Transneft's PMC ESPO completes tank hydraulic testing Phase 1 at Skovorodino PS

PMC ESPO (a subsidiary of Transneft) has completed of hydraulic testing first phase of a 50,000-cbm oil storage tank (steel vertical tank with floating roof VFRT-50000) at Skovorodino oil pump station (PS). Operations are carried out within the investment project of extension of the Skovorodino – Mohe oil pipeline’s throughput capacity to 30 mtpa. The vertical steel tank is tested to check strength, leakage, and stability of its individual units and shell in general, Transneft said in a press release.

The testing that commenced in July of this year is carried out in two stages. First, the tank filled with water was held at the hydraulic load for 72 hours. The condition of its structures and welds was visually controlled. A tank is considered as having passed the testing if there are no leaks on the wall surface and bottom edges, the water level is not decreasing, and deviations in the shape and size of the tank base and foundation do not exceed the limit values.

Upon completion of testing P1, the tank was drained and an anticorrosion coating and Transneft’s logo were applied on the wall, bottom, and roof  steel structures.

Leakage and smoothness of the aluminium floating roof will be checked at stage 2 of hydraulic tests. The tank will be filled with water again up to the design elevation of 17 metres. A floating roof is considered as having passed the testing if it was moving upwards and downwards smoothly, there was no water on the floating roof surface, and no deck cracks or breaks were found on the floating roof after the test.

The tank will be ready for commissioning after all stages of hydraulic tests for VFRT-50000 at Skovorodino PS are completed by the end of September.