FeF Fuel Tank Farm

Basics

• This page aims to outline the potential for a Tank Farm for Various Fuels at FeF

Nearest Fueling Station

• If there is a fuel station nearby, it may not be worth the trouble!
  • Granted conversely, depending on amouts of Fuel used onsite, how far the nearest station is, and if the nearby ones don’t carry EFG , Diesel / Off-Road Diesel , or Propane etc it MAY make sense regardless

Missouri Legal Requirements

• What amount requires licenses/inspections etc?
• GRANTED Code is a Floor, not a Ceiling , but what are the local/federal code requirements?

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

• MDNR:
  • The MDNR Page Titled “ Above Ground Storage Tank Registration”
    • Quote:
      • ” Above ground storage tanks are regulated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. For more information, please visit their Fuel Device Safety and Accuracy Program webpage.”

Missouri Department of Agriculture

• MDOA
  • The MDOA Page Titled “Fuel Device Safety and Accuracy Program”
    • TLDR: Most likely Annual or Biannual Inspections + Proof of Insurance + Designs Shall Comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30, 30A and NEC, 1996 Edition.
    • Also if SELLING fuel, when inspecting they also check you aren’t selling less than a gallon but charging for a gallon etc (not that would really apply to us, unless a pump gets old/uncalibrated maybe?)

Local Service Providers

Bulk Fuel Suppliers

• For the Fuel Itself

AN Petroleum

• Their Main Website
  • The Section on Services They Provide
    • They mention DEF as well
    • Main questions to ask would be:
      • Do they carry Gasoline / E-85 etc, or just Diesel
        • Also if they have Off Road Diesel
      • If so though, is TopTier Gasoline and/or Ethanol Free Gasoline an option?
  • Also pricing + schedules / do they offer inspections or equipment etc

Moffit Services

• Moffit Services’ Main Website
• Website had some obnoxious popups, but may be a “bigger fish” / better in that way and/or cheaper?
• They also show they offer the following: (at least pre-asking if YOUR LOCATION can get all those options without an “out in the boonies fee” lol)
  • On-Road Diesel (ie Clear)
  • Off Road Diesel (ie Red Dyed)
  • Gasoline (didn’t list Ethanol Blender Percentage)
  • Marine Fuel (presumably EFG )
  • Lubricants (didn’t specify if in Drums/Pallets of Plastic Jugs or Bulk Transfer etc?)
  • Heating Oil ( Home Heating Oil presumably, although MAYBE HFO although we shouldn’t touch that stuff with a 10ft pole lol)
  • Propane
  • DEF
  • Kerosene
• Also mention “ Drive your productivity with Mobil Diesel Efficient™ fuel”
  • This is essentially the same rationale behind TopTier Gasoline but for Diesel
    • MAY be a proprietary brand though, unlike TopTier which is moreso a “Qualify, Apply, and MAYBE pay a royalty” Trademark Certification type deal?

World Kinect

• Their Website for Land Fuels
• Main advantage if not cost is they offer Biodiesel Blends and mentioned Renewable Diesel
  • The latter of which (if it is Hydrotreated Vegtable Oil and not FAME Biodiesel (aka Transesterification Biodiesel / “conventional” Biodiesel )) would not have the Gel Point / Fuel Lubricity issues of Conventional Biodiesel, and to a lesser extent Fossil-Biodiesel Blends
  • They also have an Aviation Fuels Page and Maritime Fuels Page
  • Aviation Fuels Offered Were:
    • Mentioned Jet A Fuel Avgas (Didn’t state if 100LL or 100UL etc), and even SAF
      • Uncertain if the last one is truly available or moreso a Greenwashing bluff?
  • Maritime Fuels mentioned:
    • Quote: “ Alternative fuel choices for your vessels - Broadly speaking, there are three main categories of non-fossil, renewable, and zero-carbon energy sources that the marine industry is exploring: - Hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia - Biofuels such as biodiesel and bio-LNG - Synthetic fuels and electrofuels, such as e-methanol”
    • Seems like short of a Trial Run with a Cruise Ship, probably greenwashing for now

Environmental Services

• For Tank Cleanings/Water Draws, Spill Response, and Cleaning Before any Confined Space Entry work by other Contractors and/or Before Road Transport for Repair/Decommissioning
• They MIGHT be able to do “Compliance Inspections” if that is needed, AND can’t / shouldn’t be done internally
  • ie getting a piece of paper from a third party may look nicer for regulators etc than an internal “oh SURE we checked it + it’s fine!”

