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Common Types of Bulk Liquid Storage Tanks

There is a wide range of storage tanks found throughout the oil & gas industry. Depending on the tank type or
mounting options, a particular tank gauge or measurement solution may be more suitable. Tanks are chosen
according to the flash point of liquid stored in the tank. Generally speaking, in refineries, tank farms and terminals
where petroleum based liquids are stored, above ground fixed roof tanks or floating roof tanks are predominant.
These tanks operate under no (or very little) pressure, distinguishing them from pressure vessels, which in turn
have additional requirements that must be considered.
Fixed, Cone Roof Tanks

Fixed (cone, dome or umbrella) roof tanks are the most common and identifiable bulk storage vessels in
the oil & gas industry, typically seen with a wrap around staircase. They range in sizes up to 30 meters
tall by 100 meters wide and are used to store liquids with very high flash points (e.g. fuel oil, heavy oil,
kerosene, diesel oil, water, bitumen, etc.). The addition of a dome roof reduces environmental emissions
and provides additional strength to allow slightly higher storage pressures than that of atmosphere. Float
and tape tank gauges can be installed at grade on the tank-side or on the tank roof. Servo, radar and
other gauging technologies are installed on the tank roof. When installed on the tank roof, a gauge is
mounted on a flange that is either permanently affixed to the tank roof or integrated into a manhole
cover.
Floating Roof Tanks
Some storage tanks need a floating roof in addition to or in lieu of the fixed roof. A sealing device is
installed on the peripheral space between the roof and shell plate, which acts as a safety and pollution
prevention device by trapping the vapor from low flashpoint products. Floating roof tanks are broadly
divided into internal (IFR) and external (EFR) floating roof tanks. IFR tanks are used for liquids with low
flashpoints (e.g. gasoline, ethanol, etc.). These tanks are nothing more than cone roof tanks with a
floating roof inside the tank, which travels up and down along with the liquid level. At low product levels,
the floating roof is supported with legs on which it rests. EFRs are open at the top and do not have a
fixed roof. As such, they are suitable for medium flash point liquids (naphtha, kerosene, diesel, crude oil,
etc.). When mounting a servo or radar gauge on a floating roof tank, a gauging platform is required in
order to mount the gauge over the product. This may be the tank roof on covered internal floating roof
tanks or an actual platform that extends out from the tank wall over an open roof tank. Many platforms
provide a stilling well. The stilling well provides stability and a calm surface to enable an accurate
measurement. Servo gauges require a stilling well and Varec recommends the use of a stilling well or a
roof reflector for radar measurement. For float and tape gauges, a stilling well is not required as it is
more common to see a pan/well inside the floating roof. Alternatively, a weight is placed on the roof that
connects to the gauge tape/wire. The actual float and tape gauge level measurement is then an
indication of the roofs position, which can be corrected to the actual liquid level.
Sphere and Bullet Tanks
Flat-bottomed, cylindrical or spherical (single and double shell) storage tanks are typically within the
scope of our measurement capabilities. They are used to store liquefied gases with very low flash points
(LNG, LPG, Ethylene, butane and ammonia) under pressure or at temperatures under -100 C. Bullet
tanks gain their name due to their shape - long cylindrical tanks with round or flat ends. They are
generally 5,000 to 30,000 gallons in size, prefabricated and installed horizontally or vertically. At tank

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farms, terminals and refineries, they often store products that support the facilitys operations - additives
for injection, fuels to run refinery process operations or by-products, such as transmix from terminal
product receipts. Bullet tanks can also store liquefied gases under pressure. Due to their smaller size and
the products they contain, it is more common to use radar, servo or magnetostrictive technology for
gauging the contents of the tank.
Underground Storage Tanks
Underground storage tanks (UST) used to store petroleum based products are regulated to prevent
release of petroleum and contamination of groundwater. In the U.S., they are primarily used at
automobile filling stations (an application outside our product range), but can also be found at military
bases, airports and tank farms. They are prefabricated from steel, aluminum or glass fiber and are
generally double walled, bullet shaped tanks that have been buried. Likewise, it is more common to use
radar, servo or magnetostrictive technology for gauging the contents of the tank.