Hazardous phenomena in flammable liquid storage facilities - Fires and explosions

Petroleum logistics covers all operations involved in transporting petroleum products from their place of production to consumers. It relies in particular on the installation of petroleum infrastructures for the production, transport and storage of these products. The production function is performed by refineries, which transform crude oil into consumable products (fuels in particular, but not exclusively). The transport of these products is carried out by pipelines in terms of infrastructure (transport can also be carried out by barges, trains and tanker trucks). Finally, storage is provided by refineries, underground storage (caverns) and oil depots.

Storage capacity is an essential link in this logistics chain. In particular, they enable us to secure the distribution of products throughout the country, for a given period, in the event of a supply disruption. In France, almost half of all storage capacity is provided by oil depots. There are over 200 depots with capacities in excess of 400 m ³ , scattered across the country. Some depots are located close to urban areas or roads. This network, which ensures efficient distribution to consumers, also increases the number of high-risk facilities, bringing them closer to consumers.

These storage depots have a hazard potential typical of the flammable nature of the products concerned. But the combination of the storage method and the quantities stored gives a particularity to the dangerous phenomena that can occur there. Phenomena classically associated with the use of flammable products, such as fires or explosions, can thus occur, but with increased duration or intensity due to the inventories in question. The Buncefield accident in 2005 and the Jaipur accident in 2008 are tragic examples of this. In addition, much more specific phenomena, closely linked to the way flammable liquids are stored in atmospheric tanks, can also occur (boil-over, pressurization, tank explosion, etc.). In this respect, liquid hydrocarbon storage depots differ from other petroleum installations. Given the stakes involved, it is essential to characterize the effects of these phenomena as accurately as possible, taking into account the specific characteristics of these infrastructures.

The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the hazardous phenomena likely to occur in oil depots handling flammable liquids, and to present the main modeling approaches used in the industry, as well as existing prevention measures. It focuses mainly on hazardous phenomena classically associated with the nature of flammable products. It covers the phenomena of spreading and dispersion, explosion/flash fire, slick fire, tank fire and flaming jet. More specific phenomena (boil over,...