Oil Storage Tank History and Features
Background of the Oil Storage Tanks
Innovation of the Nobel Oil Company
The first rectangular metal tank was built in the USA in 1864.
In 1876 brothers Robert (1829-1896)and Ludvig Nobel (1831–1888) started an oil company called Branobel in Baku, on the Caspian Sea. Robert lived in Baku for some time but had to return to Sweden for health reasons. Ludvig continued to develop the oil industry and made a number of technical innovations in what was then the Russian Empire, today – the territory of the Azerbaijan. Among these were pipelines for the transport of oil and oil tankers.
The world's first cylindrical oil storage tank made of riveted steel sheets was built by Vladimir Shukhov in Baku in 1878, commissioned by the Branobel. Prior to this, oil had been stored at Russian fields in open-air ponds.
In 1883 Shukhov proved in his work ‘Mechanical Structures of the Oil Industry’ that the optimal shape of a tank is a cylinder, covered at the top with a conical or flat roof, with optimal wall thickness by investigation of stress distribution using 4th degree differential equations. Shukhov standardised the main typical dimensions, so over 20,000 oil storage tanks were built in Russian Empire according to his drawings before 1917 alone.
Modern cylindrical oil storage tanks are still built according to the principles developed in the Nobel Oil Company in the XIX century.
In 1876 brothers Robert (1829-1896)and Ludvig Nobel (1831–1888) started an oil company called Branobel in Baku, on the Caspian Sea. Robert lived in Baku for some time but had to return to Sweden for health reasons. Ludvig continued to develop the oil industry and made a number of technical innovations in what was then the Russian Empire, today – the territory of the Azerbaijan. Among these were pipelines for the transport of oil and oil tankers.
The world's first cylindrical oil storage tank made of riveted steel sheets was built by Vladimir Shukhov in Baku in 1878, commissioned by the Branobel. Prior to this, oil had been stored at Russian fields in open-air ponds.
In 1883 Shukhov proved in his work ‘Mechanical Structures of the Oil Industry’ that the optimal shape of a tank is a cylinder, covered at the top with a conical or flat roof, with optimal wall thickness by investigation of stress distribution using 4th degree differential equations. Shukhov standardised the main typical dimensions, so over 20,000 oil storage tanks were built in Russian Empire according to his drawings before 1917 alone.
Modern cylindrical oil storage tanks are still built according to the principles developed in the Nobel Oil Company in the XIX century.
- Robert Nobel
- Ludvig Nobel
The legacy of V.G. Shukhov (1853-1939)
- 1878The Russia's first Balakhani — Baku oil pipeline.
- 1896The world's first hyperboloid structure.
- 1896Rotunda pavilion for the All-Russia Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod.
- 1912Thermal cracking unit.
- 1878The Russia's first Balakhani — Baku oil pipeline.
- 1896The world's first hyperboloid structure.
- 1896Rotunda pavilion for the All-Russia Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod.
- 1912Thermal cracking unit.
Why clean oil storage tanks?
To reduce the risk of self-ignition of pyrophoric deposits.
For routine maintenance and inspections.
To increase the usable volume.
To change the product.
For routine maintenance and inspections.
To increase the usable volume.
To change the product.
Oil Storage Tanks cleaning features
Oil Storage Tanks cleaning features
The use of assembled modular machinery
The manhole is used for service personnel access inside the tank, including for tank cleaning.
Typical manhole dimensions:
A powerful, and therefore large and heavy, washing system can only get into an oil storage tank in parts through the narrow manhole.
Typical manhole dimensions:
- oval 600 х 900mm;
- round Ø 500, 600 and 800mm.
A powerful, and therefore large and heavy, washing system can only get into an oil storage tank in parts through the narrow manhole.
The use of assembled modular machinery
The manhole is used for service personnel access inside the tank, including for tank cleaning.
Typical manhole dimensions:
A powerful, and therefore large and heavy, washing system can only get into an oil storage tank in parts through the narrow manhole.
Typical manhole dimensions:
- oval 600 х 900mm;
- round Ø 500, 600 and 800mm.
A powerful, and therefore large and heavy, washing system can only get into an oil storage tank in parts through the narrow manhole.
Long cables and powerful pumps
Oil storage tanks are manufactured in accordance with GOSTR 52 910-2008, if necessary, equipped with heating system and heat insulation. The main storage item is oil.
Typical tank dimensions:
The length of hoses and cables connecting base to the robotic unit is min. 85 m.
Typical tank dimensions:
- capacity, thous. m3 — 100/50/30/20/10/5;
- diameter, m — 85/61/46/40/34/23;
- height, m — 18/18/18/18/12/12.
The length of hoses and cables connecting base to the robotic unit is min. 85 m.
Long cables and powerful pumps
Oil storage tanks are manufactured in accordance with GOSTR 52 910-2008, if necessary, equipped with heating system and heat insulation. The main storage item is oil.
Typical tank dimensions:
The length of hoses and cables connecting base to the robotic unit is min. 85 m.
Typical tank dimensions:
- capacity, thous. m3 — 100/50/30/20/10/5;
- diameter, m — 85/61/46/40/34/23;
- height, m — 18/18/18/18/12/12.
The length of hoses and cables connecting base to the robotic unit is min. 85 m.
Compliant with GOST safety standards
Hazardous area classification according to GOST 31 610.10−2012/IEC 60 079−10:2002
According to GOST TS 012/2011, GOST 31 441.1−2011 the cleanping equipment must be intrinsically safe for "Zone 0".
Specifically:
Specifically:
- Materials: stainless steel, aluminium, brass;
- Drive: hydraulic or pneumatic;
- Low displacement and rotation speeds.
Hazardous area classification according to GOST 31 610.10−2012/IEC 60 079−10:2002
According to GOST TS 012/2011, GOST 31 441.1−2011 the cleanping equipment must be intrinsically safe for "Zone 0".
Specifically:
Specifically:
- Materials: stainless steel, aluminium, brass;
- Drive: hydraulic or pneumatic;
- Low displacement and rotation speeds.
Official partner of
Gröninger Cleaning
Systems
Gröninger Cleaning
Systems
LANGUAGE
- English (International)
- Deutsch
- Français
- Español
© 2026 All rights reserved. Roman Empire ®