The Bulletin Magazine - March 2006

CROWES Bulletin March 2006

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The Bulletin Journal of the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration

March 2006

CROWES Bulletin March 2006

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Editorial

Contents Regulars

Tony Jenner Editor

Chairman’s Report

5

Editor’s Report

6

Cameron Forecourt Ltd Platts Common Ind Estate Barnsley

Letters to the Editor

6

South Yorkshire S74 9SE

Business Manager’s Report New APEA Members

News

9 10

tel:

01226 742441

fax:

01226 747441

mob:

07715 375140

e-mail:

tonyjenner@cameronforecourt.co.uk

11

Jamie Thompson

Articles

Publishing Chairman The Buncefield Terminal

28

70 Wangford Road Reydon

2007 Yearbook Registration

43

More innovations from D Berry & Co Ltd

43

Fairbanks launches their DSEAR Survey Service

47

Southwold Suffolk IP18 6NX

Tel/fax:

01502 722999

Mobile:

07770 625851

Vapour Recovery in Europe

51

Want to get involved with your APEA Council

60

jamiethompson@ukonline.co.uk

Branches

60

Jane Mardell

email:

Business Manager (including Bulletin Advertising and Production) Training 2006 course dates and booking details

PO Box 106 65

Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3XT

Membership application form

66

Tel/fax:

01799 541816

Mobile:

07815 055514

email:

admin@apea.org.uk

Front Cover - Buncefield Terminal with thanks to Hertfordshire Police Chiltern Support Unit Published by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No. 2261600 Opinions expressed in this Journal are not necessarily the views of the Association.

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incident, our thanks go to the originators

Chairman’s Report

of this material for making them

Hello everyone and welcome to 2006

available for our use.

which I hope will be successful for all of It is not our place to speculate on the

our members.

cause of the incident. Indeed, at the I am writing this forward in the

time of going to print the Health &

aftermath of the recent major fire and

Safety Executive are well under way

explosion which took place at 06.05 on

with their independent investigation into

Sunday 11th December 2005 at the

the causes. There are, however,

Buncefield Oil Terminal in Hemel

numerous issues surrounding this

providing training for Shell (Europe’s)

Hempstead. The resultant blast was felt

incident;

property

Contractors, Johnson Controls. Several

and heard by many, incredibly up to 50

development permitted so close to the

European Countries were represented

miles distant, and the attendant column

Depot as when the site was constructed

and it was a remarkable experience that

of black and acrid smoke was a

in 1968 it was a remote and distant

shows we are truly international in much

spectacle that lasted for several days

installation?

environmental

of what we do. Further enquiries

following the explosion.

damage has this caused? Were any of

continue to be received from outside of

the four pipelines feeding the Depot

the UK. It also gave me personally the

pumping at the time? If so, what is the

opportunity to compare notes with

extent of their damage?

colleagues in other countries and

Speaking as an ex- fire-fighter myself, the tactics that were used by the Fire & Rescue

Services

were

why

was

What

absolutely

correct! To be faced with the largest fire

understand On other fronts, I am making a

differences

personal

historical

enquiries from the Middle East which is

would have tested the resources of any

information. Jamie Thompson and I are

encouraging as it helps us to expand

Fire Service in the world. To hear

proposing to write a book recording the

our frontiers.

criticism of their actions was nothing

History of Petrol Stations in the UK, this

short of appalling, and I salute our

is principally to commemorate the 50th

On the Events front we have had to

Emergency

the

Anniversary of the APEA in 2008. So if

take a good look at what we do and

in

anyone has any old photographs or

after much consideration we have

minimising the threat to life and

proven stories, documents or relevant

decided to host a single annual event

property. Incredibly there were no

information on the installation of pumps,

which includes the Annual General

fatalities, which is in itself a miracle,

tanks, canopies etc, then please get in

Meeting as well as our Conference,

although sadly 46 people were injured.

touch with either of us (our contact

Exhibition and Dinner. This is a

details are on the APEA’s Web Site as

reflection of the decreasing size of our

Later in the day I went to see my

well as the Year Book) I would like to

industry but the quality of the event

eldest daughter in London, to witness a

see the oldest existing petroleum

which is due to take place on 2nd

smoke plume more than 60 metres high

licence so if you have one, please let

November 2006 will take it to higher

and an enormous cloud of black smoke

me have copy. So far I have been

level and become an even more “must

over Muswell Hill in North London was

offered one dated 1934 and issued in

attend” date on the calendar. Please

something quite bizarre.

Cambridgeshire. It does not matter how

see details elsewhere in this issue.

professionalism

they

for displayed

for

subtle

in Europe since the Second World War

Services

appeal

the

between us. Recently we have received

large or small your contribution is as we As Chairman of the APEA, I was

want this to be your book.

This means that you will have to put

called on by the media on several

up with me as Chairman for a further six

occasions to make comment. There

Do you have any ideas about the 50th

months when the new Chairman takes

was surprise to learn that this was not

Anniversary and what your Association

office at the AGM in November. That

the first major explosion that has

could do? Maybe your local Branch may

will have been a marathon for me but a

occurred in the UK. Milford Haven in

consider doing something a bit special

very happy and enjoyable experience

1994, the ESSO Terminal at Heathrow

in 2 years time. Please let Jane have

indeed.

in 1967 and Flixborough in 1974 are

your thoughts

just three that instantly come to mind.

Our Training Courses continue to be You will see elsewhere in this issue some amazing photographs of this

Best Wishes Everyone

popular and we found ourselves in Denmark

just

before

Christmas

Brian 5

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As you will read elsewhere in this

Editor’s Report

issue, Council has made some far

As I write my editors report for the first

reaching changes to the way our Annual

issue of the 2006 series of the Bulletin I

General

am encouraged by the early signs of

Exhibition and Dinner are to be run this

spring, hopefully the weather will continue to be mild and we will escape the

arctic

conditions

which

were

promised by the media throughout the Christmas break!

Meeting,

Conference,

year. I won’t elaborate on this within my report; however, we do hope to be able to publish a “Conference Special” issue of the Bulletin which will be in addition to our normal quarterly publication. It is proposed that this special issue, which will be published in advance of the

In the main, articles for the Bulletin

November event, will contain the full

continue to be submitted by the same

conference programme and details of

trusty few! Once again I would appeal to

the exhibitors and their products. The

you all to let us have your non-

viability and success of this special

commercial articles or views and

issue will be obviously very much

opinions and we will do our best to

dependant upon the support we receive

include them. As explained on many previous occasions, the Bulletin is owned by the APEA members so please make your views known.

from advertisers and contributors. I sincerely hope that we can augment what promises to be a first class event with

a

high

quality

publication

containing news and articles relevant to the event.

In this issue there are some dramatic pictures of the Buncefield incident and

By the time you read this issue the

our thanks go to the Hertfordshire

consultation deadline of 7th February

Police Chiltern Support Unit who gave

for comments to DEFRA on Stage II

their

these

Vapour Recovery Implementation will

photographs to be included within these

be long past. Who knows – 2006 may

pages.

be the year when we finally see the

kind

permission

There

has

for

been

much

speculation over the cause of this incident and I’m sure we all look forward to the conclusion of the independently chaired enquiry being conducted on behalf

of

the

Health

&

the UK? This issue of the Bulletin contains an informed article on Vapour Recovery and I feel sure that we can expect significant input in future editions

Safety

as and when this subject gains pace.

Commission by the Health & Safety

There will be many issues to debate

Executive. The eventual report will

and pieces of equipment to evaluate

doubtless provide much fodder for the

and it is my opinion that these pages

debating table!

are probably best placed to handle

Letters to the Editor

year and my new address is :-

Letter from Rob Green regarding change of address Dear All I realised I've not let you have my new address. I actually moved to Spain last 6

enforced adoption of this technology in

Carrer Awraba 13 03790 Orba / Orbeta Alicante Spain Tel (0034) 96 5583122 email robggreen@gonuts4free.com I would appreciate if you could put my

reasoned opinions and advice – so please address your submissions to either Jane or myself and we will do our best include them all.

