Tengiz

Tengizchevroil (TCO), a joint venture partnership of Chevron, ExxonMobil, KazMunaiGas and LukArco, decided to upgrade and expand the Crude Tank Farm (CTF) at its Tengiz field facilities. The Tengiz field is one of the world's 10 largest oilfields. The existing tank farm is largely composed of decades-old smaller tanks built during the former Soviet era. The proposed CTF facilities consisted of two very large crude oil storage tanks, the largest of which has a diameter of 200 feet and is 60 feet high, two smaller crude tanks, a firewater tank, and associated facilities such as manifolds, pump stations, and piping. The site's major geotechnical challenge was the 10- to 15-foot thick shallow layer of soft, compressible marine deposits that are prone to large settlement under applied load. TCO's goal is to significantly expand its crude exports from the Caspian Sea area by creating a larger, more reliable crude oil storage complex that can be constructed with local expertise.