Petroleum products are dangerous, being subject to risks of fire, explosion and pollution. The safety and security of depots and the distribution chain is therefore an absolute priority. In Europe, regulations are very strict. Like refineries, petroleum depots are classified under “Seveso II” and are therefore very regularly inspected by the appropriate administrative departments.
A depot is equipped with numerous safety systems, particularly at the level of each storage tank:
- Safety valves and, for tanks containing volatile products, floating screens which restrict the dispersion of hydrocarbon fumes;
- Alarms and detectors of hydrocarbons in the retaining basins to detect any leaks;
- Alarms and automatic stopcocks in case of leaks in a pipeline;
- Fire-fighting installations, both fixed (automatic spray systems, water curtains) and mobile (water cannons), with sufficient reserves of water and foam products (emulsifiers), to extinguish any possible fire. |
Fire-fighting drills take place once a month
and there are annual simulation exercises with firemen.
Respect of the environment is also ensured. Each depot possesses the following installations:
- A recovery unit for fumes emitted on tanker loading bays, in order to protect air quality;
- Holding basins to recover surface water runoff, and separator-decantation systems to decontaminate them;
- Leak-proof and easy to inspect retaining dikes around tanks and pipelines, to ensure protection of surrounding soils from product seepage;
- A waste collection system (oily rags, mud from the bottom of tanks), the waste being subsequently incinerated by specialist companies.
And finally, safety and security of the final distribution operation is not neglected. Delivery tanker drivers must have a special licence for the transport of hydrocarbons. Tankers and equipment are inspected regularly. Similarly, the petroleum companies inspect the systems at the points of delivery, even if they don’t own them.
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