As I write this report I have received news that Ian Taylor of Hytek GB Ltd has taken permanent retirement. Ian, a previous Chairman of this Association and still an active Council member started Hytek in the early 1980’s with his business partner Kevin Arnold. From humble beginnings they jointly grew the business to where it is today - a much respected trade supplier of pumps, pipework and associated equipment. I am sure you will all join me in wishing Ian

a

long,

happy

and

healthy

retirement.

There is little left for me say now, other than to wish you all a successful, healthy and fulfilling year in 2006.

My very best wishes to you all.

change of address & details in "The Bulletin" so old friends and collegues are able to contact me.

Looking forward from hearing from you in the near future.

Best regards Rob Green

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Business Manager’s Report I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year.

2007 Yearbook It’s that time of year again when I start work on the 2007 APEA Yearbook.

With this issue of the Bulletin you will find a form that shows the contact details that we currently hold for you on the APEA Membership database and a table of ‘Directories’. If you wish to be included in the 2007 Yearbook please complete the form by ticking the ‘Directories’ box that you wish to be listed under and faxing the form to me on 01799 541816 or you can post it to the APEA office.

You receive one free ‘Classified’ entry which is your contact details and one free entry on the ‘Directories’ page. You can tick additional ‘Directory’ boxes but there is an additional charge for these which is detailed on the form.

Even if you do not wish to advertise in the Yearbook you need to complete the form and return it to me to be included in the Yearbook. I will record the details of everyone that has returned their form.

If you wish to have alternative contact details included in the Yearbook to the ones that are detailed on the form then please amend the form and return it to me.

As with every year the forms need to be returned to me 1st April in order for the diaries to printed and distributed in the Autumn.

We have now resolved the issues that we experienced with the 2006 Yearbook production company of the Yearbook so hopefully all will go smoothly this year.

2006 Membership Renewal Thanks to all of you that renewed your membership by 1st January. If you have not already done this I would be grateful if you can make your payment for 2006 as soon as possible. This will help reduce the number of reminders that I send out each year.

This can be made by direct debit, via the APEA website on the ‘Membership’ page, by cheque or by credit card.

Please contact me on 01799 541816 or by email at admin@apea.org.uk should you need assistance.

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AGM, Conference, Exhibition and Dinner 2006 There is going to be a change to our events this year. We have employed the services of a professional event management team who are putting together an exciting event that we plan to hold in November and which will include the AGM, Conference, Exhibition and Dinner. Details are shown on the opposite page and in the Press Release section of this issue.

More specific details will follow shortly.

The event management team will be handling all of the promotion and production of the event and I am sure they will be in touch with you soon.

I will be dealing with the AGM side of the event and I will contact you nearer the event date with relevant information and papers.

contact me on 01799 541816 and I will be able to provide you with details on obtaining a copy.

We also publish the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks. This can be purchased directly from our website or by calling me at the office.

APEA Members £10.00 plus p+p Non APEA Members £20.00 plus p+p

Bulletin Training Thank you to all of you that have contributed to this issue of The Bulletin.

Please send me any news items, press releases or articles for the June 2006 issue and I will pass them onto our Editor for approval.

We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that the Bulletin remains and interesting and informative read.

Bulletin Advertising Thanks to all of you that renewed your advertising for the 2006 issues of the Bulletin.

Remember that if you book in all four issues you receive a 25% discount and we are able to offer discounts for those of you that wish to book for more than one issue but less than four issues too.

You will also receive a 50% discount on Yearbook advertising too for the 2007 issue.

The advertising rates remain unchanged for 2006 and are listed on our website on the ‘Publications’ page at www.apea.org.uk If you would like to book advertising in the Bulletin for 2006, please call me on +44 (0) 1799 541816 or email me at admin@apea.org.uk for a booking form.

Publications The revised Blue Book is available at the discounted rate of £40 to APEA members.

If you wish to purchase a copy please

Thanks to all of you that have booked on our training courses.

I have started taking bookings for the 2006 courses and still busy arranging bespoke courses for various companies which enables members to receive training at a discounted rate and at a time and location suitable to them.

If you are interested in hosting a bespoke course for your company please do not hesitate to contact me.

We can offer discounted rates for these courses if you are able to provide a venue and catering.

Thanks go out to all our trainers who often travel long distances to provide their valuable services.

You can book online from the Training page on the APEA website or you can download a booking form from our website training page, just click on the course you are interested in and the course details and form are displayed or please contact me by email or by phone and I can email you a copy.

Course dates for 2006 are listed on page 65 and further dates will be added as we progress through 2006. You can now view the up to date list on the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk/training New Members There have been 25 new members joining during October, November and December and details can be found on page 10.

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Website The website continues to be a useful site for information and to make online bookings and payments. I am glad so many of you are using it.

If you wish to contribute anything to the site please feel free to log on and go to the APEA Resource Centre where you can submit your article for approval.

There is a ‘Help’ pull down menu if you need some assistance. If you need any

New APEA Members Detailed below are new members that have recently joined the APEA during October, November and December 2005.

October 2005 Alan McGaffin Inverclyde Council Environmental & Consumer Services 40 West Stewart Street Greenock Inverclyde PA15 1YA Augustine Dibor 24 Regan House Snells Park Edmonton London N18 2SZ Brian Pope Arcadis Geraghty & Miller International Ltd. 2 Craven Court Newmarket Suffolk CB8 7FA Chris Hines Hines & Hopkins Electrical Cambria Wildwood Avenue, Bricket Wood St Albans, Herts AL2 3XG Clive Steel 63 Ballans Road Chatham Kent ME5 8NX Colin Ellis Hillview Back Lane Great Broughton North Yorkshire TS9 7EL Erol Erturan T E Dudley and Associates 9/9 A Springfield House Long Row, Horsforth Leeds, Yorkshire LS18 5AA Graeme McGivern D'Urberville Limited The Old Surgery 12 Bath Road Thatcham Berkshire RG183SX

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assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

You can also use the website to change your contact details, just logon and you will be able to access your record. If you cannot remember your logon details please contact me.

matters, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01799 541816 and I will endeavour to help.

I look forward to hearing from you.

General Assistance Finally if any of you need any assistance with general or technical

Jane

Mukesh Patel Park Service Station 314-322 Seven Sisters Road Finsbury Park London N4 2AP

Justin Skipper Elite Structures Limited Elite House No.22 Links Way, Thurlton Norwich Norfolk NR14 6RF

Pierre Cassar 7, Daffodil Triq Hannibal Attard BZN 02 Malta

Michael Szraga M.J.S. Services 9 Southgate Avenue Trentham, Stoke on Trent Staffordshire ST4 8XU

Robert Waterston 5 St Germains Corner Appleton Park Tranent East Lothian EH33 1FF

Christopher Sherlock Somerfield Stores Somerfield House Whitchurch Lane Bristol Avon BS14 0TJ December 2005

Scott Fraser Falkirk Council, Development Services Abbotsford House David's Loan Bainsford Falkirk FK1 7YZ Timothy Sagar George Barker & Company (Leeds) Ltd Highfield Works Highfield Road Idle Bradford BD10 8RF Walter Smyth JMP Consulting Centrum House 38 Queen Street Glasgow G1 3DX

November 2005

Richard Charlton 2 St Mungos Park Aspatria Wigton Cumbria CA7 3JD Matthew Brady Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service Corporate Developement, Training Centre GMFRS, Cassidy Close Manchester M4 5FP Derek Hamill Hamill.Gallagher 6a Throne Centre 252 Whitewell Road Newtownabbey BT36 7NH Seamus Lynch Lynch Waterman Associates 26 Glentworth Street Limerick, Ireland

Andrew Gilbert BP OIL UK Ltd Piccadilly Way Kingsbury Tamworth Staffs B78 2HA

Aiden Moore Test NI 5 St Joseph's Park Ballycruttle Downpatrick Co Down BT30 7EN

Rob Green Carrer Awraba 13 03790 Orba / Orbeta Orba 3790 Spain

David Thompson Timeplan Ltd 1 Capital Park High Street Old Woking GU22 9LD

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News

UK, Cambridge, October 14 2005.

Shop man blasted over illegal fireworks stash A shopkeeper put people at "horrendous risk" by storing tonnes of fireworks at his business and at a disused farm.

Magistrates ordered him to pay more than £14,000 in fines and costs after hearing he risked a "major disaster".

