Oil & Gas Tank Lining Innovation in a Changing Industry

THE HISTORY OF TANK LININGS
Since the 1980s, technological advancements have changed the way chemicals are processed and stored, particularly within the Oil & Gas market. Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of linings for more than three decades and was one of the first companies to introduce a solvent-free epoxy lining to the market. Sherwin-Williams also pioneered fast return to service linings through its Opti-Check™ Optically Active Pigment (OAP) and styrene-free vinyl ester technologies.

To view the history of linings in the coatings industry, refer to Table 1, which outlines chemical-resistant lining technologies and specifications throughout the past few decades.
 

TABLE 1: HISTORY OF CHEMICAL-RESISTANT LININGS

CHANGING PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Performance requirements for Oil & Gas protective linings have changed drastically since their inception. Before the use of tank linings, crude oils, heavy fuel oils and diesels were considered non-corrosive – a theory that was proven wrong when water and acid contamination led to severe corrosion and “pitted” tank bottoms. Also, previous lining technologies did not address microbiologically-induced corrosion, which is a major source of internal corrosion in mild steel storage tanks across various markets.

Refer to Table 2 for additional performance requirement changes.

TABLE 2: CHANGES IN LINING PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS 1960S – PRESENT

THE “NEXT-GENERATION” OF TANK LININGS: NOVA-PLATE® 360
Lining technology is always changing. Merely replacing what was there previously is not an option – it is important to improve and evolve linings to meet shifting market requirements.

With the increasing demands in the Oil & Gas industry (on temperatures, pressures and aggressive chemical exposure), Sherwin-Williams has developed Nova-Plate 360, a flake-reinforced novolac tank lining. This highly crosslinked lining utilizes the latest novolac and multifunctional curative technology and is the first product of its kind.

Nova-Plate 360 provides exceptional resistance against increasingly aggressive solvents and can withstand greater temperatures and pressures. This lining minimizes asset downtime and saves time during the inspection process.

Sherwin-Williams deployed the product development process with the following intentions in mind:

1. The polymer (resin) system was optimized for chemical resistance without compromising flexibility – a key requirement for long lining life, pot life and cure time.
2. The pigmentation was selected to safeguard chemical resistance and barrier properties. Advanced technology was used to bind the pigments into the resin, which enhances performance and reinforces the film while maintaining the viscosity required for all common application methods (airless, plural and others).
3. Aluminum oxide was incorporated to enhance abrasion resistance.
4. PTFE, a hydrophobic additive with exceptional chemical resistance, was included to optimize and enhance cleaning properties without impacting the lining’s ability to adhere to steel or overcoating properties.
5. Opti-Check™ OAP was incorporated to assist with inspection – reducing the reliance on high voltage spark testing.

All of these features were finely tuned and balanced to ensure that performance and application characteristics were not compromised. A key competitive lining was used for comparison during every stage of development to ensure performance was ahead of current products in the market.

For reference, Table 3 displays testing results for Nova-Plate 360.

TABLE 3: NOVA-PLATE 360 PERFORMANCE TESTING

NOVA-PLATE 360 AND API
For storage tanks, it is vital to follow API 652 for the correct selection and application of linings according to service and substrate conditions. Sherwin-Williams has in-depth experience with tank linings, which has enabled it to engineer Nova-Plate 360 – a lining with a long life expectancy that meets API 652.

Standard storage tank inspections will continue to be a requirement of API 653 to ensure optimum life. The integral design of linings can also be used to simplify the inspection process through the following characteristics:

1. By intentionally designing Nova-Plate 360 to be abrasion resistant and easy to clean, this lining simplifies the emptying, cleaning and inspection processes. Ease of cleaning and reduced damage can offer significant time and money savings over the life of the tank.
2. Enhancements with optically active pigments offer benefits during application, as the lining can be checked for pin holes. The use of UV lamps during planned inspections will also identify any damage to the lining, which may not be visible to the naked eye, especially because spark testing after service is not recommended.
3. New in-situ methods are becoming available, which allow for quicker predictive inspection of storage tanks. Nova-Plate 360 is designed to be compatible with such inspection techniques. These methods are accepted as API 653-compliant, and combined with long-life linings, offer potential huge savings in inspection costs over the projected life of a tank.

FULFILLING THE NEED FOR LONGER SERVICE LIFE
To meet market demands, Sherwin-Williams needed to develop a new product, integrating novolac chemistry with binding technology. Nova-Plate 360 meets these stringent market requirements in terms of performance and price, and it exhibits improved application properties.

Not only does Nova-Plate 360 enable time savings through application and cure, but its OAP technology immediately identifies holidays and missed areas, allowing rectifications to be made instantly. The UHS technology and capability can be applied over a wide range of thicknesses (15-50 mils) too, making this lining suitable for new construction and maintenance projects, where application over pitted surfaces is required.

The ability to resist aggressive materials has become increasingly important for 21st-century tanks, which often house biofuels and oxygenated gasoline. Unlike its predecessors, Nova-Plate 360 can withstand these aggressive chemicals at high temperatures and pressures – showcasing its superior performance and high end-use versatility.

API 652 and API 653 will likely remain the key lining selection and inspection standards in the market for quite some time. By developing products based on new technology, iterations and learnings, Sherwin-Williams has proved time and cost savings can be achieved. This product has proven that next-generation linings can reduce complexity for owners and specifiers.

CITATIONS

1. API RP 652 Linings of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms, Fifth Edition
2. API Std 653 Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, Fifth Edition, Includes Addendum 1 (2018), Addendum 2 (2020), and Errata 1 (2020)
3. EI Standard 1541 Requirements for internal protective coating systems used in aviation fuel handling systems
4. MIL-PRF-23236D, Performance Specification: Coating Systems for Ship Structures (15 Sep 2009)
5. ASTM D4541-17> Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers
6. NACE TM0174-2002, Laboratory Methods for the Evaluation of Protective Coatings and Lining Materials on Metallic Substrates in Immersion Service
7. ISO 2812-2:2018 Paints and varnishes — Determination of resistance to liquids — Part 2: Water immersion method
8. TM0185-2006-SG, Evaluation of Internal Plastic Coatings for Corrosion Control of Tubular Goods by Autoclave Testing

APPENDIX A: API STANDARDS
The API provides a framework and guidance on construction, protection and inspection of above-ground steel storage tanks, including

• API 650: Offers guidance on tank construction
• API 651: Suggests best use of cathodic protection
• API 652: Reviews the types and selection of linings for protection of storage tanks
• API 653: Gives direction on inspection intervals and how linings can assist in increasing them

API 652 provides thorough guidance on the selection of a lining and partial direction on the type of lining that should be used, but ultimately, lining selection is decided by the specification or engineer. Lining selection is left in the hands of the supplier, considering that generic linings may not perform the same. API 652 is based on the following criteria:

1. Condition of the substrate
2. Tank history (including repairs, subsidence, previous cargo)
3. Stored material (temperature, approvals, purity and flexibility)
4. Durability

API 652 also stresses the importance of surface preparation and application to achieve desired lining performance. Quality linings suppliers will offer high levels of inspection during application to help ensure the optimum performance of the lining.

Each category has varying performance and application characteristics.

Subsequent inspections are determined in accordance with a risk-based inspection protocol, measured on corrosion rate; and meeting all the criteria can increase the maximum interval to 15 years.