EP1764315B1 - Oil storage method and system - Google Patents
Oil storage method and system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1764315B1 EP1764315B1 EP05020272A EP05020272A EP1764315B1 EP 1764315 B1 EP1764315 B1 EP 1764315B1 EP 05020272 A EP05020272 A EP 05020272A EP 05020272 A EP05020272 A EP 05020272A EP 1764315 B1 EP1764315 B1 EP 1764315B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- water
- oil
- oil tank
- tank
- pool
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/48—Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
- B65D90/50—Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices of leakage-indicating devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/78—Large containers for use in or under water
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an oil storage method and more particularly, to an underwater oil storage method, which keeps the oil tank under the water in a water pool so that the water in the water pool supports the pressure of the oil tank and isolates storage oil from the ground earth by means of the physical characteristic that the specific gravity of oil is lower than water.
- An oil storage tank may be mounted above or under the ground.
- a strong floor construction must be built up on the ground.
- the floor construction must be strong enough to support the heavy cylindrical or spherical steel shell of the oil tank and the oil stored in the oil tank.
- a conventional oil tank uses a steel shell to bear the pressure of the oil stored therein.
- the capacity has a limitation. Further, increasing the capacity of an oil tank will relatively increase the cost. For safety's sake, a retaining wall must be built around the oil tank(s) such that when oil leaks out of the oil tank(s), leaked oil can still be kept within the retaining wall to prevent contamination or any possible catastrophe.
- Formosa Petrochemical Corp.'s oil tank is 130,000 square meters (the largest oil tank in Asia Pacific area. This oil tank has a diameter about 86 meters and a height about 24 meters.
- the steel shell of the oil tank must strong enough to bear the pressure of 24M-depth storage oil and to provide a damping resistance against earthquake grade 6. It took about 2 years to finish the construction of the oil tank after finish of the ground construction. The total cost for this oil tank is about two hundred millions NT dollars. Because this oil tank is exposed to the weather, it must be regularly maintained to remove rust and regularly painted. In case of a leakage of oil, the storage oil must be fully discharged out of the oil tank and cleaned so that a soldering process can be employed to seal the crevice. Maintaining this oil tank is a hard and expensive task.
- the document GB 01495 A .D. 1912 discloses a storage plant for inflammable liquids.
- the storage plant comprises a main basin filled with water; a tank arranged entirely immersed within the water filled in the basin and comprising an opening provided in its bottom side to provide permanent fluid communication between the interior of the tank and the outer basin enclosing the tank; a supply pipe for the supply of inflammable fluid to the tank, ending near a roof of the tank and fitted with a valve; a vent and standpipe extending from the roof of the tank in such a manner that all air or inflammable vapour, which may find its way into the tank or is produced there, escapes freely into the outer air and so that the fluid surface, where evaporation takes place, is reduced to a minimum.
- the storage plant further comprises a small l water basin arranged aside the main basin; a supply-pipe connecting and providing fluid communication between the small water basin and the main basin; a discharge pit arranged in the vicinity of the main basin; a discharge pipe having a First end extending from a roof of the tank into the tank to below the surface of the water level in the main basin and a second end opening into the discharge pit.
- the tank In operation of the storage plant, when the tank is emptied, i.e. its contents is allowed to run out, the water penetrates from the basin through the opening into the tank and may fill the tank completely as well as the vent and the standpipe up to the level of the water in the basin.
- the inflammable fluid is now fed in by way of the supply pipe, the water contained in the tank is pressed out by the entering fluid, through the opening and eventually through an overflow pipe until the tank is filled, whereby the water level in the main basin is essentially kept constant.
- JP 54 127019 discloses an oil storage plant comprising a main water basin enclosed by a wall structure; an oil tank arranged inside the main water basin and comprising side walls but no bottom wall so that the interior of the oil tank is in permanent fluid communication with the portion of the main water basin enclosing the tank; a small water basin arranged beside the main basin; a pipe connecting the main water basin and the small water basin; and a pump provided in the pipe for pumping water between the main and the small water basin for water circulation therebetween.
- the volume of oil in the tank decreases by discharge for use, water penetrates into the tank from below through the open bottom side and displaces the discharged oil, and vice versa, oil filled into the tank for storage displaces water out of the tank into the main water basin.
