Establish Ship Fueling Terminals at Western Coast KSA and Reflect on GDP

Abstract

AKNOWLEDGMENT

 I am pleased to extend my thanks to KACST's support as included in the Regulations of Research Funds (article 36-2): "This Article /Paper/Thesis/ Establish Ship fueling terminals at western coast KSA and reflect on GDP  contains the results and funding's of a research project that is funded by King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Grant No. LGP-36/12"

ABSTRACT

The Oil Price Information Service reports that there are 1,296 terminals storing transportation fuel nationwide. These terminals are constantly receiving, storing, and dispensing fuels. Over 1,200 of these terminals are either storing ethanol or are capable of storing it. Terminal equipment includes piping, valves, meters, pumps, truck and rail unloading skids, and tanks. Finished transportation fuels are dispensed to trucks for delivery to retail stations and other end use customers. This is achieved by complex control systems that pull fuels from various tanks gasoline blend stock, ethanol, and additives into a loading arm that delivers fuel into the truck. Interviews with companies indicate that there are minimal technical issues with storing and distributing more ethanol. However, there are several significant factors that could limit increased deployment of ethanol at terminals.

• The availability of land to add tanks and unloading equipment as well as land to accommodate increased truck traffic for ethanol deliveries.


• Permitting and regulatory processes to add tanks have become more time consuming and challenging in recent years.


• There are few existing tanks that are not already in use.


• It will be necessary to re-configure the existing loading racks and bay to accommodate additional equipment to fill trucks.


• A significant amount of capacity at terminals is leased to customers under long-term contracts to store specific fuels and volumes.

 Terminals are capable of handling more ethanol if the market conditions indicate long-term demand sufficient to warrant building additional infrastructure. Terminal companies indicate that most of their tanks are in use; therefore, accommodating ethanol at a volume of 25% to 40% will likely require installation of new tanks and other equipment. Some terminal locations may experience land constraints to accommodate additional infrastructure and increased truck traffic for fuel deliveries. There are potential hurdles upstream to deliver more ethanol by rail. Further analysis is needed to determine the availability of rail cars and ability of transmodal facilities to handle more ethanol.