When an existing tank seal reaches the end of its service life, replacing it is about much more than simply supplying new components.
The right solution needs to be designed around the existing tank, manufactured to suit the specific application, delivered safely to site and, perhaps most importantly, installed correctly and efficiently to minimise downtime.
For a project in Nigeria, EWFM provided exactly that end-to-end support.
The Challenge
EWFM was approached by a local contractor in Nigeria who was working on a floating roof storage tank requiring a replacement tank seal. The tank had a Diameter of 26m and Height of 21m.
The challenge was not simply to provide a replacement seal. The new system needed to be suitable for the existing tank, straightforward to install and arrive on site ready for installation with minimal complications.
With the tank ultimately needing to return to service as quickly and safely as possible, close coordination between the contractor, site engineers, EWFM and the factory design team was essential.
A Collaborative Approach
From the outset, our team worked closely with the local contractor and engineers on site to understand both the technical requirements and the practical challenges associated with the supply and installation.
The factory design team was also involved throughout the process, allowing the seal to be engineered specifically around the tank and its existing conditions.
Following this detailed review, the DL5 Double Compression Plate Seal was selected as the ideal solution for the application.
The DL5 Double Compression Plate Seal is designed to minimise product evaporation losses and help control emissions from floating roof storage tanks.
For this particular application, several features made it especially well suited to the project:
- Top-of-roof installation – The seal can be installed from the top of the tank roof without hot work or welding, helping to minimise installation time and tank downtime.
- Designed for tank irregularities – Each plate assembly is individually manufactured and designed to accommodate shell irregularities, local dents and tank deformations that may occur over the life of the tank.
- Long service life – The seal is designed for a service life of approximately 20 years, depending on operating and site conditions.
From Manufacture to Site
Once the design drawings had been reviewed and approved, manufacture was completed and the seal was prepared for transportation to Nigeria.
With attention given to packaging the equipment appropriately for the journey and ensuring it could be safely stored on site until installation was ready to commence.
But our involvement did not stop when the seal arrived at site.
On-Site Installation Support
For the installation, an experienced supervisor from the factory travelled to Nigeria and remained on site for the duration of the installation.
Having experienced technical support on site proved invaluable.
The supervisor was able to work directly with the local installation team, oversee the installation process and provide practical guidance throughout. This also meant that when local site challenges arose, they could be assessed and resolved immediately, helping to keep the installation safe, efficient and on track.
A Successful Project
The project was successfully completed, with the new DL5 tank seal installed and the customer satisfied with the result.
The contractor also shared a great photograph of their installation team together with our factory supervisor following completion of the work.
For us, this project demonstrated the value of working collaboratively with our customers and contractors from the initial design stage right through to installation.
A floating roof tank seal replacement may start with a requirement for a new seal, but successful delivery depends on much more than the equipment itself.
The right design. The right support. The right result.
