Fiberglass Tank Lightning Protection

Fiberglass tank fire caused by lightning is one of the biggest risks that operators of production and saltwater disposal sites would like to mitigate.

Fiberglass tanks at production and disposal sites are generally installed as part of a tank battery in combination with steel tanks. A protection system is designed to protect the whole tank battery from a direct lightning strike. The protection system bonds isolated metal bodies on fiberglass tanks in the tank battery to the lightning protection system. Further, a streamer delaying lightning rod (dissipator) based lightning protection system is installed directly over the tank vent piping.

It is a common myth that fiberglass tanks are more susceptible to lightning and static risks as compared to steel tanks. Considering that both tanks are generally installed onto lined containments, both tanks do not have a natural connection to the ground. Structural lightning protection will be required on both assets to safely transfer lightning energies to the ground.

IEEE recommends the use of inductive neutralizers (such as Static Lasso). They are attached to the tank through a bolt on the thief hatch. A bonding lug is installed above the flange of the thief hatch to bond the thief hatch and a static inductive neutralizer to the facility grounding system.

It is a common myth that fiberglass tanks are more susceptible to fires caused by static discharge as compared to steel tanks. Steel tanks are generally lined to minimize corrosion. This allows for in-tank static to accumulate inside the tank just like in the fiberglass tanks. Adequate measures must be taken for both tanks to dissipate the static safely to the ground as it generates.