Long Term Fuel Storage - What Comes Next?

At Camin Cargo Control, we are all aware that the current socioeconomic climate has drastically impacted the manner in which our clients have to manage their businesses and mitigate exposure.  The decrease in market consumption has put a strain on the petroleum industry and placed it in a position of having to store products for longer periods than are optimal for the assurance of product quality.  All petroleum fuels undergo chemical reactions during storage which are deleterious to the product. 

The results of these reactions vary based upon the fuel being stored but can include: formation of gums, acids, particulates, asphaltenes, microbes, polymers, etc., or a combination thereof. 

The number and rate of these reactions depend on various environmental conditions: concentration of reaction precursors, oxygen levels, amount of light, presence of catalytic species (i.e. metals), and very importantly storage temperature. 

As the industry is entering into the third consecutive month of increasing volumes in storage, compounded by the fact of seasonal rise in temperatures (e.g. average of 13°F higher in May than in March), now is the time to verify the quality of your stored product and evaluate actions that may need to be taken.

Our lab experts are capable of providing a complete testing regimen to provide you with information needed to assess your current and ongoing product quality while in storage.  The products and parameters of interest can include but are not limited to the following:

Gasolines – Appearance, Haze, RVP, Gums, Oxidation Stability, NACE Corrosion and Copper Corrosion

Jet Fuels – Appearance, JFTOT, Gums, MSEP, Electrical Conductivity and Flash

Diesel and Gas Oil – Appearance, Haze, ASTM Color, Thermal Stability, Oxidation Stability, Biologicals, Flash and Sulfur (ULSD)

Heavy Fuel Oil – Cleanliness and Compatibility, TSE and TSP, bottom samples for Water, Sediment, Asphaltenes and Chemical Species

Ethanol – Water Content, Acidity, pH and Purity

Petrochemicals and Butadiene – Dimer and Polymer Content, Peroxides, Inhibitor Levels and Purity

Petroleum products that may have been treated with H2S Scavengers, Inhibitors, Dissipaters or Deactivator Additives should be verified to ensure those products are still at adequate levels to protect your product.

Camin Cargo has the capability, capacity, and operational readiness to assist with product assurance during these unprecedented times.  Please contact us for additional information.