Company Magazine for the Odfjell Group - March 2005

Mineral oils in Rotterdam
Optimizing Product Handling
By Frits de Goede
Being surrounded by huge oil-refineries,
it is obvious that Odfjell Terminals
(Rotterdam) stores a lot of mineral oil
products. Apart from the flows out of
these plants, there is also a lot of traders
related business. Out of the 1.5
million cbm capacity at OTR, some two
thirds are in use for mineral oil
products. This is quite a substantial
part of the terminal’s capacity, and
even more so considering the high
throughputs and lots of ships handlings,
mainly in large volumes.
Blending and formulating are daily
practices, in which accuracy is the key
to success.
We’re not only talking CPPs, as OTR also
is well equipped for the storage of
heavy fuel oil, MDO, black condensates,
etc. Nevertheless, the majority of the
mineral oil products stored at OTR are
gasoil and gasoline; products that at
first sight seem easy to handle at a storage
terminal. However, looking behind
OTR’s scenes, it's more complicated
than one would think, especially with
all the different product grades involved.
Stricter fuel standards in all parts of the
world have resulted in OTR now storing
some ten types of gasoil and gasoline,
all with varying sulphur contents. And
that’s where the complications start,
because so far OTR has used one
common line-system for all the different
types of gasoil and gasoline. The
varying sulphur content specifications
increase the risk of product contamination.
Accordingly, OTR Operations
have their hands full with preparing
the line-system over and over again.
First part of the new pipe-rack.
This is not only a very labour-intensive
and thus costly process, but it's also
time-consuming for the ships awaiting
their cargoes.
In order to put a hold to these problems,
OTR has launched the "Mineral
Oil Optimizing Project", which entails
adjusting the system in such a way that
practically every grade of gasoil and
gasoline will have its own pipe system
to and from the tanks and jetties. At
this moment OTR is very busy preparing
for the construction of five new 10”
pig-able pipelines, modification of four
existing 10” pipelines and construction
of several new jumper stations. At the
same time operations must continue as
usual, because all tanks are rented out
to customers. All these lines are necessary
for connecting tankpits with
pumpstations, inter-connecting various
pumpstations and connecting pumpstations
with several jetties.
Eventually, this investment will lead to
improved efficiency, less risk of product
contamination, a considerable reduction
of our jetty utilization, less delay
for ships (including chemical tankers),
and consequently, a further increase of
our customer satisfaction.
Digging and piling for expansion of
Pump-station 8.
10 inch pipelines.
Pre-fabricated piggable lines.
12 ODFJELL Quarterly March 2005