PETROL IN BULK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 23

PETROL IN BULK.

BIG DEVELOPMENT AT TIMARU. “SHELL” COMPANY OPENS TIMARU’S FIRST BULxI INSTALLATION.

The above illustration depicts the tanker Seopas, which arrived in port last week and discharged the first overseas consignment of motor spirit in bulk to reaeli Tiniaru. The cargo, comprising some 2000 tons of bulk petrol, was for the British Imperial Oil Company, and the arrival of the Scopas made possible the opening of that company’s extensive waterfront installation, which has been constructed at the junction of Fraser- and Wharf streets, Tiniaru. The British Imperial Oil Company, who many years ago pioneered the bulk movement in Australia, have been responsible for the introduction of the bulk system, and its rapid expansion, from North Cape to Bluff. Twelve months ago' the Shell Company opened the parent installation at Miramar, Wellington, where tankage accommodation was provided for the storage of bulk petrol and kerosene, and where tins and cases are at present manufactured byNew Zealand workmen, to supply the existing but rapidly diminishing demand for cased products. A plant of similar type to the Wellington one, which covers 28 acres of ground, has been installed at Auckland, and waterside and inland depots are at present in the course of construction throughout the Dominion. When proposed waterside bulk storage facilities are complete, and underground tankage accommodation is provided at the many country depots proposed, the call for cased products will be negligible. Progress, to date enables motorists to form their own opinion as to the advantages of the bulk system. These'-are many, but the most encouraging feature of the change is the creation of local industry and the fostering of trade within ‘the Dominion. Furthermore, that which will tend towards the economical importation and distribution of any commodity must necessarily carry its advantages to the ultimate user. Already the bulk system has merited its introduction, and has proved itself a decided advance on earlier methods. With the opening up of these waterside and smaller country depots throughout New Zealand, an industry comparatively new to the Dominion is being rapidly expanded, and the ultimate result should and doubtless will be the conference of appreciative benefits not only to the consumer of motor spirit, but to the Dominion as a whole. THE TIMARU INSTALLATION.

The Shell Company’s waterside depot at Timaru covers an area of nearly two acres, and is equipped with the most modern appliances available to facilitate the prompt and economical storage and handling of Shell Motor Spirit xand other products marketed by the British Imperial Oil Company. STORAGE TANKS. The attention of the visitors to the Shell Company’s recently constructed installation on the Timaru waterfront will first be attracted by the three large storage tanks, which are constructed of sheet steel of thicknesses varying from 9-16 in at the bottom to at the top, and which are covered with a specially designed steel roof of light gauge. One tank is of 50ft diameter, and has a storage capacity of 1160 tons, the second, a 44ft diameter tank, is capable of storing 500 tons, whilst a smaller tank of 25ft diameter can accommodate up to 250 tons of bulk petrol. In addition to these is a 12ft diameter tank known as a “settling tank,” and two 30ft by 9ft tanks, each of 12,000 gallons capacity. These are elevated on steel structures, and are provided for the purpose of feeding the various filling points. In the installation there is a filling point from which rail tank cars receive supplies, another for road tank waggons,, and others for various purposes, such as for. the filling of measuring machines from which bulk spirit is packed into drums. These latter machines are calibrated to contain the exact quantity of spirit intended for the container being filled, and are, of course, stamped by the Government Weights and Measures Department.

FROM REFINERY TO TIMARU IN BULK. The bulk cargoes of the company’s products will be brought to New Zealand by tankers of the “Shell” fleet. Tankers carrying bulk supplies for Timaru will be berthed at No. 1 Wharf, where, from the vessel’s tanks, the spirit will be conducted through pipe lines to the storage reservoirs at the installation, at the rate of approximately 200 tons per hour. For this purpose an Bin diameter pipeline is laid underground from the installation boundary across Wharf street to a point on No. 1 "Wharf where there is a connection from which the hose is coupled to the tanker. The pipe which conducts the spirit from the ship’s tanks to the connection on the wharf is constructed of Sin flexible hose, especially manufactured for resisting the action of motor spirit. In this pipe-line is a nonreturn valve, which prevents the petrel from flowing back. There is no handling, and cranes, derricks, slings, and winches lie idle whilst, as a result of a mere pipe-line connection, the cargo passes through ship’s tanks to new storage quarters on the Timaru waterfront. To regulate the expansion and contraction of the contents of tanks under certain atmospheric conditions valves which act automatically' are placed on the roof near the edge. Roof sprays have been installed to provide a film or envelope of water when required for cooling purposes. Another feature of the construction is a special type spirit pump, driven electrically, to pump the spirit from the main to the elevated tanks.

A railway siding has been laid down to the depot, so that rail tank ears, which are already a familiar sight, can be run along to the filling points to receive their supplies for transference to the smaller inland depots, such as Ashburton and Gain a in. At these points (Ashburton . and Oainaru) bulk storage facilities are likewise being provided. At inland depots the smaller storage tanks arc built underground. Supplies for Ashburton and Oamaru will be drawn from the Timaru installation, and conveyed by means of rail tank waggons to the towns mentioned. The discharge, of the Scopas last week made available in Timaru ample supplies of petrol to meet the likely demand of Timaru and the centres to be served from it for some considerable time. RESERVE STOCKS. A big feature of the provision of bulk storage is the Shell Company’s ability to accommodate considerable reserve stocks, in that when all installations are complete the total accommodation available will be such as will meet the requirements of the Dominion trade for some considerable tune in the event of temporary dislocation of overseas importations. The Shell Company’s bulk motor vehicles which, no doubt, are already well known to Timaru residents, will be in evidence also in smaller inland centres, transporting supplies from the underground storage tanks to the “Shell” kerbside pumps. The requirements of most country motorists are thus supplied from the refinery direct to the consumer in bulk—no handling other than by means of pumps being necessary to bring about the transfer from point to point. The consumer is assured of receiving pure, clean, unadulterated petrol, the “Shell” Spirit having been subjected to filtration-in each step of its transfer from Ithe refinery to the tanker, and ultimately from the kerbside tank to the pump through which it is retailed. —Advt,