Nigel Kroll massively exceeded the storage limits for fireworks at his Barbecue World shop in Cambridge Street, Godmanchester, magistrates sitting in Huntingdon heard. At one stage he had around three tonnes of fireworks at the shop and later transferred the bulk to a disused farm at Eltisley where they were discovered hidden in barns by trading standards officials after a tip-off. They found about two tonnes of fireworks, containing about half a tonne of explosives. Celia Chignell, presiding magistrate, told Kroll: "Although no-one was seriously injured in any way, there was a horrendous risk to the community of Godmanchester and the area surrounding the barn." Kroll, of Cambridge Street, Godmanchester, admitted three offences of exceeding his firework storage limit and one of storing fireworks in unlicensed premises. The 49-year-old was fined £2,500 on each of the first three charges and £3,500 on the fourth. He was also ordered to pay £3,704 costs.

After the hearing, Malcolm Taylor, of Cambridgeshire Trading Standards, said: "There would have been significant danger to the population of Godmanchester. "The penalty reflects the seriousness which the magistrates felt the case merited." Trading standards officials estimated around 10 tonnes of fireworks had gone into Kroll's premises at the end of last year.

The fireworks were stored in the barn for about a year. Frank Chandley, prosecuting, said Kroll was originally authorised to store 250kg of fireworks at his shop, later increasing this to 1,000kg with the introduction of a suitable storage container. He said Kroll was aware of the regulations. Mr

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Chandley said individual deliveries of fireworks exceeded both the lower and higher storage limits. He told the court when officials interviewed Kroll it became apparent he had not considered the weight of the orders he was making and he denied having fireworks elsewhere. But Mr Chandley said that on Friday, October 7, trading standards officers went to Fairview Farm, Eltisley, where they found 2.3 tonnes of fireworks hidden under straw and tarpaulins. He said there had been a risk of a "major disaster" to the people of Godmanchester and the storage of fireworks at the farm "bordered on the unbelievable". Frank Squire, mitigating, said Kroll had a "cavalier" attitude towards ordering, which he left to the supplier. He told the court Kroll panicked and transferred fireworks to the remote barn when trading standards began investigating him.

UK, OFT clears Tesco’s buy of garage forecourts The Office of Fair Trading confirmed that it would not refer Tesco Plc's planned acquisition of 21 former garage forecourts from Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc to the Competition Commission. The decision by the competition watchdog clears the way for the buy of the filling stations and convenience stores, run jointly by Morrison's Safeway and oil giant BP Britain's biggest supermarket group said in August it would buy up to 30 petrol stations and related shops to boost its presence in the fast-growing convenience store market. But at the time, BP retained pre-emption rights on 12 of the sites, and Tesco said that BP had retained pre-emption rights on nine of them. "Tesco will now convert the stores to its popular Express convenience format," the company said in a statement. Tesco said that following the deal it would have around 6 percent of the UK's 24-billion-pound convenience market measured by sales. Morrison bought Safeway in 2004 to become Britain's fourth-biggest supermarket group.

Neither Morrison nor Tesco disclosed the value of the deal, although Morrison said the 30 sites had a gross asset value of 55.3 million pounds on January 30.

UK, London, December 22 2005.

Buncefield blast study set to boost nuclear safety A team of researchers from Edinburgh is studying the shock waves from the Buncefield explosion to ensure nuclear power stations are prepared for future explosions.

Seismologists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) office in the Capital are drawing up a map to determine how far away from the site of the explosion shock waves were felt.

And the results will mean experts will be able to decide how far away from an explosion safety measures need to be brought in at nuclear power stations.

Researchers launched an appeal for people who felt the effects of the Hemel Hempstead blast to contact them to help them with the mapping exercise.

The BGS detected the shock wave on instruments as far away as 300 kilometres. However, while the seismic wave measured 2.4 on the Richter scale, their instruments could not measure the more destructive airborne shock wave, which may have been felt further afield. The BGS currently analyses the distance at which strong effects are felt from earthquakes. This data is important for nuclear power stations, which often have to shut down or perform safety checks if there is a tremor.

If a large above-ground explosion occurs in the future, the map will give a better idea of how far an airborne shock wave will travel. Hemel Hempstead was rocked by the largest industrial explosion in peacetime Europe. The Buncefield oil depot blew up at 6am on December 11 and burned until extinguished by firefighters 36 hours later. A large cloud of black smoke engulfed much of southern England, including central London. BGS researcher Aoife Mongian said: "What we want to do is generate a map of the 'felt effect'. This is simply whether and how strongly people felt the effects of the blast." More than 2000 people contacted the BBC science website in the first 24 hours of the appeal for information being posted. Each respondent has filled in an online questionnaire to help gauge how far the airborne wave travelled under differing 11

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News conditions. Ms Moignan said: "From that we can gauge how strong the wave was in particular areas, say someone's door blew off in one area. But as you move outwards it may decrease at different levels in different areas." And it is the first time a map has been drawn up of airwave shocks after an explosion.

"After any large earthquake we generate a macroseismic map," added Ms Moignan. "However, an airwave is different and represents a new area of research." A spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said: "This research is interesting. A number of agencies are looking at the implications of the Hemel Hempstead blast. All sorts of people need to learn lessons from it.

UK, Petrol Pump vapour to be targeted at last Petrol vapour which escape into the atmosphere as motorists fill up at the pumps - adding to summer smog - are to be targeted in a government crackdown. Ministers are proposing that large UK service stations should fit stage 2 vapour control equipment in a bid to halve current emissions from petrol stations.

Known as Petrol Recovery stage II controls, the devices would capture fumes and recycle them back into fuel.

Environment minister Ben Bradshaw said the move would aid public health. It would improve air quality and cut smog, which is damaging to human health and vegetation.

Petrol fumes, when combined with nitrous oxide, are the biggest ingredient in summer smog in cities during calm, sunny weather. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' proposals aim to help capture 16,000 tonnes of volatile organic compounds a year from 2010 - more than half the current petrol emissions from stations.

Under the plans, which are being consulted on, diesel fuel would not be affected. "Petrol fumes from service stations contribute to air pollution and lead to smog in warm weather," said Mr Bradshaw. "Fitting the new equipment that can capture these fumes will help to cut risks to public health and the environment. "We propose limiting the measure to larger service stations to protect the viability of small stations which are often located in rural areas.

"These rural service stations provide additional services to rural 12

communities, such as shops and post offices."

UK, Huddersfield, December 19 2005.

Tanker crash hits busy motorway A petrol tanker crashed on the M62 causing chaos on the motorway for six hours. The tanker was heading west when the accident happened at 3pm on Saturday near junction 23 at Outlane.

A bin liner had become tangled around the brakes, causing them to fail.

As it tried to slow down the lorry jackknifed and careered off the motorway down a 10-foot embankment. The driver was uninjured. Police and vehicle rescue workers spent six hours removing the tanker. The motorway was reduced to one lane, causing huge tailbacks. The tanker was empty but firefighters from Elland stood by to ensure no residual petrol ignited.

Scotland, Glasgow, November 18 2005.

Drivers’ fury as blunder garage puts diesel in petrol tanks One car driver came to a grinding halt on the motorway after the mix-up with fuel at Morrisons supermarket filling station in Burnside near Glasgow. The trouble began on Wednesday after a tanker driver delivered thousands of gallons of diesel into an underground petrol tank after attaching a feeder pipe to the wrong valve.

Unsuspecting motorists wanting unleaded petrol then filled up their tanks with diesel. Today, a motoring organisation said drivers' car engines could have been ruined by the blunder.

Neil Greig, of the AA, said: "This can potentially ruin your engine." It's not known just how big the diesel consignment was. Most tankers can carry up to 5000 gallons of fuel but embarrassed store bosses tried to play down the incident.

A Morrisons spokesman said: "It was human error and only a small number of vehicles were affected as it was noticed almost immediately. We're obviously doing whatever we can to rectify the

problems facing drivers."

The chain's insurers accepted liability, pledging to pay garage bills and provide courtesy cars. The underground tank was emptied out and cleaned overnight before being refilled with petrol. A Morrisons spokesman said: "It's business as usual today." The incident comes just three months after a delivery driver made the same mistake at Asda in Dunfermline. The error came to light 10 hours later, by which time hundreds of motorists had driven off with diesel in their petrol tanks. Mr Greig said: "It could suggest some tanker drivers are not getting the proper training."

