Category Archives: Projects

Tank to Tank Ethanol Transfer

SPEC provided support for the modification of terminal piping to allow for an existing regular gasoline tank to be used as an ethanol swing tank during a tank inspection at a refined products distribution terminal. SPEC designed new pipe spools and isolation valves to allow for unloading from, and loading to, the load rack at the new swing tank, field measurements of existing piping for drafting, stress analysis for new pipe spools, and creation of project record drawings. SPEC’s design allowed for the use of an existing tank for ethanol storage in time for the terminal to meet the deadline for the existing ethanol tank inspection.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Process Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Design and Drafting, Procurement Support

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: Southwestern, USA

Tags: Gasoline, Hydraulic Calculations

Oil & Gas Facility Compliance & Risk Assessment

The project involved performing facility and equipment risk assessments on crude oil pipelines, pipeline pump stations, and terminal and tank facilities using the API Risk Management Methods in API Publication 353 Managing System Integrity of Terminal and Tank Facilities. SPEC performed the risk assessments and trained the Client engineers in the risk assessment and risk mitigation techniques at crude oil gathering facilities associated with the Client’s pipeline facilities. The goal of the risk assessments was to identify high risk facilities and components and develop a screening/ranking of high-risk facilities and equipment. The method was then used to compare risk reduction of various risk mitigation measures as outlined in API Publication 340 Liquid Release Prevention Measures for Aboveground Storage Tank Facilities.

Services Provided: Engineering, Risk Assessment

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: China

Tags: Crude, Pipeline, Risk Assessment

New Rail Car Unloading

SPEC provided multidisciplined engineering services (process, mechanical, civil, electrical) for unloading of ethanol and asphalt at a storage tank facility. The client required a backup unloading facility to supplement the existing marine unloading facility. SPEC designed the mechanical and civil portion of the rail unloading area. SPEC designed a new NG fired hot oil heater and hot oil heat tracing of the new asphalt piping. The rail car also required steam for offloading of asphalt. SPEC specified a new pre-engineered metal building to house a new steam supply system. SPEC designed a new steam generator utilizing the hot oil system, de-aerator, water treatment, blow down, etc. for the new steam system. Ethanol rail car unloading allowed the facility to receive ethanol via rail coming in on 100 car unit trains. SPEC worked with a third-party engineer on the rail track design and switching.

Services Provided: Process, Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Client: Construction Materials Company

Project Location: Northeast, USA

Tags: Asphalt, Ethanol, Rail, Storage Tank

Structural Assessment of Operational Equipment

SPEC’s Client required inspection of and condition survey of existing overhead conveyors at their quarry location. SPEC provided structural engineering assessment, design, and support services to complete the structural condition surveys of the existing conveyors. The project required SPEC to assess the condition of the conveyor structural supports, including foundations, to determine the adequacy of continued use and to determine required maintenance. SPEC designed repairs, replacement members or replacement of complete structural elements based on the condition assessments to allow the conveyor to continue to operate. SPEC provided reports and detailed drawings for the client to review and complete the project.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Civil/Structural Engineering, Design and Drafting, Safety.

Client: Mining and Construction Materials Corporation

Project Location: Northeast, USA

Tags: Foundations, Mining, OSHA, Quarry, Risk Assessment, Safety, Structural Analysis

Marketing Terminal Upgrade

SPEC provided the engineering, procurement support, and construction management for the upgrade of a Petroleum Marketing Terminal. The upgrades included demolition of (2) existing tanks, installation of a new 45,000 BBL storage tank, (4) new ANSI rack supply pumps, (2) new (3) arm loading skids with meters, control valves, additive injectors, and instrumentation for ULSD and ethanol blended Regular, Midgrade and Premium Gasolines. New outdoor MCC and load rack control equipment were also installed.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Process Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation and Controls, Mechanical Engineering, Design and Drafting, Safety, Fire Protection, Procurement Support, Construction Management

