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Shell, North Hampshire, UK

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OPW create bespoke chamber bonding solution for Shell, reducing installation time and cost

Project overview

Existing steel tank upstands on this site were not wide enough to facilitate a traditional bolted connection.

OPW’s UK engineering team created a bespoke chemical bonding system to attach FRP GRP Fibrelite tank sumps to the existing upstands, eliminating the need for additional work and expensive adapter adaptor plates.

Problem

Shell required a retrofit watertight solution to replace previously installed tank sumps / chambers fitted to existing tank upstands without replacing the tanks.

The main problem for this installation was that the old tank upstands were too small for the traditional bolt down tank sumps/chambers.

At this site, the old tank upstands were too small for the traditional bolt down chambers tank sumps / chambers
At this site, the old tank upstands were too small for the traditional bolt down chambers tank sumps / chambers
Shell required a retrofit watertight solution
Shell required a retrofit watertight solution
Previously installed chambers had corroded, allowing water ingress
Previously installed chambers had corroded, allowing water ingress

Solution

Bonding the chambers directly onto existing tank upstands saved Shell time and money on installation while providing a fully watertight chamber system, which will endure year after year.

The site team conducted a vacuum test onsite after the install to ensure water tightness of the chambers.

OPW’s Fibrelite team came up with a solution to chemically bond the FRP GRP square chambers onto the old tank upstands
OPW’s Fibrelite team came up with a solution to chemically bond the FRP GRP square chambers onto the old tank upstands
Tank surface being prepared for bonding
Tank surface being prepared for bonding
The Fibrelite site team conducted a vacuum test on site after the install
The Fibrelite site team conducted a vacuum test on site after the install

Results

The client now has a long-term access solution that requires minimal maintenance and will continue to perform year after year, withstanding harsh weather conditions and heavy traffic from emergency vehicles while enabling quick safe access for monitoring and maintenance. The customer is now considering replacing all the trench covers over the next two to three years.

Preparation of surface for putty
Preparation of surface for putty
Epoxy putty compound
Epoxy putty compound
Fibrelite tank sump mounted on old tank upstand
Fibrelite tank sump mounted on old tank upstand

Author:

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David Holmes

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