Ireland, Garda stock of confiscated fireworks grows daily The stock of confiscated fireworks were seen to be growing by the day as a Waterford police station continued to make seizures across the city. More than ever before, Halloween came early for residents of several city housing estates who were enduring the noise of fireworks on a nightly basis. Complaints were made to garda in Ballybricken and a good number of seizures were made.

The majority of the fireworks — all of which are illegal in Ireland — are being brought here from England and in most cases are being brought into estates by sole traders who are passing them on to teenagers and children. In turn, the fireworks are making an appearance in school yards locally, a situation which the garda say is causing a lot of concern. “The unfortunate fact is that more often than not these fireworks are ending up in the hands of children who don’t realise the danger they pose,” said Sgt Brendan Roche.“The fireworks can maim people and worse so parents really need to be keeping an eye out on what their children are up to.” In addition to the fireworks, it seems efforts are now in full swing to gather material for bonfires which also pose dangers and lead to anti-social behaviour around the end of October.

In Ballybeg, pallets and other material were stacked on the green area at Ardmore Terrace fronting the Cork Road. This year, gardai and the City Council were working closely in a bid to combat problems the city was having leading up to October 31 and on the night itself. Individual businesses were called on and asked not to donate any material for use in bonfires. The Council

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News also requested householders not to use the fires as a means of disposing of household waste or even unwanted furniture. They say they will be collecting material from unoccupied houses in the run-up to the big night.

Specific phone lines will also be set up to allow the public report any problems.

Northern Ireland £1.4bn fuel bill revealed - IMC demands actions to beat revenue fraud Illegal fuel fraud and legitimate crossborder petrol shopping cost the Northern Ireland economy a staggering £1.4bn in just four years, it can be revealed today.

The shock figures have emerged as the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) called on the British and Irish governments to introduce licensing regimes for petrol stations to force owners who sell illegal fuel out of business. Paramilitary groups particularly republicans - have been heavily involved in smuggling and laundering fuel for years, undermining legitimate businesses and causing environmental damage.

Fraud types include laundering rebated fuels by removing dyes and then selling them on at the full rate of duty. In addition laundered and legal fuel is commonly smuggled into Northern Ireland from the Republic and sold at retail outlets. However, legitimate cross-border shopping for cheaper petrol and diesel in the Republic has also cost the local economy millions. Ulster Unionist peer, Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, asked in the House of Lords about the total value of organised crime in fuel processing and smuggling. Government minister Lord Rooker said HM Revenue and Customs did not have an estimate of the total value of fuel laundering and smuggling in Northern Ireland. But he provided an estimate over the use of non-UK duty paid fuel, resulting from a combination of fraud and legitimate cross-border shopping. He said there had been am approximate revenue loss of £385m in 2000, £360m in 2001, £335m in 2002 and £350m in 2003 - a four-year total of £1.4bn. It is believed that about two thirds of this revenue loss comes from diesel and the remainder from petrol. The Organised Crime Task force has put increased

efforts into tackling illicit fuel in recent years. The number of customs officials tackling oil frauds has increased and they have scored a number of successes. The Government's UK Oils Strategy is also implemented in Northern Ireland, which includes investigators to break up criminal gangs and a central intelligence unit. As a result of this it is believed that in the last number of years the volume of legitimate fuel being sold in Northern Ireland is increasing while the loss from fraud is decreasing. But the IMC report this week said that fuel fraud is "still widespread and there is clearly a long way to go".

The report stated: "We recommend that the governments of the UK and Ireland should introduce licensing regimes which would enable the closure of businesses which have been involved in the illicit fuel trade, and would keep out of the industry all those shown to have been involved, together with anyone fronting for them. "It would allow account to be taken of the suitability of the trader to operate in a business which has been infiltrated by criminals."

Germany, EU rapeoil selling out for biofuel use - Oil World Sudden demand for rapeseed oil as biofuel means European Union rapeoil producers are increasingly sold out, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World said. "The combination of high energy prices and government interference - tax exemptions for biofuels - has created a severe imbalance that will gradually unfold repercussions in the world market," it said. "The most obvious sign of the market being in disequilibria is the fact that biodiesel as well as rapeoil are partly completely sold out in northern Europe," it said. This has happened despite European Union rapeseed crushers and processors running at full capacity. "A first reaction of the market is indicated in the sharply rising EU import demand for rapeseed oil, mainly from Canada," it said. Strong demand for rapeseed oil as biofuel has had a major impact on prices, it said.

"Rapeseed oil prices in Rotterdam have reached new highs so far in October and established unprecedented price premiums over other vegetable oils," it said. http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstor y.cfm/newsid/33063/story.htm

Malta: Fuel imports liberalisation delayed Changes proposed to plans The liberalisation of the inland fuel market has been delayed by at least three months as the government and the regulator review ‘particular proposals for changes to the original plans and proposed policy’ Asked to elaborate, a spokesman for the Ministry of Resources and the Infrastructure, under whose wing the Malta Resources Authority(MRA) falls, would not comment. Four days prior to the planned liberalisation, the government yesterday issued a fiveparagraph statement saying the "liberalisation of the inland fuel market has been delayed and is now estimated to occur by the end of March 2006".

A newspaper informed that fuel imports liberalisation was expected to be postponed by a few weeks despite the fact that the government had promised the EU it would lift Enemalta's monopoly in the sector by January 1, 2006.

"Given the importance of this market to the national economy and to consumers, it is considered prudent to consider all new options that will result in a market organisation that will better meet the needs of the country," the official statement said yesterday.

The MRA, which regulates the market, is now expected to issue a consultation paper to inform stakeholders and the public of the proposed changes. The document should include the draft legislation that will provide the legal framework for liberalisation and the proposed licensing schemes and conditions. MRA officials will also be available for meetings with stakeholders during the consultation period.

All existing operating licences will remain in force until replaced by new ones, the government said. The MRA will be in a position to grant new licences to the various operators "by the beginning of the second quarter of 2006".

Importing energy products needs preparation and prospective importers had to think in terms of storage facilities and make other logistical arrangements. The availability of storage may be the first hurdle to 15

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News overcome as the March 31 installation in Birzebbuga will be decommissioned.

As a result of liberalisation, owners of service stations will be able to import petrol, LRP and diesel even if they have to be in possession of both a petrol station and wholesaler licence. Vince Farrugia, director general of the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise, GRTU, said liberalisation should not occur overnight and disrupt the present situation where consumers are being well served. The GRTU represents petrol stations, fuel and gas distributors.

Mr Farrugia said it is good that the government is taking its time to have a proper structure in place before liberalising the market. "Liberalisation should lead to the service being as good as it is today. Customers are being well served and we do not believe there are cartels in the system," he said.

Energy and petrochemicals giant Shell and the local Falzon Group of Companies are known to have expressed interest in importing fuel when liberalisation takes place.

Europe, European regulation: improved safety for fireworks and air bags The Commission has proposed to replace some 25 parallel national approval procedures of fireworks and airbags by one single EU directive. This practical example of better regulation will lead to a considerable reduction in costs for the industries concerned, and ensure that essential safety requirements for pyrotechnic articles are respected throughout the EU. The basic aim is to reduce the risk of accidents caused by malfunctions and to increase consumer safety as substandard pyrotechnic articles will no longer be available on the EU market.

The EU market for fireworks is estimated at around €1.4 billion, but few fireworks are manufactured in the EU. Automotive occupant restraint systems are placed in around 20 million vehicles in the EU each year, which translates into 80 million airbag systems with a value of some €3.5 billion and around 90 million seat belt pre-tensioners with a value of approximately €2 billion. The Commission proposes the following safety requirements:

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• Physical and chemical stability; compatibility of all components • Resistance to normal, foreseeable handling and transportation • Resistance against water and low and high temperatures • Safety features to prevent untimely or inadvertent initiation or ignition • Suitable instructions in the official language or languages of the recipient Member State Ability To Withstand Deterioration.

Manufacturers will be obliged to comply with these requirements, which in return give them the right to affix the CE marking and access to the internal market. At the same time, taking into account the variety of different national regulations on the marketing and use of fireworks, the proposal leaves the possibility for Member States to maintain their own regulations as far as the minimum age and the marketing and use of certain categories of fireworks are concerned.

