondary containment Insufficient or failing tank foundations Missing emergency venting Improper valve material Active leaks Improper wiring No evidence of grounding Insufficient egress Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Regulatory plans unavailable Recommendation: Replace facility 13
No secondary containment Insufficient tank foundations Missing normal venting Missing emergency venting No overfill protection Improper valve material No evidence of grounding No fence Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Missing regulatory documents No spill response equipment Rubber hose in long term use for fuel transfer Recommendation: Replace facility 14
No secondary containment Insufficient tank foundations Missing normal venting Missing emergency venting No overfill protection Improper valve material No evidence of grounding No fence Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Missing regulatory documents No spill response equipment Rubber hose in long term use for fuel transfer Recommendation: Replace facility 15
Inadequate secondary containment Insufficient tank foundations Missing emergency venting Excessive tank corrosion Tanks not designed to current standards Missing pressure relief Active leaks No evidence of grounding No fence Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Missing regulatory documents No locks on gates Recommendation: Repair facility, paint tanks, provide secondary containment, signage, regulatory documents, and fence, replace piping, valves, vents, pumps, etc. 16
Inadequate secondary containment Insufficient tank foundations Missing emergency venting Excessive tank corrosion Tanks not designed to current standards Missing pressure relief Active leaks No evidence of grounding No fence Missing regulatory signs Missing fire extinguishers Missing regulatory documents No locks on gates Recommendation: Repair facility, paint tanks, provide secondary containment, signage, regulatory documents, and fence, replace piping, valves, vents, pumps, etc. 17
Facility Category Possible Points Awarded Points Site Location Site suitable for tank farm 0 points < 100 feet from a public well 10 points < 25 feet from an eroding bank or beach, or history of flooding 10 points Gasoline tanks < 25 feet from an important building 10 points 30 points max. Secondary Containment *Liquid-tight, lined dike of proper volume and construction, 0 points or double wall or self diked tanks *Liquid-tight, lined dike of improper volume or construction 10 points *Fully diked but not liquid-tight (sand bag dike, gravel, torn or missing liner)20 points *Partial or no dike 30 points 30 points max Foundations *Tanks on stable foundations (steel skids, min. 6 timbers, no cribbing) 0 points *Tanks directly on gravel pad or light timbers 5 points *Tanks directly on tundra or natural soils (no dike or liner, subject to erosion)10 points Tanks leaning considerably or unstable foundations (seismic hazard) 10 points 20 points max. Tanks *Tanks in fair to good condition (no dents, min. rust, no major repairs needed)0 points *Immediate need of cleaning and painting 10 points *Rusted or dented beyond repair or riveted, bolted or other 30 points 30 points max. 18
Piping (choose most likely to leak, i.e., victaulic, threaded or welded, only) *No piping or welded piping above grade 0 points *Welded piping below grade 5 points *Threaded piping above grade 10 points *Threaded piping below grade 20 points *Victaulic piping above grade 30 points *Victaulic piping below grade 40 points Rubber hose 20 points Additional for active leaks 20 points 80 points max. Electrical Wiring appears appropriate or there is no wiring. 0 points Exposed wiring, improper grounding, etc. 10 points 10 points max. Life, Health & Safety *Appears code compliant (No extraordinary factors observed) 0 points *Low risk (Minor code violations that could result in personal injury to non-vigilant employees, such as tripping hazards, limited lighting, etc.) 10 points *Medium risk (More severe code violations that increase risk such as lack of security fence, falling hazards, unlocked valves, gravity dispensing, etc.) 20 points *High risk (Situations that pose an immediate threat to safety such as Fire hazards, gas leaks, failing tanks, unstable foundations, etc.) 40 points 40 points max. Facility Total 240 points max. 19
Bulk Fuel Tank Farm Assessment Scores Total # of scores: 242 Maximum Possible: 240 Maximum score: 195 Average score: 61 Median score: 50 Minimum score: 0 20
Other Assessment Report Results Consultants recommended replacing 39 facilities 66 facilities environmentally threatened (flooding, riverine or coastal erosion, etc.) Tank Farm Capacities (gallons) Maximum: 411,800 Average: 39,178 Minimum: 1,275 21
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