FIELD ERECTION PROCEDURE

I.

GENERAL
This procedure applies to field erection work of Tank.
All field erection shall be performed strictly in accordance with the drawing approved by
Company and the latest Edition of API 650.

II. REFERENCE
API 650 Tenth Edition, November 1998 : Welded Steel Tank for Oil Storage
III. FOUNDATION
Before tanks erection started, foundation shall be checked by the tank builder with
foundations contractor, and CLIENT to make sure that the foundation are according to
specification requirement. If there were some obstacles on foundation to erecting of the
tank, such foundation should be repaired by foundation contractor. The foundation shall
be marked on four position (0 , 90 , 180 and 270 ) and will be done by foundation
contractor or CLIENT. The item to be inspection of foundation are Dimension, Flatness,
Levelness and sump location.
IV. BOTTOM PLATES
IV.1. Bottom Plate
IV.1.1.
The bottom plate shall be arranged in accordance with Bottom Plate
Drawing and Orientation Drawing.
IV.1.2.

First Lay down

The sketches plate, start from center through to the four direction
angle (0o, 90o, 180o & 270o).

IV.1.3.

The bottom center plate shall be laid on the center point which had
been marked by stretching piano wires crosswise above the
foundation. (see Fig.1). Center bottom plates which will be basis for
laying other plates.

IV.1.4.

The arrangement of bottom plates shall be laid out from center to

outward and tack-welded in surface to be straight as shown Fig.2 and
Fig. 3. Tack welds shall be 1.18 inch long or more on 1ft 7.68 inch
pitch.

IV.1.5.

For three laps joint, after finished first layer welding, checked welding
line using Dye Penetrate Test or Vacuum Box Test (Section V, article 6,
of the ASME Code).

IV.1.6.

Bottom plates shall be assembled and tack-welded using special jigs

for anti distortion if necessary.
Weld sketches plates which shell plate will be laid long of weld 7.87
inch (min.) from out to inward.

IV.1.7.

V.
V.1

IV.1.8.

At the proper welding, the Vertical joints of V blocks shall be welded

first. Lapped plates shall be in close contact during welding. After the
Vertical joints of V blocks are welded, the Horizontal joints H blocks
shall be made. (see Fig.4 and Fig.5)

IV.1.9.

Care shall be exercised during welding of bottom plates to assure

minimum distortion and uniform lapping with as possible, plates shall
be held in close construction at all lap joint.

IV.2.0.

After completion of welding works of bottom, tested using Vacuum Box

and Soap suds to all welding line with a vacuum of 5 to 7 psi.

SHELL PLATES
First Course
V.1.1.
The shell circle line for erection shall be drawn on the bottom plates and
punched equally by number of shell plates.

V.1.2.

When the assembling of the first ring have completed, the vertical joints
shall be tack-welded from inside to outside.

V.1.3.

After completion of the tack-welded on the vertical joints, the level of top
edge and plumbness shall be inspected with an instrument theodolite

V.1.4.

Check the item horizontal measuring position should be After Temporary

Assembling of 1st Course.

Check Item

Number of
Course
assembly

Tolerance

Measuring
Position

Remarks

Horizontal

+/- 1/8
inch

2 points for first

side plate

Difference in level
between top side
plates

Vertical

+/- 1/8
inch

1 point for first side

plate

Plumb

V.1.5.

V.1.6.

The first continuous welding shall be made from the outside for vertical
joints and back weld from inside. The Welding from down to up .The strong
back or key plates shall be installed at right angle with the weld line to
prevent plate distortion during welding.
Prior to application of the first bead to the inside welding, the strong back or
key plates shall be removed and welded joints shall be cleaned thoroughly in
a manner that will leave the exposed surface satisfactory for fusion the weld
metal to be added. This cleaning shall be made from inside by arc-air
gouging and / or grinding to evenly and smoothly.

V.2. Second Course

V.2.1.

The scaffolding board shall be arranged with lugs and brackets on both side
of the first course. When the traveling scaffolding is used the scaffolding
shall be installed.

V.2.2.