And What About Storage And Manufacturing?

The intention of the proposal is to deal with product characteristics, not with questions arising from the storage and manufacture of pyrotechnic articles. That aspect is already being dealt with in the framework of Council Directive 96/82/EC (better known as the Seveso II Directive), aimed at the prevention of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances and at the limitation of the consequences of such accidents for people and the environment.

For further information please visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/ch emicals/legislation/explosives/index.htm

French ban gasoline sales in cans Local authorities in several parts of France banned the sale of petrol in containers to reduce the risk of a fresh outbreak of rioting in some high risk areas over the New Year celebrations.

The measure was taken by prefects regional governors - in the Seine-etMarne and Val-de-Marne departments outside Paris and Bouches-du-Rhone

centred on Marseille in the southeast.

More than 10,000 cars were destroyed by fire in rioting in early November by youths. Similar arson attacks, although on a smaller scale, are something of a New Year's Eve ritual in French cities such as Strasbourg. A nationwide state of emergency remains in place in France following November's unrest, which authorities can invoke to order curfews and house arrests, and ban public meetings.

Europe, Petrol stations in Europe fewer and farther between but growth in the East makes up consolidation in the West Whilst in the UK and western Europe the number of petrol stations continues to fall, in central and eastern European (CEE) markets such as the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Lithuania, a large increase in the demand for petrol and diesel is driving an expansion in fuel networks. While the everdecreasing number of petrol stations in the UK and western Europe has been the driving force behind increases in site efficiency, in the CEE motorists’ thirst for fuel is growing faster than new petrol stations can be built, according to a new report from independent market analyst Datamonitor.

Dramatic Fall In Western Europe Increasingly difficult conditions in the retail sector of the otherwise lucrative oil industry continue to result in the fall in the number of retail fuel sites in western Europe. Of the 26 European markets assessed annually by Datamonitor, 12 experienced a decrease in the number of petrol station sites from 2004 to 2005 - 11 of these 12 markets were in western Europe. In most of these markets the decline in the number of sites has been sustained for the last 5 years, often leading to reported concerns of petrol station shortages in rural areas, says Datamonitor forecourts analyst Anne Marie Davis. “In fact, the only western European

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News markets not to have experienced a decline in petrol station numbers over the last 5 years are Finland and the southern European markets of Spain, Greece and Portugal.” “In Finland new station openings are generally lowinvestment unmanned sites, whilst in Spain, relatively new market entrants such as Italy’s Agip and the French supermarket chain Carrefour are responsible for many of the new builds,” she says. The UK was amongst the most heavily affected by petrol station site closures between 2004 and 2005, along with Belgium, Denmark and Ireland. Denmark experienced the most significant network shrinkage with a 7.5% decrease in total site numbers, whilst the rate of closures in Ireland, the UK and Belgium was only slightly more modest with a 5-6% decrease in the number of petrol outlets.

Those Remaining Work Harder To Satisfy Demand With this national network rationalisation occurring against a backdrop of minor increases in demand for fuel, the average volumes of petrol and diesel passing through western European sites over the last 5 years has increased significantly. The remaining fuel retailers have seized the opportunity to increase individual petrol station sales with investment aimed at maximising the efficiency of each site, Davis says. “In 2004, around 2.6 million litres of fuel was pumped through each western European site on average, compared with 2.3 million litres in 2000, representing a 3% year-on-year increase.” The rise in site efficiency in the last 5 years has been most pronounced in Spain and Luxembourg, with average petrol station volume sales increasing by 10.7% and 8.4% year-on-year, respectively. These two markets, alongside the UK, Austria and Germany had the highest average fuel throughputs in western Europe in 2004.

Luxembourg, with a vast number of commercial motorists filling their tanks within its borders, has an exceptional average annual site throughput of 11.5 million litres, compared to 3.7 million litres in the UK, Davis says. “On average, each Spanish site retails 4.7 million litres of fuel and in Austria and Germany, 3.5 and 3.2 million litres per annum, respectively.” These examples

help to paint a picture of the potential situation faced by the petrol station networks in those markets with relatively lower fuel throughputs. Sites in markets such as Belgium and Switzerland still only have average throughputs of 1.5 to 2 million litres per annum despite being far more geographically concentrated than their doubly efficient Spanish counterparts.

On this basis there is scope for further closures without too much of a furore about petrol station accessibility amongst the motorist population.

Motorist Demand Drives Central And Eastern Europe's Growth Unlike the situation in western Europe, most central and eastern European (CEE) petrol station networks are increasing in size. Bulgaria and Slovakia are among the markets to have experienced the greatest growth over the last five years with the number of sites increasing 13% and 7% yearon-year, respectively. A significant increase in the demand for petrol among motorists in the 9 CEE markets assessed by Datamonitor is driving these investments and means that average site efficiency is still on the up, Davis says. “The 2.3 million litres of fuel sold by the average CEE petrol station in 2000 had increased to 2.5 million litres by 2004.”

Foreign Entrants Reap Benefits In Bulgaria, it is Austria’s OMV and Shell which have the highest market shares on a per site basis, whilst Shell and BP own the sites with the highest annual fuel throughput in both Poland and the Czech Republic.

ConocoPhillips’ Jet branded sites feature among the top three most efficient operators in Hungary and have the greatest annual throughput in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Furthermore, OMV’s average fuel throughput is in line with that of Rompetrol in Romania whilst in Estonia, Norway’s Statoil and Russia’s Lukoil are the two leading players in terms of average annual petrol station fuel sales, Davis says. “Ultimately, it is no surprise that the companies with the highest performing sites in terms of fuel sales across CEE generally belong to foreign new entrants. Where it is a difficult task

for national players to rationalise sites without compromising market share and national coverage, it is much easier for new players to enter the market, cherry-picking the best petrol station sites or indeed building super-efficient new ones.”

USA, Petroleum Equipment Institute previews online training program at PEI show The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) previewed a new online training program at the 2005 Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The PEI Learning Center is an Internet-based learning program designed to help owners and operators of petroleum storage systems better understand their equipment. Each course features streaming video, interactive quizzes and downloadable support material.

The training is geared toward the owners and operators of petrol stations, convenience stores, truck stops, fueling depots - any facility that stores or dispenses automotive fuel. “Until now there has been no standardized training available for the tank owner and operator,” Robert Renkes, executive vice president of PEI announced.

“These courses allow owners, managers and employees to learn the mechanics of proper maintenance and operation of their underground petroleum storage systems.”

Each course is compiled with input from a panel of industry consultants, equipment manufacturers, installers, distributors, service companies, tank owners and environmental regulators.

Courses currently available pertain to automatic tank gauges, single-walled pressure systems, secondary containment and spill/overfill protection.

“These are just the first offerings in our course catalog that debuts December 1,” said Robert Renkes, adding, “Future courses are already being planned.”

Courses are priced at $79 each and generally can be completed in one hour.

Quantity discounts and customized solutions are also available. To learn more, visit www.pei.org/learn or contact the Petroleum Equipment Institute.

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USA, PEI releases new document for inspection and maintenance of motor fuel dispensing equipment The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) has produced and released a new Recommended Practice aimed at inspection and maintenance of motor fuel dispensing equipment. This new document applies to fueling equipment intended to dispense gasoline, diesel, and related petroleum products into motor vehicles at commercial and retail fueling facilities. Equipment covered includes all above-grade, liquid- and vapor-handling components, from the base of the dispenser cabinet to the nozzle spout.

The purpose of the document is to provide a basic reference that consolidates published and unpublished information from equipment manufacturers, installers, and end users concerning the proper inspection and maintenance of motorvehicle fuel-dispensing equipment.

The intent is to provide recommended practices that will: • Minimize the possibility of fueldispensing system failure • Reduce fire hazards • Promote fueling safety • Minimize environmental hazards These practices are the consensus recommendations of the PEI Dispensing Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Committee.

The committee includes representatives from petroleum marketing, equipment manufacturing and service and installation contracting companies.

Single-copy price for the 54 page RP500-05 is $75 ($25 for PEI members). Discount rates apply for quantities of eleven or more. You can order online at www.pei.org/shopping or www.pei.org/RP500/index.htm or request an order form by calling + (918) 494-9696.

