BTC PROJECT EIA TURKEY FINAL EIA

9.4.2

Receiving facilities

The Receiving Facilities serve as the interface between the continuous operation of the BTC Pipeline and the intermittent operation of the crude oil export shipping operations. The incoming 34 inch (850mm) nominal diameter BTC Pipeline will enter the BTC Marine Terminal boundary from the north, close to the location of the proposed Tank Farm. The total area occupied by the Pipeline Receiving Facilities and Tank Farm is approximately 65ha. The Receiving Facilities will regulate the pressure of the incoming crude oil stream such that the oil can be stored in tanks at atmospheric pressure. The Receiving Facilities will comprise the following components: Pig Receiving Unit; Surge Relief System; Terminal Pressure Reduction Station; Wax Handling System.

9.4.2.1

Pig receiver unit

Since the receiving facilities constitute the end of the BTC Pipeline, the Pig Receiver will receive pigs that have been launched down the final stretch of the pipeline from Pressure Reduction Station IPT1 (see Section 4). The Pig Receiver will be designed to receive pigs of various types (see Box 4.1, in Section 4). Calliper and displacement pigs will be run down the Pipeline during start-up of the pipeline. Since the ACG crude is a waxy crude, frequent runs (possibly once or twice per week) with scraper pigs are foreseen. The pig receiver unit will therefore be fitted with an appropriate wax removal system. At certain time intervals (approximately once every 5-10 years) intelligent pig runs will be performed for assessing the integrity of the BTC Pipeline (see Section 4).

9.4.2.2

Surge pressure relief system

To safeguard the integrity of the final stretch of the BTC Pipeline (from Pressure Reduction Station IPT1) and the downstream BTC Marine Terminal facilities, the Terminal will be fitted with surge pressure relief valves, which will release any excessive pressure caused by transient flow conditions in the pipeline upstream of the Terminal. The Terminal will also be equipped with a surge Relief Tank, which has the capacity to hold the maximum quantity of oil that may be released during any foreseeable transient situation (such as failure of the pressure reduction system at IPT1 or unscheduled valve closures). Once normal operations are resumed, the contents of the Relief Tank will be pumped to the Terminal Storage Tanks for onward transfer to the export jetty. The Relief Tank will be of the cylindrical, vertical type according to API Standard 650. It will have a fixed conical roof design but will be fitted with an internal floating roof to minimise fugitive emissions of hydrocarbon vapours. Its dimensions will be 33m in diameter and 16m high, with a net working volume of 11,100 m3 . The relief tank will be bunded to accommodate 110 % of the net tank volume. It will occupy an area of approximately 0.60 ha.

THE MARINE TERMINAL OCTOBER 2002 9-6