Specialized Tank Cleaning/Inspection/Repair/Painting etc

• Ie not a “blind” Clean In Place Tool such as a Gamma Jet / Butterworth etc, but essentially the Industrial Equivalent of Lacroscopic Surgery
• Also (especially smaller) Environmental Services companies may not do mechanical repairs themselves
  • They may be able to sub-contract on their own though, so this route is worth asking about as well

Potential Options

Good

• EFG for Small Engines
• Off-Road Diesel for Diesel Small Engines

Better

• Same as good plus:
  • Propane with Gas Take off to Building Use, and Liquid/Gas Take off for Refueling Gas Cylinders etc
  • E-15 or E-85 Road Gasoline for Vehicles

Best

• Same as Better plus:
  • B100 or close Biodiesel / Renewable Diesel
  • Bulk Kerosene and/of White Gas and/or Heptane etc for lanterns/heaters
  • Premium Gasoline for High Compression Engines
  • Bulk Fuel Alcohol
  • Bulk Used Motor Oil , Used Cooking Oil , and PCW etc, although this is probably deserving of it’s own Tank Farm/Study/Page etc

Capacity

• Using “ Safety Cans “ and 20Lb Propane Bottles as a comparison unit;
  • Above Ground Propane Tank = How Many?
    • Underground Propane Tank may be preferable for some safety aspects, and unlike Underground Storage Tanks for Liquid Fuels , for LPG type gases spills are essentially N/A , but leaks/damage from impacts, and fire (re BLEVE ) are a far greater concern
    • Also while from a Design for Decommissioning perspective, above ground is still better, due to the only cleaning really being internal rust etc the Design for Cleaning advantages of Above Ground Storage Tanks are negated
    • At the end of the day though, at least for propane both are fine
    • For Liquid Fuels however, aboveground is preferred
  • Turner Tanks type tank = How Many?
  • An ISO Tank = How Many?
  • A TransCube Global Portable Fuel Tank = How Many?

Initial Setup Cost

• This section aims to determine what the cost would be OUTSIDE of the operating costs of buying fuel/insurance/inspection etc
• This also for this study rules out the use of fuel delivery business financed-loans / “fuel farm as a service” stuff etc

Legal Fees

• If relevant local lawyer fees for getting all paperwork setup+kosher+maybe talking with contractors etc

Surveying/Basic Earthworks

• Could maybe be OSE/OBI Internal Work
• Just Leveling the Site Out, MAYBE using a Stone Picker, Rotary Cultivating+Compacting if we’re feeling fancy

Concrete Slab + CMU Containment Wall (and Optional Building/Roof Over/Around Said Pad

• This would be for the Secondary Containment/Tertiary Containment, depending on what tank style is used
• To an extent making it into a roofed Warehouse / Pole Barn would be nicer to prevent Sun Damage / Reduce Evaporative Losses, and TO AN EXTENT keep leaves/dust and dirt (and simply rainwater too) out of the containment
  • More up front cost, but less/no time spent cleaning leaves out of containment, no need for/less use of Sump Pumps for rainwater removal, etc
  • All in all upfront cost yes, but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY nicer in the end (as long as DFC / DFD is still taken into account)