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Press Releases APEA 2006: combining AGM, Exhibition, Conference and Industry Awards 2 November 2006, Warwickshire A prestigious conference program, an exhibition featuring some of Europe’s leading retail equipment and service providers and an Awards Dinner combine to produce a dynamic and highly memorable industry gathering – APEA 2006.

In line with creating a high profile event, the APEA is introducing a series of Industry Awards to the event. These are aimed at recognizing achievement in and contribution to the industry. The four categories will celebrate the best in Health, Safety & Environmental, Quality, Customer Service and Innovation. Nomination forms can be obtained from admin@apea.org.uk and winners will be presented with the inaugural APEA award at the event dinner.

Debate and case studies will be at the heart of the conference centering on the themes of innovation and legislation.

The event takes place on November 2nd 2006 at the prestigious Royal Court Hotel, Warwickshire.

The central location is close to all of the major road networks and is just 15 minutes from Birmingham International Airport, making it the perfect UK venue for a truly European Event. In addition, the choice of country hotel makes for an informal working environment which brings the industry together.

“By making this move to an affordable, residential hotel dedicated specifically to the APEA event and its delegates, we are offering the industry a truly focused industry event”, says Bob Conlin Chairman of the APEA Events Committee.

The APEA has appointed professional organiser Downstream Events Ltd to manage its annual event.

“After nearly 50 years, it is time for the event to be revamped. The introduction of the Industry Awards, combined with the skills of an experienced organising team, will help us make APEA 2006 an

industry date not be missed”.

For further information on APEA 2006 please contact Emma Faure or Fiona Horan by email on info@downstreamevents.com or on +44 (0)208 932 4505.

Buncefield Storage Terminal Explosion The oil industry continues to assess the impact of the incident at Buncefield terminal, Hemel Hempstead, this morning and is working together to minimise the effect upon fuel distribution, drawing upon the industry’s and the DTI’s response plans for such a contingency, which UKPIA is helping to co-ordinate.

All nine oil refineries in the UK are fully operational. There are no problems with any other aspects of the manufacture of petroleum products or their distribution, other than at Buncefield.

In order to assist with managing the immediate impact upon distribution from Buncefield terminal, motorists are urged to maintain their normal pattern of refuelling.

Enquires to: Nick Vandervell Tel. 0207 632 9880 or Chris Hunt, UKPIA Tel. 020 7240 0289

HSC orders HSE investigation of Buncefield oil depot incident The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has formally asked the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency to investigate to investigate the incident which happened on December 11th 2005 at the Buncefield oil depot; to appoint an Investigation Board with an independent chair and to make a special report to the HSC as soon as possible.

Announcing the decision, Bill Callaghan, Chair of the HSC, said: “Earlier today I met representatives of the local authorities with responsibility for environment, regulation and business. They made clear their concerns that there should be no delay in sharing with industry and communities close to major hazard sites the lessons learnt from this incident. I fully agree. Given the nature

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News of the incident, both on- and off-site risks need to be examined. The HSC has made clear the need for the investigation to proceed impartially and without delay and for the conclusions to be made public.

“I know that HSE and the Environment Agency are committed to speedily publishing information on matters being scrutinised by the Investigation Board that require immediate attention by the industry and other stakeholders.”

HSE and the Environment Agency’s terms of reference with regard to this incident are to: · ensure the thorough investigation of the incident, the factors leading up to it, its impact both on and off site, and to establish its causation including root causes; · identify and transmit without delay to duty holders and other appropriate recipients any information requiring immediate action to further safety and/or environmental protection in relation to storage and distribution of hydrocarbon fuels; · examine the HSE’s and the Environment Agency’s role in regulating the activities on this site under the COMAH Regulations, considering relevant policy guidance and intervention activity; · work closely with all relevant stakeholders, both to keep them informed of progress with the investigation and to contribute relevant expertise to other inquiries that may be established; · make recommendations for future action to ensure the effective management and regulation of major accident risk at COMAH sites. This should include consideration of offsite as well as onsite risks and consider prevention of incidents, preparations for response to incidents, and mitigation of their effects; · produce an initial report for the HSC and the Environment Agency as soon as the main facts have been established.

Subject to legal considerations, this report will be made public; · ensure that the relevant notifications are made to the European

Commission; and · make the final report public.

The investigation will be overseen by a Board, which will report to both HSC and the Environment Agency. The Board chair will be independent of both bodies. It will also include independent members with relevant expertise, as well as staff from the Environment Agency and HSE. The HSC Chair will approve the membership of the Board.

The Commission will publish the special report, pursuant to section 14(5) of the Health and Safety at Work etc.

Act 1974. The Commission has also requested that any information transmitted pursuant to the second indent of the terms of reference above should be made publicly available.

Bill Callaghan concluded: “Our aim as an independent Commission is for the investigation to engage with the public and the local community in as open and transparent a way as possible. We will want the investigation to have the fullest engagement with those running the site, those employed on the site and the wider industry.

1974, under which it: “may at any time direct the Executive... to investigate and make a special report on any matter.” · The Buncefield oil depot is subject to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) and HSE and the Environment Agency are the joint Competent Authority for these regulations. · HSE’s Major Incident Investigation Policy and Procedures can be accessed at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/docum ent_g.pdf Public Enquiries HSE InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.ht m or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

E & S Environmental Services Links up with leading UK Fuel Management Company

Notes · HSC is an independent body of ten people, appointed by the Secretary of State for Department for Work and Pensions, after consultation with organisations representing employers, employees, local authorities and others. HSC’s primary function is to make arrangements to secure the health and safety of workers and the public in the way work activities are conducted; including proposing new law and standards, conducting research and providing information and advice. · The Health and Safety Executive is a body of three people appointed by HSC with the Secretary of State’s approval. The Executive advises and assists HSC and has specific statutory responsibilities of its own, notably for enforcing health and safety law. The Executive’s staff of around 4,000 (inspectors, policy advisors, technologists, scientific and medical experts etc.) - is collectively known as HSE. · The Commission has exercised a power under Section 14(2)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act

E&S, the Witney based specialists in diagnostic tank testing, has been chosen by leading US company AlgaeX to market their innovative range of fuel systems management units within the UK and Ireland.

Mobile and static tank cleaning systems, on board fuel conditioning units, fuel polishing and filtration systems, and highly advanced fuel catalysts are some of the products available through a new subsidiary company – E&S Fuel Improvement Systems Ltd. Engine mounted units (LGX Series) convert a higher proportion of each litre burnt into useable energy, improving mpg, reducing exhaust emissions and increasing filter and injector life. At today’s high fuel prices even a 1% saving can be substantial – but at a typical range of 2-8% saving, serious reductions in fuel bills are already being made by fleet operators.

Mobile tank cleaning machines (MTC Series) restores dirty fuel to optimum combustibility while cleaning the tank at the same time. Wall mounted fuel polishing systems (FPS Series) keeps fuels in pristine condition while removing sludge and water from tanks and the STS Series conditions and 21

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News filters stored fuel for emergency generators. And with the inclusion of the advanced catalyst, more of the tanks residue is converted into usable fuel, with any fungal build up removed and the fuel stabilised and quality restored.

All diesel, gas oil and petrol users can benefit – bus & coach fleets, heavy and light commercial vehicle operators, generator hire companies, contractor’s plant, quarries, marine vessels, military vehicles – in fact cost savings and environmental and operational advantages are there for any organisation that uses or stores fuel.

E&S have recruited James Davies, late of Kuwait Petroleum and Texaco, to head up the marketing effort as Sales Manager. Gilmore Services of Belfast are appointed distributors for N. Ireland and Irish Pump & Tank of Dublin will cover the Republic of Ireland.

E&S Fuel Improvement Systems Ltd Unit 14 Viscount Court Ind. Est. Brize Norton Oxon OX18 3QQ Tel: 01993 852419 Visit web: www.algae-x.net for more details Contacts: E&S: James Davies (M) 07812 166209 Gilmore Services: Matthew Gilmore 028 9065 1234 Irish Pump & Tank: Nat McCoy 0035 31 6267544

BP Teams up with Marks & Spencer In a new concept for BP is to be on trial at eight key BP Connect petrol stations as the major UK food and clothing manufacturer Marks & Spencer have launched a “Simply Food” concept at the BP flagship site in LondonFlyover in Hammersmith. The concept will be targeting customers to use the very popular branded M&S convenience food at the petrol station forecourt. Graham Sims the BP Retail Director says this exciting pilot is moving BP from a fuel retailer to a true convenience retailer.

