A bullet tank is a storage container that houses natural gas liquids (NGLs). The tanks come in many different sizes and include accessories that best suit your operation.
Bullet tanks range from 6,000 to 30,000 gallons, with an 18,000-gallon tank being the most common size. Tanks should be no more than 70-80% full in order for the NGLs expand in the vessel.
The average pressure in a tank should be around 250 psi in order to keep NGLs housed and under a low pressure, so holding trucks can get to the site and remove liquids.
WHAT cOMPONENTS ARE IN A BULLET TANK?
- Bulkhead Stanchion: a channel that protects against accidental truck pull-away.
- Pressure Relief Valves: the most vital valve on any tank. It is designed to relieve excess pressure. It keeps the tank from exploding if there is excess pressure buildup. All our valves here at CROFT are set to 250 psi.
- Level Gauge: gives continuous measurements of NGL levels.
- Emergency Shutoff Valve: minimizes liquid loss in the case of emergency
- Flex Hose, Hose Couplings: protects piping in case the trucking company pulls away with the hoses connected and moves the bulkhead. The flex hoses will stretch versus breaking the ridged piping.
- High-Pressure Regulator: regulates pneumatic pressure suitable for all the ESV’s to work properly.
- Pneumatic 3-way valves: allows you safely shut in the tank, controlling the pneumatic valves when the truck removes NGLs
- Tubing Fittings: very tight seals to prevent gas leakage and must be resistant to chemical corrosion.
- Internal Valves and Internal Pop-off: used on the liquid out and vapor return lines. These valves are pneumatic in a fail closed position.
Some of these accessories are to help with safety features and are the main components of our current design here at CROFT.
hOW AND WHERE ARE BULLET TANKS USED?
Now that you know what a bullet tank is and the different accessories that can come with it, you are probably thinking where do I use them or where do I put it? Most bullet tanks are connected to the cold separator drain on a Joule Thomson System (JTS), or on mechanical refrigeration units for the collection and temporary storage of the recovered natural gas liquids.
You can also find these oilfield tanks storage tanks being used in refineries or end-use locations for bulk storage of sellable products, such as propane or butane storage. Here at Croft Production Systems, we offer new, refurbished, and as is units than can be equipped with any of the accessories listed above. All our equipment here at CROFT goes through many series of tests to ensure quality production.