- JP-10-101 193 discloses an underwater oil storage system according to the preamble of claim 5 which is suited for performing a method according to the preamble of claim 1.
- the present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide an underwater oil storage method, which uses water to isolate storage oil from the ground earth by means of the physical characteristic that the specific gravity of oil is lower than water. It is another object of the present invention to provide an underwater oil storage method, which automatically regulates the water level of the water that supports the oil tank, keeping the oil tank in balance. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an underwater oil storage method, which keeps the oil tank under the water in a water pool, preventing contamination of storage oil to the surrounding ground earth, and allowing quick visual inspection upon an oil leakage.
- the present invention discloses an underwater oil storage method according to claim 1 and an underwater oil tank storage system according to claim 5.
- the dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments.
- an illustrative underwater oil storage method includes the steps of:
- an auto water control system 52 which is formed of a water pump and a water level sensor is provided for detecting the water level of water W in the water pool 30 and automatically pumping water W out of the water tank 50 into the water pool 30 when the water level of water W in the water pool 30 dropped below a predetermined range. Therefore, the amount of water W in the water pool 3 and oil tank 40 is automatically adjusted subject to the amount of oil O in oil tank 40, enabling water W to support the gravity weight of oil tank 40 and to keep oil tank 40 in balance.
- water W is used in the water pool 30 to isolate oil O from the ground earth and to support the gravity weight of the oil tank 40 and oil O contained in the oil tank 40 and to keep the oil tank 40 in balance by means of the physical characteristic that the specific gravity of oil O is smaller than water W.
- the oil tank 40 in the water pool 30 may have the depth of 24 meters.
- the oil level of oil O in the oil tank 40 may be 2.4 meters above the water level of water W in the water pool 30.
- water W supports and sets off 90% of the pressure, and the oil tank 40 bears only the other 10% of the pressure. Therefore, when designing the material strength of the material for the oil tank 40, it needs only to consider the pressure of oil O of depth 2.4 meters but not the pressure of oil O of depth 24 meters.
- the invention breaks the conventional concept of constructing an oil tank with thick steel plate members.
- an oil tank of volume 130,000 square meters Height 24M x Diameter 86M
- the desired wall structure 20 is built up, and the designed oil tank 40 can then be set in the water pool 30 thus formed.
- plastic or stainless steel plate members to construct the wall structure 20 instead of concrete accelerates the construction speed.
- the oil tank 40 is set in the water pool 30 under the ground, it is not necessary to build up an additional retaining wall to protect the oil tank 40 against earthquake or any human beings' destruction behavior. Because the oil tank 40 is set under the ground, it is safe against human beings' destruction behavior, and storage oil O is free from the effect of the surrounding weather. Further, no lightning arrester or the like is necessary. In case of an earthquake, water W in the water pool 30 absorbs shock waves. Because the oil tank 40 bears a small pressure, the manufacturing cost of the oil tank 40 can be greatly reduced.
- FIGS. 3A ⁇ 3F show an embodiment of the present invention.
- the oil tank, referenced by 40a has an oil access port 41 at the top side, however the oil tank 40a has no port at its bottom side.
- racks 43 are fixedly provided at the bottom wall of the oil tank 40a and supported on the top side of the bottom wall 31 of the water pool 30, allowing water to flow through the bottom side of the oil tank 40a, however storage oil O is prohibited from passing out of the oil tank 40a into water W in the water pool 30.
- Fig. 4 shows an alternative design of an oil tank which is constantly kept under water and which does not fall within the scope of the claims. According to the alternative embodiment shown in FIG.
- a top cover 21 is covered on the wall structure 20 to close the water pool 30;
- the oil tank 40b is fixedly supported on a rack 43' (or racks 43') above the bottom wall 31 of the water pool 30 against floating of water W in the water pool 30, having an oil access port 41, which is comprised of an oil inlet pipe 41a and an oil outlet pipe 41b that are respectively upwardly extending from the top side of the oil tank 40b to the outside of the top cover 21, and an air pipe 41c equipped with a relief valve (not shown) and upwardly extending to the outside of the water pool 30 for discharging of air when the air pressure in the oil tank 40b surpassed a predetermined level.