Shell Appoints New Contractors Shell has appointed JOHNSON CONTROLS to provide facilities management at 13,000 of its retail 22

petrol stations in 24 countries throughout Europe and Asia under a five-year, multi million-dollar contract.

This is reported to be the largest contract ever made in the retail fuels market.

The contract includes responsibility for the maintenance of Shells retail fuel systems, forecourt image, retail facilities, infrastructure including mechanical and electrical services as well as providing safety and security systems.

Catalist Limited sign agreement with BP Oil UK Limited Retail Dealer Business to provide the daily PriceViewer Service Catalist Ltd and BP Oil UK Ltd announced today that they have signed an agreement to provide Catalist’s PriceViewer service to all BP’s independent fuel retailers in the UK. Catalist’s unique service for independent dealers will be available to BP’s new dealers and any existing dealers renewing their supply agreement. Dealers mid-term may also take advantage of this service at prices negotiated by BP. The service will enable the dealers to monitor competitors’ prices by grade on a daily basis, thus allowing them to manage their own site’s pricing more effectively.

PriceViewer is based on Catalist’s fuel price data, which is obtained for all sites in the UK that accept Fuel Cards.

Information on the previous day’s transactions is collected and processed each morning, matched against Catalist's petrol station database and loaded into PriceViewer ready for immediate access.

The system is entirely Internet-based and easy-to-use, enabling the dealers to make informed pricing decisions based on current and accurate data.

“Having reliable price information for your local trade area is a key element of the professional approach to managing any Dealer business and as a consequence of this agreement with BP we are pleased to be providing our daily PriceViewer service“, commented Nigel Lang, Catalist's Managing Director.

“Catalist’s PriceViewer service will save our Dealers the time and expense of checking on their local pump prices

every day. Having reliable and accurate local pricing data is crucial in today’s competitive market” said Tim Laffan BP’s Commercial Fuels Manager.

If you would like to find out more about PriceViewer, please contact: Arthur Renshaw Country Manager, UK and Ireland Catalist Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 117 923 7113 Fax: +44 (0) 117 923 7166 Email: arthur.renshaw@catalist.com

LCM and Tanknology combine forces to develop petroscope Following a successful demonstration of Petroscope at Total Hemel Hempstead, Liquid Cargo Management (LCM) and Tanknology have joined forces to market and operate Petroscope within the UK. Petroscope is a highly capable remotely operated camera that can access the tank through the fuel filler pipe. It enables a detailed visual inspection of an underground storage tank (UST) to be undertaken. The inspection is recorded on DVD and given to the client with a written report and recommendations as to future action that may be considered eg man entry for visual inspection and repair.

Petroscope also enables NDT testing but only in the area of the striker plate, the most common area of tank failure.

Tanknology will operate Petroscope and LCM will provide all support to the operation; securing the area, degassing of tanks, fuel uplifts, storage on site, pipe work etc.

A number of clients have expressed interest in using Petroscope. The usual method of operation will be to agree a 48hr closure of a forecourt site so that all tanks can be inspected. The client then receives a report on the tank condition so that future action may then be planned. The system enables preliminary inspection without the need for man entry.

Darrin Francis, Managing Director of Tanknology (UK) commented: ‘Tanknology enables thorough inspection without man entry and is an ideal first step in reviewing the condition of USTs. Our partnership with LCM enables us to jointly offer the oil companies a first class service of the highest standard’ Bob Burnard, Managing Director of

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LCM commented: ‘Petroscope enables companies to quickly survey their ‘at risk’ UST inventory and then prioritise those that require further investigation.

This minimises tank entry and enhances personnel safety. Our partnership with Tanknology is an important development utilising many of our skills and we look forward to providing the oil companies with the highest possible service.’

Tanknology is the UK subsidiary of Tanknology a US based provider of innovative technology and services to the fuel industry. Petroscope is well proven in the USA and is now being introduced to the UK by Tanknology UK. Liquid Cargo Management Ltd was formed in 1987 and specialises in the safe delivery of hazardous services to the fuel industry. Accredited to ISO 9000:2000, 14001:2004 and 18001:1999 it delivers the highest possible level of customer service whilst considering the environmental impact of all it does with Safety being our No 1 priority.

For further information please contact: Darrin Francis, Tanknology (UK) Ltd: Tel 0870 243 3022 Mark Orr, Liquid Cargo Management Ltd: Tel 01884 841387. www.lcmltd.co.uk

Accurate Refuelling for South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Services

safety, fiscal and environmental reasons is still the responsibility of those who do not dispense to the general public.

When South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were recently looking to upgrade their fuel dispensing equipment, they asked their Rotherham based maintenance contractor Pump and Tank Services to advise on fuel pumps that allowed greater accuracy and control when refuelling the fire engines and rescue vehicles.

The company recommended the installation of the Alpha dispenser manufacturer by Hytek.

They considered the Alpha to be robust and reliable and provide everything required for safe and efficient fuelling. Available at pumping rates of 70 or 90 litres per minute, the Alpha has a backlit LCD display contained within a stainless steel cabinet to prevent corrosion.

Furthermore, fuel measurement is guaranteed to be accurate to +/- 0.5%.

Ian Beaumont, T/Estates Manager, at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said, “The fuel pumps we had been using previously were only accurate to within

The importance of accuracy in fuel dispensing cannot be over emphasised at petrol filling stations where fuel is dispensed to the public.

The metrology laws are quite stringent and meters are checked for accuracy by both the suppliers and

by Trading Standards officials.

The same standard is not a legal requirement for installations where fuel is not sold to the public and indeed much of the equipment on the market would not meet the requirements of a public filling station.

These installations however do need to provide good fuel management, the keeping of accurate stock control figures for health and 25

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4% when refuelling. I was keen to improve this margin as part of the upgrade to help us control our fuel usage more effectively and to ensure we comply with all environmental and safety legislation” The Hytek Alpha fuel pump is also available with an integral fuel management system, the Alpha FC10.

With the Alpha FC10, data access, set up and data tag programming can easily be achieved using the PC based Fuel Manager software, which links to the pump via a GSM modem. For security, drivers can only dispense fuel from the pump using a valid data tag.

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Hytek data tags are small 100% sealed plastic units, which are durable and hardwearing – and they are guaranteed for life! Data tags can be programmed with all sorts of information including vehicle registration and driver PIN code as well as fuel type allowed.

Petrotechnik forms new company in Japan Ipswich, UK, PetroTechnik International has formed P & D Japan to manage the sales and distribution of its

UPP flexible polyethylene pipework system in Japan. The head office is in Kitakyushu.

One of the new company’s key goals is to help reduce costs for companies managing petrol stations in Japan by providing them with one of the world’s safest and most durable flexible pipework systems. The spotlight has been on fuel leakage problems in Japan for some time encouraging the rapid move towards polyethylene from the more traditional steel pipe.

UPP was the first polyethylene pipe work system to be approved by Japanese regulator KHK in March 2001

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News and was first installed in Tokyo in the same year. Since then there have been 350 installations involving 88,000 metres of pipe in Japan in the last four years.

Users include ExxonMobil, Showa Shell, Eneos, Cosmo and Jomo.

PetroTechnik is the leading worldwide innovator, provider and distributor of UPP polyethylene containment, piping and tightness testing systems for the storage and transfer of flammable

liquids underground. PetroTechnik also designs, manufactures and distributes Cookson & Zinn above and below ground storage tanks and pressure vessels.

PetroTechnik was the first company to use polyethylene pipe for the petroleum market and the first to launch an automated electrofusion process for the seamless jointing of its pipe. Now UPP is widely used in a number of

markets including aviation, marine and mining and 6,000,000 metres of UPP pipe have been installed in 128 countries. PetroTechnik has offices in the UK, USA, Brazil, France, Sweden, Australia, now Japan and soon to open, China.