Vertical joints of the second course shall be assembled with the match mark,
which had stamped on the first course.

V.2.3.

Vertical joints shall be matched accurately and retained in position with

spacers and stiffeners.

V.2.4. Horizontal joints between first and second course shall be matched to inside
of each plates and retained in position with spacers and stiffeners.
V.2.5.

After completion of second course installed, start welding of vertical joints of

second course in the same manner as the first course.

V.2.6.

The welding of horizontal joints between first course and second course shall
be made the outside first, and being the stiffeners removed. If there were
some defect at first layer which shall be hindrance to welding from inside,
after that the reverse side of horizontal joints shall be welded.

V.2.7. The fillet weld joint between shell plate and bottom plate shall be welded after
second or third course shell plate is assembled.
V.3. Third and Upper Course

V.3.1.

Third and upper course shall be assembled in the same manner as the
second course. The temporary assembling of each course shall be completed
in the day, and the maximum allowable numbers of shell course to be
assembled temporarily shall be 3 (three) courses in case of the plate used 8
(eight) feet width and 4 (four) courses in case of the plates used 6 (six) feet
width.

V.3.2.

The vertical joints of third course shall be welded before the welding of
horizontal joints between second and third course. Owing to circumstances
of erection schedule, welding of vertical joints of 2 (two) or 3 (three)
courses may be proceeded prior to welding of horizontal joints.

V.3.3. Assembling and welding of other upper courses shall be made as the same
manner as stated before. In principle, shell plates which is higher than 5th
courses shall be assembled and welded one by one course.
V.3.4. If there were some undesirable phenomenon like a settlement of foundation
during the shell assembling and welding, the level should be measured.
V.4. Provision for Wind Load
Whenever the strong winds is foreknow to blow during temporary assembling,
following provisions shall be made.
V.4.1 When the typhoon is anticipated to approaching during the assembling of the
shell plates higher than 4th course, the plates higher than 4th course to be
assembled temporarily shall be taken down to the ground.

V.5.

V.4.2 If the shell plate have been assembled up to 4th course, the channel stiffener
ring shall be installed by clamping on the top periphery. The plate shall also
be tied to supports on grounds by wire ropes.
Top Angle
V.5.1.

Top angle shall be assembled and tack-welded after the welding of vertical
joints of the shell finally and grind smoothly of vertical weld to pass
through top angle.

V.5.2.

The horizontal joints between top angle and shell shall be welded finally.

VI. INSTALLATION ROOF STRUCTURE

VI.1.

Installation of Cone Roof

Installation of Rafter Lug:
Mark the position of rafter lug on internal surface of top course shell plate and
then welded there to.

VI.2. Roof Plates

VI.2.1. Roof plates shall be installed in accordance with drawing after all roof
structure bolted and welded completely (see fig.6).
VI.2.2. Roof plates shall be laid out and tack-welded using special jigs for antidistortion if necessary. Tack-welds shall be made not less than 1 inch long
on 20 inch center.
VI.2.3. At the continuous welding, transverse joints shall be welded first. The
welding shall be started at the center of plate width and proceeded
outwards symmetrically. When all transverse joints are welded, welding of
the longitudinal joints shall be made from center to outward in a same

manner as the transverse joints, circumferential joints between roof

plates and top angle shall be welded finally. (see fig. 7)
VII.

INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES & TANK APPURTENANCES

Each tank accessories and appurtenances shall be assembled and installed in
accordance with the applicable construction drawings which it have an Approval for
Construction status.
VII.1 Nozzles & Manhole
VII.1.1 Lay out position of Nozzles/Manhole on the shell plate and roof plate
VII.1.2 Check orientation, elevation and radius/diameter every nozzles
VII.1.3 After approved by inspector, cut the marked area
VII.1.4 Set up reinforcing plate for each nozzles
VII.1.5 Fit up Nozzles and use temporary support for neck nozzles and also check
projection flange from shell plate
VII.1.6 Weld joint neck nozzles to shell from inside and out side tank
VII.1.7 Weld reinforcing plate to shell plate
VII.2 Roof Handrail
VII.2.1 Lay out position of all post handrail at around top roof plate
VII.2.2 Set up and weld each post handrail to roof plate
VII.2.3 Set up and weld pipe handrail (already bended) on the top post handrail
VII.2.4 Set up and weld pipe handrail as middle handrail on the middle of the post
handrail
VII.2.5 Set up and weld flat bar as bottom handrail with distance 100 mm from
roof plate on the bottom post handrail
VII.3 Anchor chair
VII.3.1 Set up anchor chair at the each anchor bolt position
VII.3.2 Weld reinforcing anchor chair to shell plate
VII.4 Name Plate
VII.4.1 Lay out position of name plate accordances with drawing
VII.4.2 Set up support name plate to shell plate
VII.4.3 Weld support name plate to shell plate

VIII. MODIFICATION
In case any modification or alteration is to be done to the present specification on site,
such will be first discussed with owner representative and no modification or alteration
shall be done without his approval.
IX.

DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCE
IX.1.

Plumbness
The maximum out of plumbness of the top of the shell relative to the bottom of
the shell not exceed 2 or 1/200 for single shell course to the each shell course
height whichever is less.

IX.2.

Roundness

Radius measured at 11.8 inch or 300 mm above the bottom corner weld shall
not exceed the following tolerance:
Diameter (ft)
< 40
40 up to 150
150 up to 250
> 250
IX.3.

Radius Tolerance (inch)

+ 0.5
+ 0.75
+ 1
+ 1.25

Peaking
With a horizontal sweep board 36 inch (900 mm) long across to vertical
welding seam, peaking shall not exceed 1/2 inch (13 mm).

IX.4. Banding
With a vertical sweep board 36 inch (900 mm) long across to horizontal
welding seam, banding shall not exceed inch or 13 mm.
IX.5.
X.

All Tolerances must conform to API 650 and Client Specification

EQUIPMENTS and TOOLS

Table X.1. Equipments and Tools

TYPE

NAMES

Lifting

Crane, chain block

Wire

Flexible wire, guy rope, bench wire, sling

Tools

Electric welder, gas equipment, portable grinders,

vacuum box, compressor, etc

Expandable Material

Key plate, strong back, nuts, shim, horse shoe

Measuring Instrument

Level, Theodolite, Measuring Tape, Steel Ruler, Plumb,

Etc

Others

Lighting fixture, ventilation and exhaust

FIGURE (1)
WIRES PIANO

?
?

FIGURE ( 2 )
SEQUENCE OF

ARRANGEMENT FOR BOTTOM

Bottom plates shall be placed in order from 1 to 6

FIGURE ( 3 )
ARRANGEMENT FOR BOTTOM WITH ANNULAR PLATE

FIGURE (4)

V-3

V-4

V-3

FIGURE (5)

SEQUENCE OF WELDING FOR BOTTOM

B7-1
B5-1
B6-1

B7-3

V-4

SQUENCE OF WELDING FOR BOTTOM WITH ANNULAR PLATE

B7-4

H-2
B4-2

V-2

B2
H-1

B5-3

V-1

B1

V-1

B6-3

H-1

B3

V-2

B4-1

H-2
B5-5

B5-2
V-4

B6-2
V-3

V-4

B7-2

V-3

B5-4

Bottom plates shall be welded in order from V-1 to V-4 and after that H-1 to H-2

FIGURE (6)
SEQUENCE OF ARRANGEMENT FOR ROOF

R7-1

R6-1

R5-1

2
R6-2

R-1

R2-1

R5-2

R2-2

R3-2

R4

4
R7-2

R7-3

Roof plates shall be placed in order from 1 to 5

FIGURE (7)
SEQUENCE OF WELDING FOR ROOF

R7-1
L-3

T-4

R6-1

R5-1

T-3

T-2

L-2

R6-2

R-1

R5-2

L-1

R3-1

T-1

R2-1
L-2

R3-2
T-2

R2-2
T-3

R4

R7-2

T-5

L-1

R7-3

Roof plates shall be welded in order from T-1 to T-5 and after that L-1 to L-3