- this alternative embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid embodiment of the invention with the exception that the water level of water W in the water pool 30 surpasses the elevation of the top side of the oil tank 40b, i.e., the oil tank 40b is constantly kept under water W.
- the oil tank 40b is mounted on the rack 43' in a tilt angle, having a recessed water reservoir portion 44 at the lowest area on the inside and connected to an external water sensor 45 by a connecting line.
- a connecting line In case water W leaks in the oil tank 40b, leak-in water will be accumulated in the recessed water reservoir portion 44 and detected by the water sensor 45, and a repair work can be quickly employed to prevent a further damage.
- the positive pressure type oil tank 40b has a damage and oil O leaks out of the oil tank 40b, leaked oil O will float on water W, and the worker in the gas station can easily find the problem and take the necessary measure to eliminate the problem.
- this alternative embodiment uses water W to isolate storage oil O from the ground soil, preventing pollution to the surrounding earth. Further, water W is used in the water pool 30 to support the oil tank 40b and the pressure of the storage oil O in the oil tank 40b.
- the invention provides an underwater oil storage system, which uses water to support an oil tank and storage oil in the oil tank and to keep the oil tank in balance, preventing contact of storage oil with the ground earth.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Underground Structures, Protecting, Testing And Restoring Foundations (AREA)
- Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an oil storage method and more particularly, to an underwater oil storage method, which keeps the oil tank under the water in a water pool so that the water in the water pool supports the pressure of the oil tank and isolates storage oil from the ground earth by means of the physical characteristic that the specific gravity of oil is lower than water.
- An oil storage tank may be mounted above or under the ground. When building an oil tank above the ground, a strong floor construction must be built up on the ground. The floor construction must be strong enough to support the heavy cylindrical or spherical steel shell of the oil tank and the oil stored in the oil tank. A conventional oil tank uses a steel shell to bear the pressure of the oil stored therein. The capacity has a limitation. Further, increasing the capacity of an oil tank will relatively increase the cost. For safety's sake, a retaining wall must be built around the oil tank(s) such that when oil leaks out of the oil tank(s), leaked oil can still be kept within the retaining wall to prevent contamination or any possible catastrophe. At present time, the capacity of Formosa Petrochemical Corp.'s oil tank is 130,000 square meters (the largest oil tank in Asia Pacific area. This oil tank has a diameter about 86 meters and a height about 24 meters. The steel shell of the oil tank must strong enough to bear the pressure of 24M-depth storage oil and to provide a damping resistance against earthquake grade 6. It took about 2 years to finish the construction of the oil tank after finish of the ground construction. The total cost for this oil tank is about two hundred millions NT dollars. Because this oil tank is exposed to the weather, it must be regularly maintained to remove rust and regularly painted. In case of a leakage of oil, the storage oil must be fully discharged out of the oil tank and cleaned so that a soldering process can be employed to seal the crevice. Maintaining this oil tank is a hard and expensive task.
- Further, when directly building an oil tank under the ground, the cost is high. In case of a leakage occurred, it is difficult to detect such a leakage, and leaked oil will permeate into the soil to pollute underground water.
- The document
GB 01495 A - In operation of the storage plant, when the tank is emptied, i.e. its contents is allowed to run out, the water penetrates from the basin through the opening into the tank and may fill the tank completely as well as the vent and the standpipe up to the level of the water in the basin. When the inflammable fluid is now fed in by way of the supply pipe, the water contained in the tank is pressed out by the entering fluid, through the opening and eventually through an overflow pipe until the tank is filled, whereby the water level in the main basin is essentially kept constant.
-
JP 54 127019 -
JP-10-101 193 - The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide an underwater oil storage method, which uses water to isolate storage oil from the ground earth by means of the physical characteristic that the specific gravity of oil is lower than water. It is another object of the present invention to provide an underwater oil storage method, which automatically regulates the water level of the water that supports the oil tank, keeping the oil tank in balance. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an underwater oil storage method, which keeps the oil tank under the water in a water pool, preventing contamination of storage oil to the surrounding ground earth, and allowing quick visual inspection upon an oil leakage.
- To achieve these and other objects of the present invention as claimed, the present invention discloses an underwater oil storage method according to claim 1 and an underwater oil tank storage system according to claim 5. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments.
