Project Description:

A major oil refiner proposes to modify an existing rail spur to build a crude oil rail unloading facility at one of their facilities. The project includes an extension of the existing rail spur, a railcar crude oil unloading facility, and associated above-ground pipelines. The facility is designed to accommodate both unit trains and manifest trains delivering crude oil to the refinery for processing.

SPEC provided planning and development services for the project, assessing alternative capacities, layouts, train configurations, and estimated construction costs. SPEC also provided the engineering and design needed to evaluate the project and apply for regulatory approval and permits.

The engineering and design work included rail spur modifications, unloading plan and procedure for an 80-car unit train, covered canopy with integrated drain facility and collection basin, safe access racks to top and bottom of railcars, low viscosity crude pumps with unloading hoses/arms, proper safety instruments and monitoring, unloading control logic, metering and proving, power distribution and controls, operator facilities such as restroom and breakroom, steam heating and condensate collection, and inter-connecting piping in the refinery.

Environmental permitting support included emissions calculations covering normal operations and construction along with alternative track routings in order to minimize environmental impacts.