Roads+Sidewalk Into/Around Said Building

• Ideally there would be a Perimeter Sidewalk around said containment wall+pad (as well as numerous Containment Wall Stairs (ideally one or more on each side)
• A “Parallel Loading Dock” / Road Shaped Driveway Parallel to the Tank Farm / “Hose Switchboard” Leading to Said Tanks, and/or an “A-Shaped Driveway” / “Y-Shaped Driveway” would be ideal as well
  • This should also act as a temporary Containment Pad for Fuel Delivery Trucks
• A Covered Roof for Inclement Weather on this would be a nice to have, although not as essential as over the tank farm itself.
  • Ideally there is a sump for rainwater, a slope that allows for easy drainage of said rainwater to the sump (and/or DFC in the event of spills; Design for Spill Cleanup etc)
    • If electing to use a Sump Pump for removal of rainwater, a roof (and landscaping choices) can help reduce leaves/debris accumulation in this
      • To an extent though, Maximum Height would be a factor due to the large trucks pulling into the area

Electrical

• At LEAST 120v Power to the Tank Farm Switchboard Pump and/or Sump Pumps etc
• Ideally having Outlets out there for incidentals AND having an Engineered Ground with a high quality Grounding Post would be ideal for Fuel Transfer Trucks + Incidentals such as Grounding and Bonding a Pneumatically Driven Exhaust Fan etc when doing CSE Work

Pneumatics

• While not essential, if available a Compressed Air Line (preferably Dry Compressed Air , although a sloped “ Wet Compressed Air Line “ ) would be nice for incidentals such as Pneumatic Tools, Diaphragm Pumps , Ventilation/CSE Gear, or even simply the tired of visiting trucks

Fire Suppression + Fire Extinguisher Equipment

• Might need Fire Monitors + Fire Hydrants / a Central Fire Suppression Foam System for larger tank farms
• Most likely though Rated Fire Extinguishers + Placards / No Smoking or Open Light Signs + MAYBE A Wheeled Fire Extinguisher etc may be sufficient
• Also MAYBE a Fire Alarm System
  • This could PROBABLY be DIY, but if need be Pye-Barker or some similar contractor could be used
    • It’s all basically 120/240/Low Voltage work, main issue would be getting the proper gear to install (ie what Home Depot or Menards has vs what they or a supply house has!), and the aforementioned “insurance likes someone else’s signature” bits)

Plumbing

• Simple PVC or PEX based Cold Water for an Emergency Eyewash and Emergency Shower station
• Also a garden hose hookup for incidentals
  • If feeling fancy having an outlet not more than 5 feet or so from each Manway on large tanks would be VERY nice to reduce long hose runs etc
    • This is also much harder to add later, but the cost of PVC etc while doing the construction/concrete and all that
  • The other fancy option kind of ties in with Firefighting but using Chicago Hose / Fire Hydrant style plumbing+outlets
    • Worst case scenario you neck it down+use a garden hose, but if you need TONS of water you have it
• Alternately Self Contained Emergency Eyewash Stations / Self Contained Emergency Showers DO exist, but they have to be Op-Checked + Maintained When Expired etc more once setup than their plumbed counterparts
  • Plumbed ones simply need to be run every so often (to prevent rust/dry joints/stale water etc), and ensured they don’t freeze up if outdoors in the winter etx)
• Finally a sink for handwashing/custodial use is a nice splurge as well, but not 100% needed if the garden hose outlet and/or emergency wash station are there

Internal Links

• FeF Fuel Storage Workflow
  • For the current state of things
  • To an extent driving things to a gas station, even if a trailer is needed, or sufficient Safety Cans / Auxiliary Fuel Tanks + Fuel Transfer Pumps etc MAY work
  • If one isn’t already in possession, a Flammables Safety Cabinet would be a wise investment for said safety cans
  • Also for Propane and other LPG canisters such as Canister Fuel or Lighter Butane etc, a Propane Storage Cage either outdoors or in a well ventilated shed/alcove would be a wise investment
  • Either a spot to chain down Welding Gas Canisters or a Gas Canister Storage Cage in a similar spot/the same spot at the propane would be wise as well
  • Finally Placards + Basic Firefighting Measures such as approximately rated Fire Extinguishers + Fire Alarms would be a good bare minimum (if not already there!)
    • Combustible Gas Detectors/Alarms + CO Alarms + Thermal Fire Alarms in Garage Areas etc would also help, although this is more in the better/best category
    • Also a Fuel Tank Inspection Protocol / Fire Extinguisher Inspection Protocol