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: Midwest, USA

Quarry Regulatory and Operation Concern Resolution

SPEC provided engineering, design, and support services for a client to resolve regulatory and ongoing operational concerns. The project required rectifying stormwater, visual and waste/overburden storage concerns. SPEC satisfied the regulatory requirements by using the overburden to rectify the visual concerns and addressed the stormwater issues at the site. SPEC designed the site grading layout and stormwater systems to meet local and state requirements on a geometrically and topographically constrained site. SPEC served as the primary point of contact for the local municipality, state, and federal regulators.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Civil/Structural Engineering, Design and Drafting, Permitting.

Client: Minerals, Mining, and Construction Materials Corporation

Project Location: Northeast, USA

Tags: Environmental, Mining, Permitting, Quarry, Stormwater

Ethanol Blending Project

A Client’s Terminal was upgraded to facilitate side-stream blending 10% denatured ethanol into three grades of conventional gasoline (premium, mid, and regular) with the capability to convert to reformulated gasoline. The upgrade involved converting the existing marine offloading facility and two gas tanks to ethanol service as well as the installation of a new custody transfer truck offloading system to provide an alternative ethanol supply method. The terminal was upgraded with the facilities and capacity to load denatured ethanol trucks.

Services Provided: Process, Mechanical, Civil, and Electrical Engineering Design; Environmental Permitting; Construction Observation; Equipment and Procurement Services

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: Northeast, USA

Tags: Ethanol Blending, Gasoline, Instrumentation & Control, Marine, Pump, Storage Tank, Terminal

Greenfield Site Evaluation for Distribution Terminal

SPEC provided project development, engineering, and drafting support for a greenfield site evaluation for the development of a new distribution terminal. SPEC’s role included assisting in the definition of the overall project scope and cost, site layout of existing Client-owned greenfield site, design of tanks, load rack, retention pond, pipeline manifold, containment, additive systems, entrance and exit road installation, and vapor recovery unit. The project required that SPEC’s design and layout fit within the surrounding environmental protected areas and nearby city property setbacks.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Process Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Design and Drafting

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: Canada

Dock & Tank Reactivation

SPEC provided project development, engineering, permitting, drafting, procurement, and construction support for the reactivation of an existing terminal dock and tank damaged during past flooding. SPEC’s role included assisting in the definition of the overall project scope, permitting, rehabilitation of the dock unloading system, design of a new dock manifold and platform, design of new piping to tanks, installation of new pipe supports, manifolds, rehabilitation of existing idled tank into a new product, and installation of new piping to the load rack.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Process Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation and Controls, Mechanical Engineering, Design and Drafting, Permitting, Procurement Support, Construction Management

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: Southeast, USA

Tags: Dock, Foundations, Gasoline, Hydraulic Calculations, Instrumentation & Control, Load Rack, Manifold, Marine, Permitting, Pipe Supports, Platform, Relief Devices, Storage Tank, Terminal

Pipeline Asset Separation

SPEC provided project development, engineering, permitting, drafting, procurement, and construction support for the separation of a client’s assets from those sold to a 3^rd party pipeline company. SPEC’s role included assisting in the definition of the overall project scope, permitting, modification of existing pipelines and equipment, design of multiple new meter and pressure protection manifolds, and the installation of new electrical switch racks. SPEC’s project scope included coordination of design, drawings, and construction across three sites.

Services Provided: Project Management and Design, Process Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation and Controls, Mechanical Engineering, Design and Drafting, Permitting, Procurement Support, Construction Management

Client: Major Oil Company

Project Location: Southeast, USA

Tags: Automated Valve, Crude, Flow Control, Foundations, Hydraulic Calculations, Instrumentation & Control, Meter Skid, Outdoor Switchrack Design, Permitting, Pipe Supports, Pipeline, Platform, PLC/Automation System Design, Pressure Control, Relief Devices, Surge Relief