- The present invention will be explained in more detail in comparison to illustrative embodiments not falling under the invention and with reference to non-limiting embodiments, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an illustrative underwater oil storage method useful to obtain an understanding of the present invention. -
FIGS. 2A~2F illustrate the construction and operation of an underwater oil storage system according to an illustrative embodiment not falling under the present invention. -
FIGS. 3A~3F illustrate the construction and operation of an underwater oil storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an underwater oil storage system according to another embodiment not falling under the present invention. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and2A , an illustrative underwater oil storage method includes the steps of: - a) excavating a cellar in the
ground earth 10 and constructing awall structure 20 in the cellar to form awater pool 30, where thewall structure 20 is a continuous concrete wall set in the horizontal bottom and upright peripheral sides of the cavity formed in theground earth 10 for protection and isolation; - b) setting an
oil tank 40 in thewater pool 30 and directly supporting theoil tank 40 on thebottom wall 31 of thewater pool 30, where theoil tank 40 can be a metal, concrete or plastic container or a container made of any of variety of oil-proof materials subject to a predetermined size and has anoil access port 41 at the top side thereof in the illustrative example, theoil tank 40 comprises at least onebottom port 42 at the bottom side thereof in communication with the inside space of thewater pool 30 for allowing water to flow through thebottom port 42 between thewater pool 30 andoil tank 40. The method further includes the steps of : - c) supplying a predetermined amount of water W to the
water pool 30, where water W can be city water, sea water, industrial waste water that is kept in thewater pool 30 by thewall structure 20; said predetermined amount means that an auto fluid supplying and adjusting mechanism is provided to control the amount of water W in thewater pool 30 subject to the type ofoil tank 40 and the volume of oil stored inoil tank 40; and - d) filling oil O into
oil tank 40 throughoil access port 41, where oil O can be raw petroleum, gasoline, mineral oil, animal oil, vegetable oil, or any of a variety of chemical fluids of specific gravity smaller than 1; the filling amount of oil O is less than the volume ofoil tank 40 so that oil O filled inoil tank 40 does not flow out ofoil tank 40 into thewater pool 30 and then float on water W in thewater pool 30 outside thetank 40. - Referring to
FIGS. 2B and 2C , because the specific gravity of oil O (normally about 0.9) is smaller than the specific gravity (1) of water W, oil O will float on water W inoil tank 40 when filling oil O intooil tank 40 throughoil access port 41, and water W will be gradually forced out ofoil tank 40 into thewater pool 30 subject to the increasing of the filling amount of oil O. Because the volume of thewater pool 30 is constant, filling oil O intooil tank 40 causes increasing of the water level in thewater pool 30. There is further provided aspare water tank 50 at one side of thewater pool 30 on the same level. A connectingpipe 51 is horizontally provided between thewater pool 30 and thespare water tank 50 near the top side. When the water lever in thewater pool 30 surpassed a predetermined high level, water W flows out of thewater pool 30 into thewater tank 50 through the connectingpipe 51 for further use. - Referring to
FIGS. 2D~2F , when pumping oil O out ofoil tank 40 throughoil access port 41 for use, the amount of oil O isoil tank 40 is gradually reducing, the water level of water W inoil tank 40 is gradually increasing to lift oil O in thewater tank 40, and the water level of water W in thewater pool 30 outsideoil tank 40 is gradually lowering. At this time, the spared water can be guided from thewater tank 50 into thewater pool 30. According to this embodiment, an autowater control system 52 which is formed of a water pump and a water level sensor is provided for detecting the water level of water W in thewater pool 30 and automatically pumping water W out of thewater tank 50 into thewater pool 30 when the water level of water W in thewater pool 30 dropped below a predetermined range. Therefore, the amount of water W in the water pool 3 andoil tank 40 is automatically adjusted subject to the amount of oil O inoil tank 40, enabling water W to support the gravity weight ofoil tank 40 and to keepoil tank 40 in balance. - As indicated above, water W is used in the
water pool 30 to isolate oil O from the ground earth and to support the gravity weight of theoil tank 40 and oil O contained in theoil tank 40 and to keep theoil tank 40 in balance by means of the physical characteristic that the specific gravity of oil O is smaller than water W. - In the illustrative embodiment and in an application example of the present invention, the
