Project Profile - Bahamas Oil Refining Co.

Project Goals

Growth can only be achieved through innovation and advancement, and that’s exactly what Buckeye had in mind when they bought the BORCO facility. A new era in oil storage was on the horizon, but first they had to design and build the ideal layout.

Design a New Layout

After the former refinery was demolished, S. T. Hudson planned and designed a new layout that was both efficient and would meet stringent regulations.

Ensure Compliance

Specific rules regarding placement and spacing had to be followed, and S. T. Hudson’s experience provided them the means to stay compliant.

Expand Operations

The new tanks were designed to hold various types of oil products, including gasoline and distillate fuel, which would help Buckeye expand their line of services.

Increase Storage Capacity

The planned upgrades would increase the facility’s storage capacity to over 26 million barrels.

Project Details

Using their expertise in design engineering, facility planning, and regulatory standards and codes, S. T. Hudson helped Buckeye rehabilitate and expand their new Bahamas location and pave the way for an influx of new opportunities.

Buckeye Bahamas is the leading hub in the Caribbean region and the largest petroleum products terminal in the Western Hemisphere, and they achieved this distinction by expanding their operations with the help of S. T. Hudson. After purchasing the terminal, Buckeye demolished the old refinery facilities and wanted to expand into the newly-opened space to allow other companies to store their petroleum products while they wait to sell based on a particular strategy. To accommodate a growing number of customers, Buckeye wanted to fit as many tanks as they could. This required the expertise of S. T. Hudson, as the rules for placement and spacing of tanks are very particular. Two areas needed tanks, what became known as the Blue Field and the Yellow Field. In both areas, the scope of work included designing and planning to install tank foundations, interconnected piping, new pumps to move oil around, and all electrical instrumentation associated with operation.

S.T. Hudson helped Buckeye determine the optimum number of tanks to maximize storage while still complying with the guidelines. For the first part of the project, the Blue Field, the team designed six tanks to store gasoline and four tanks to store distillate fuel, along with the associated pumps and piping to connect the docks to the tanks and the tanks to the pumps. The second part of the project was the Yellow Field, which involved design and foundation work for four large tanks to hold heavy fuel oil. For all of the tanks, S. T. Hudson did the construction drawings and worked with local contractors on the island to get them built, providing guidance along the way as needed.

Project Highlights

Tools Used:

Intimate knowledge of standards and codes that govern this type of project
Laser scanning to scan areas and all places where piping had to tie-in
3D Autocad models of alternatives for how the tanks could be arranged, working with Buckeye to arrive at the best solution

Project Value: $350,000,000

New Structures: