Oil terminal

The vertical cylindrical steel reservoir [ru] structure was pioneered by Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov during his work for Branobel oil company.

Shukhov also developed construction methods, including tables that allowed to calculate required amount of steel and components depending on the reservoir size and type.

Oil terminals are also located near cities from which road tankers transport products to petrol stations or other domestic, commercial or industrial users.

Terminals may also have Horton spheres which are used to store liquefied petroleum gases such as propane and butane (see left foreground of the above Kowloon oil depot).

The design, construction, operation and maintenance of an oil terminal must be in accordance with local, national, regional and international codes, standards, and legal and statutory requirements.

Relevant standards include: Maintaining health, safety and environment (HSE) requires operators of a depot to ensure that products are safely stored and handled.

[24] On 18 August 2024, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a tank farm in Proletarsk, Rostov Oblast, Russia was set ablaze by a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone strike and burned until the fire was extinguished on 2 September.

[25] The ownership of oil depots falls into three main categories: The owners may also provide "hospitality" or "pick up rights" at the facility to other companies.