oil tank 40 in thewater pool 30 may have the depth of 24 meters. When thewater tank 40 is filled up with oil O of specific gravity 0.9, the oil level of oil O in theoil tank 40 may be 2.4 meters above the water level of water W in thewater pool 30. At this time, water W supports and sets off 90% of the pressure, and theoil tank 40 bears only the other 10% of the pressure. Therefore, when designing the material strength of the material for theoil tank 40, it needs only to consider the pressure of oil O of depth 2.4 meters but not the pressure of oil O of depth 24 meters. When storing oil O of specific gravity 0.99, water W in thewater pool 30 supports and sets off 99% of the pressure, and thewater tank 40 bears only 1% of the pressure. Therefore, the invention breaks the conventional concept of constructing an oil tank with thick steel plate members. When constructing an oil tank of volume 130,000 square meters (Height 24M x Diameter 86M), it needs only to build up a concrete wall structure of Height 24M x Length 76M x Width 76M (saving about 10M x 10M ground area). By means of binding reinforcing steel wire rods, setting molding forms, pouring concrete, and removing molding forms after setting of concrete, the desiredwall structure 20 is built up, and the designedoil tank 40 can then be set in thewater pool 30 thus formed. Further, using plastic or stainless steel plate members to construct thewall structure 20 instead of concrete accelerates the construction speed. - Because the
oil tank 40 is set in thewater pool 30 under the ground, it is not necessary to build up an additional retaining wall to protect theoil tank 40 against earthquake or any human beings' destruction behavior. Because theoil tank 40 is set under the ground, it is safe against human beings' destruction behavior, and storage oil O is free from the effect of the surrounding weather. Further, no lightning arrester or the like is necessary. In case of an earthquake, water W in thewater pool 30 absorbs shock waves. Because theoil tank 40 bears a small pressure, the manufacturing cost of theoil tank 40 can be greatly reduced. -
FIGS. 3A~3F show an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the oil tank, referenced by 40a has anoil access port 41 at the top side, however theoil tank 40a has no port at its bottom side. Further, racks 43 are fixedly provided at the bottom wall of theoil tank 40a and supported on the top side of thebottom wall 31 of thewater pool 30, allowing water to flow through the bottom side of theoil tank 40a, however storage oil O is prohibited from passing out of theoil tank 40a into water W in thewater pool 30. When filling storage oil O into theoil tank 40a, water W is simultaneously filled into thewater pool 30 by means of the control of the autowater control system 52, and therefore the water level of water W in thewater pool 30 and the oil level of oil O in theoil tank 40a are synchronously raised (seeFIGS, 3A~3C ). On the contrary, when pumping oil O out of theoil tank 40a for use, the autowater control system 52 automatically pumps water W out of thewater pool 30 into thewater tank 50, keeping the water pressure of water W in thewater pool 30 in balance with the pressure of theoil tank 40a (seeFIGS. 3D~3F ). - In additional to the aforesaid big scale design, the invention is also applicable for a relatively smaller scale design for use in, for example, a gas station.
Fig. 4 shows an alternative design of an oil tank which is constantly kept under water and which does not fall within the scope of the claims. According to the alternative embodiment shown inFIG. 4 , atop cover 21 is covered on thewall structure 20 to close thewater pool 30; theoil tank 40b is fixedly supported on a rack 43' (or racks 43') above thebottom wall 31 of thewater pool 30 against floating of water W in thewater pool 30, having anoil access port 41, which is comprised of anoil inlet pipe 41a and anoil outlet pipe 41b that are respectively upwardly extending from the top side of theoil tank 40b to the outside of thetop cover 21, and anair pipe 41c equipped with a relief valve (not shown) and upwardly extending to the outside of thewater pool 30 for discharging of air when the air pressure in theoil tank 40b surpassed a predetermined level. The functioning of this alternative embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid embodiment of the invention with the exception that the water level of water W in thewater pool 30 surpasses the elevation of the top side of theoil tank 40b, i.e., theoil tank 40b is constantly kept under water W. - Preferably, the
oil tank 40b is mounted on the rack 43' in a tilt angle, having a recessedwater reservoir portion 44 at the lowest area on the inside and connected to anexternal water sensor 45 by a connecting line. In case water W leaks in theoil tank 40b, leak-in water will be accumulated in the recessedwater reservoir portion 44 and detected by thewater sensor 45, and a repair work can be quickly employed to prevent a further damage. In case the positive pressuretype oil tank 40b has a damage and oil O leaks out of theoil tank 40b, leaked oil O will float on water W, and the worker in the gas station can easily find the problem and take the necessary measure to eliminate the problem. Same as the aforesaid embodiment of the present invention, this alternative embodiment uses water W to isolate storage oil O from the ground soil, preventing pollution to the surrounding earth. Further, water W is used in thewater pool 30 to support theoil tank 40b and the pressure of the storage oil O in theoil tank 40b. - In general, the invention provides an underwater oil storage system, which uses water to support an oil tank and storage oil in the oil tank and to keep the oil tank in balance, preventing contact of storage oil with the ground earth.
- Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.
Claims (7)
- An underwater oil storage method comprising the steps of:a) excavating a cellar in the ground earth (10) and constructing a wall structure (20) in said cellar to form a water pool (30);b) setting an oil tank (40a) having a predetermined shape and volume in said water pool (30);c) supplying a predetermined amount of water (W) to said water pool (30); andd) filling the oil (O) to be stored into said oil tank (40) and regulating the amount of water (W) in said water pool (30) subject to the amount of storage oil (O) stored in said oil tank (40a) where the oil (O) to be stored has a specific gravity lower than that of the water (W) filled in said water pool (30), and the amount of the storage oil (O) filled in the oil tank (40a) is less than the volume of the oil tank (40a), characterized bystep d) comprising filling the water (W) into the water pool (30) simultaneously with filling oil (O) into the oil tank by means of the control of an auto water control system (52) and wherein when filling oil the level of water in the water pool and the level of oil in the oil tank are raised synchronously using the auto water control system,
further by
step e) when pumping oil out of the oil tank for use, the auto water control system automatically pumping water out of the water pool (30), thereby keeping the water pressure of water in the water pool in balance with the pressure of the oil tank. - The underwater oil storage method according to claim 1, further comprising the following step:building a spare water tank (50) under the ground earth (10) at one side of said water pool (30) and connecting a water pipe (51) between said water pool (30) and said spare water tank (50) for circulation of water between said water pool (30) and said spare water tank (50), whereinthe auto water control system (52) comprises a water pump and a water level sensor for detecting the level of water (W) in the water pool (30).
- The underwater oil storage method according to claim 2,
wherein step e) comprises, when pumping oil (O) out of the oil tank (40a) for use, the auto water control system (52) automatically pumping water (W) out of the water pool (30) into the spare water tank (50), thereby keeping the water pressure of water (W) in the water pool (30) in balance with the pressure of the oil tank (40a). - An underwater oil tank storage system comprising:a water pool (30) defined in a wall construction (20) under the ground earth (10) to hold a predetermined amount of water (W);an oil tank (40a) set in said water pool (30) and surrounded by water (W) held in said water pool (30), and for holding an oil (O) having a specific gravity lower than that of the water (W) held in said water pool (30); anda spare water tank (50) set at one side relative to said water pool (30) in fluid communication with said water pool (30) for regulating the water level of water held in said water pool (30),an auto water control system (52)characterised in that said auto water control system is adapted to control that when oil (O) is filled in the oil tank (40a), water (W) is simultaneously filled into the water pool (30)
and that the auto water control system is used when filling oil such that the level of water in the water pool and the level of oil in the oil tank are raised synchronously,
thereby keeping the water pressure of water in the water pool in balance with the pressure of the oil tank, and
the auto water control system (52) is further adapted to automatically pump water (W) out of the water pool (30) into the water tank (50), when oil (O) is pumped out of the oil tank (40a) for use, to keep the water pressure of water (W) in the water pool (30) in balance with the pressure of the oil tank (40a). - The underwater oil tank storage system according to claim 4, wherein said oil tank (40a) has no port at its bottom side.
- The underwater oil tank storage system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said oil tank (40a) has an oil access port (41) at a top side thereof for oil input output.
- The underwater oil tank storage system according to anyone of the claims 4 to 6, further comprising a rack (43') for fixedly supporting the oil tank (40a) above a bottom wall of said water pool (30).
