A terminal (also called a tank farm) is an industrial facility used to store oil, gas, and/or petrochemical products. Terminals are made up of underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, or both, and pipelines, which are used to receive product, as well as transport product to the end user or further storage facilities. There are currently over 6,000 terminals in the world, with over 2,000 located in North America.
Oil terminals are strategically located, typically near oil-producing regions and refineries, or connected to them via pipelines. They are primarily used for the reception, storage, and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products. The oil is typically stored in fixed-roof or floating-roof tanks. Fixed-roof tanks are generally used for lower volatility products, while floating-roof tanks, which minimize vapor losses, are used for storing higher volatility products. Distribution from these terminals is done primarily through pipelines, trucks, trains, or tanker ships.
Gas terminals are dedicated to the storage and distribution of natural gas and its derivatives. Natural gas processing involves the separation of methane, the primary component of natural gas, from other hydrocarbons and fluids to produce 'pipeline quality' dry natural gas. This gas can be transported via pipelines or, for overseas transport, may be converted into liquefied natural gas (LNG) at a liquefaction plant. LNG is stored in specialized cryogenic tanks that maintain the gas at low temperatures. These facilities may also include re-gasification plants that convert the LNG back to its gaseous state for distribution to consumers.
Terminals are pivotal in managing and balancing supply and demand while providing a buffer to absorb shocks in the oil and gas market. Their operational efficiency and safety are of great importance, as disruptions can have substantial impacts on energy security and prices.
References
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_terminal.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural-gas_processing.
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https://tankterminals.com/.
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