Fifteen years after the pilot project on a tank bottom at Shell Europoort Terminal, Van der Ende again applied that technique to the bottom of a tank with a diameter of 48.8 metres at BP Refinery Europoort. With this reliable and efficient solution for heavily corroded tank bottoms, which usually are replaced with new bottoms, we can extend the safe use of the tank by at least ten years in a short time.

The replacement of a bottom is a costly and time-consuming process. Time that’s deducted from the operational availability of the storage tank.

The tank at BP was made suitable for at least another ten years’ non-stop operation in less than six weeks from off line to on line. Replacing the tank bottom would surely require half a year off line. Precious and unprofitable time.

BP has made this strategic choice in a time when saving costs is an absolute necessity. A second tank bottom is to follow in February 2012.