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE602005020788T DE602005020788D1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2005-09-16 | Method and system for oil storage |
AT05020272T ATE465104T1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2005-09-16 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OIL STORAGE |
EP05020272A EP1764315B1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2005-09-16 | Oil storage method and system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP05020272A EP1764315B1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2005-09-16 | Oil storage method and system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1764315A1 EP1764315A1 (en) | 2007-03-21 |
EP1764315B1 true EP1764315B1 (en) | 2010-04-21 |
Family
ID=35695769
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP05020272A Not-in-force EP1764315B1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2005-09-16 | Oil storage method and system |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1764315B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE465104T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE602005020788D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017144068A1 (en) * | 2016-02-23 | 2017-08-31 | Abdelfatah Mohamed Ashry Mohamed | Under water floating roof tank |
CN109779820B (en) * | 2019-02-25 | 2023-09-01 | 中国矿业大学 | Comprehensive utilization system and utilization method for abandoned open pit |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US194847A (en) * | 1877-09-04 | Improvement in oil-tanks | ||
GB191201495A (en) * | 1911-01-19 | 1912-04-25 | Hans Christian Erik Bruun | Storage Plant for Inflammable Fluids. |
DE805866C (en) * | 1948-10-02 | 1951-05-31 | Hans Gerdes Dr Ing | Container for water-repellent liquids with a specific weight less than 1 |
JPS54124320A (en) * | 1978-03-20 | 1979-09-27 | Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd | Floating type underground tank |
JPS54127019A (en) * | 1978-03-24 | 1979-10-02 | Energy Eng Kk | Double construction side wall |
JP3622364B2 (en) * | 1996-09-25 | 2005-02-23 | 清水建設株式会社 | Liquid storage facility |
-
2005
- 2005-09-16 AT AT05020272T patent/ATE465104T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2005-09-16 EP EP05020272A patent/EP1764315B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2005-09-16 DE DE602005020788T patent/DE602005020788D1/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE465104T1 (en) | 2010-05-15 |
EP1764315A1 (en) | 2007-03-21 |
DE602005020788D1 (en) | 2010-06-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4960222A (en) | Secondary liquid containment system | |
US4890983A (en) | Above-ground storage system | |
US5157888A (en) | Storage vault and method for manufacture | |
NO832033L (en) | PLANT FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY | |
EP1764315B1 (en) | Oil storage method and system | |
US4948340A (en) | Above-ground storage system | |
US7901158B2 (en) | Underwater oil storage method and system | |
AU2005211557B2 (en) | Underwater oil storage method and system | |
US2798633A (en) | Storage apparatus | |
KR100857868B1 (en) | Underwater oil storage method and system | |
RU2130799C1 (en) | Apparatus for draining liquids | |
CA2520092A1 (en) | Underwater oil storage method and system | |
NZ542558A (en) | Underwater oil storage method and system | |
US3422628A (en) | Offshore storage tank system | |
EA008618B1 (en) | Method and system of underwater oil storage | |
US5184939A (en) | Above-ground storage system | |
WO2017144068A1 (en) | Under water floating roof tank | |
KR102252146B1 (en) | Automatic emergency roof drainage device for floating roof type oil storage tank | |
MXPA05010797A (en) | Underwater oil storage method and system. | |
NO327868B1 (en) | Oil storage system and method below the water line | |
US5515881A (en) | Multi-storage tanks and dispensing units | |
NO163972B (en) | OIL STORAGE SYSTEM. | |
CA2487572C (en) | Storage tank overflow containment apparatus | |
US3019948A (en) | Fluid reservoir | |
WO2015108413A1 (en) | Internal liquid holder which can be applied over a prolonged period in rigid fixed storage tanks, in order to improve the quality of storing liquid in a tank, without operational and safety restrictions |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20070430 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20070803 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
RTI1 | Title (correction) |
Free format text: OIL STORAGE METHOD AND SYSTEM |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 602005020788 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20100602 Kind code of ref document: P |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: VDEP Effective date: 20100421 |
|
LTIE | Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension |
Effective date: 20100421 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100801 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100821 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100505 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100722 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100823 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20110124 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100930 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100930 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100930 Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100916 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100916 Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20101022 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100421 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20100721 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: PLFP Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20160909 Year of fee payment: 12 Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20160922 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20160930 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R119 Ref document number: 602005020788 Country of ref document: DE |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20170916 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20180531 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170916 Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20180404 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171002 |