Contact: Stephen de Wild Vice President - P&D Japan Tel: +44(0)1473 243300

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Articles

The Buncefield Terminal

By Jamie Thompson Thanks Chiltern

to

Hertfordshire

Support

Unit

for

Police

d r a m a t i c

the

photographs which

photoographs, most were taken from

accompany

their Helicopter on Dec 12.

article,

many

this of

which were taken The Explosion and subsequent fire at

28

from

their

the Buncefield Oil Storage Terminal,

reconnaissance

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, soon

helicopter

on

became national and international news

December

12th

as the dramatic early morning events of

2005.

Sunday 11th December unfolded on

The

Buncefield

television. Over the following days we

Terminal, which is

continued to witness via our televisions

fed by underground

and newspapers detailed film and

pipelines, is a fuel

pictures of ferocious fire and dense

oil

smoke plumes such as never seen

distribution depot. It

before We would like to extend our

is

sincere thanks to the Hertfordshire

modern and is fully

Police Chiltern Support Unit for the

compliant

storage

and

reasonably

with

CROWES Bulletin March 2006

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Articles national guidelines regarding bunds,

good.

few people either on site or in its vicinity

separation distances etc. There is no

Viewing the devastation caused by

it must be assumed that this was the

reason to consider the facility to be

the fire and explosion it is difficult to

main reason that there weren’t multiple

anything but safe and indeed the safety

believe that there was no loss of life. As

deaths and casualties. It is a spine

record of not only this terminal but other

the explosion happened early on a

chilling thought to consider the outcome

similar installations within the UK is

Sunday morning when there were very

had this catastrophe occurred during

29

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Articles

normal working hours!

30

Following the explosion severe traffic

record the incident for all time on their

The ferocity of the explosion and the

congestion was reported in the area

engulfment of fire of so many storage

with the adjacent M1 & M10 motorways

The Health & Safety Commission

tanks caused the emergency services

being closed in all directions. Traffic

(HSC) has instructed the Health &

many operational problems. Whilst the

movement was re-established as soon

Safety Executive (HSE) to set up an

emergency services dealt with the

as it was safe to do so, but much

enquiry with an independent chairman

incident with true professionalism and

congestion remained thanks to the

to examine the cause and effect of the

bravery it is probable that the industry

many sight seers who wanted to

incident. In view of the substantial

will learn much from these events.

witness the devastation first hand and

damage

digital cameras!

caused

to

neighbouring

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Articles

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Articles

property it is equally important that the recommended separation distances

are

when changes are made. The HSE are

as

enforced by the Health & Safety

also notified of all relevant details

Buncefield and adjacent buildings is

Executive (HSE) require the “Operator”

appertaining to the site together with

reviewed. We await the publication of

to take all reasonable steps to prevent a

details of any significant increase in the

the report with interest!

major

the

quantity of dangerous substances

consequences to the environment

stored on site. The regulations also call

should

for

between

installations

such

What Controls Were In Place?

The Buncefield terminal comes under two principal sets of safety legislation.

The first is the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) 32

reviewed and continually revised as and

Statutory Instrument 1999: 743.

These

Regulations,

accident an

and

incident

which

to

limit

occur.

The

the

Operator

to

prepare

an

regulations call for the Operator to

emergency plan detailing both the on

prepare a policy document that details

and offsite procedures which must be

the measures taken to prevent a major

adopted in the event of a major incident

accident occurring. This document is

occurring.

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37

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38

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Articles

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Articles

There is also a requirement for

The HSE are also required to put in

relevant information regarding the

place procedures to carry out an

establishment to be made available to

inspection of the site at least once per

those members of the public who would

year.

and is then required to report their findings to the European Commission.

The second item of legislation which applies

to

installations

such

as

be likely to be affected in the event of an

In the aftermath of any major accident

Buncefield is the Pipeline Safety

emergency. This public information is

the HSE must analyse all technical,

Regulations 1996 Statutory Instrument

subject to three years reviews.

organisational and managerial aspects

1996:825 which provides for the design,

41

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Articles

safety

systems,

and

1st April 1967 there was also a fire at

led to the overfilling of road tankers with

These

the West London Terminal operated by

product spilling over the loading bays.

for

Esso Petroleum. The official report

The resulting fire and explosion caused

carrying out work on pipelines and

issued on 6 September 1967 by the

loss of life, injury and extensive damage

dealing

or

Chief Inspector of Explosives, Dr H K

emergencies that may arise; this also

Black, reported on the consequences of

includes giving due consideration to

the fire where three employees lost their

prevention of damage in the event of an

lives and eleven were injured.

maintenance regulations

of

access pipelines.

include

with

any

provision incidents

accident

The company had installed new automated delivery systems for filling

thought likely to have been a road tanker engine starting up in preparation for driving out of the terminal.

The terminal was reopened with

road tankers; this facility had been

additional safety features which were

handed over the day before following

adopted throughout the industry. The

this was the first fire at a UK oil terminal

commissioning

storage tanks on this occasion were not

since the war this was not the case. On

Problems encountered during the day

Other Incidents Although many reports stated that

42

to the plant. The cause of ignition was

by

the

installers.

involved in the fire.

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Articles

2007 APEA Yearbook Registration

By Jane Mardell I am writing this article this year to ensure that you are all clear as to what you need to do to be included into the 2007 Yearbook.

Some of you thought you would be included automatically into the 2006 Yearbook and were surprised when you did not see your contact details included.

As shown on the form your Registration Form must be returned to the APEA office for your details to be included by 1st April. This ensures that the information in the Yearbook is correct.

Even if you do not wish to advertise in the Yearbook, to be included in the Classified and Directory pages you should complete the form as follows:

1. Check your contact details are correct on the form and that these are the contact details that you wish to be included into the Yearbook. If you wish to change them please amend the form. As an APEA member you receive one free ‘Classified’ entry.

2. Complete the Directory table This contains a list of the Directories that will be included in the Yearbook.

Please tick the box next to the Directory listing that is relevant for your business. You receive one free box. Additional boxes are charged @ £26.00 plus VAT.

3. If you wish to book advertising or have ticked additional ‘Directory’ boxes, complete the payment box at the bottom of the form.

4. Fax or post the form to the APEA office by 1st April 2006. This enables the production of the Yearbook in time for Autumn delivery I will then record the Registration forms received.

If you have any queries or need another form please do not hesitate to contact me at the APEA office on 01799 541816 or by email at admin@apea.org.uk

More innovations from D. Berry & Co Ltd Easy Riser tackles the P/V valve changeover problem

By Frank Hare The new Working at Height regulations which came into force in April 2005 underline again, the importance of adopting safe working practices.

With stage 1b vapour recovery systems now well established in the UK, there is a requirement for the annual inspection or change of the high level Pressure Vent valves.

The practice of using a “cherry picker”, ladder or scaffolding to access these valves is commonplace, but none of these methods can guarantee the safety of the engineer undertaking the task. Using these methods also requires two men to complete the job, which could easily be carried out by a single operative if it wasn’t for the difficulties associated with working at height.

Berry’s have carefully researched this situation, and in light of recent accidents have found an answer to providing easy access to the valve. Their new “Easy Riser” has brought the commonsense approach of bringing the valve to the engineer instead of the other way round. The main difficulty

they encountered was finding a suitable swivel joint that would retain the pressure in the line, whilst at the same time, allowing the upper section of the stage 1b vapour recovery unit to be lowered to a suitable working height.

Using their wide experience, Berry’s identified a suitable swivel joint.

Substantial field tests of the completed

unit were carried out and it was soon decided that the product could be declared a winner! By simply unlocking the riser pipe and lowering it to an acceptable working height the job can now safely be carried out by one man instead of two.

With this device in place it will no longer be necessary for engineers to be

43

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Articles solution in the form of their retaining device.

T h e traditional retaining chain has been removed and

exposed to the dangers of working at height.

Berry’s claim that the “Easy Riser” is an inexpensive solution to this problem and tell us that is already being retrospectively fitted to Stage 1b Vapour Recovery installations in the field.

A New Cap – the solution to an old fill cap problem Anybody who has removed a tank fill cap will be familiar with the irritating scenario of the retaining chain snapping and the cap disappearing into the manway chamber or dropping to the ground in the case of off-set filling installations.

Again Berry’s have come up with a simple 44

replaced with a double-action bracket which simply lowers the cap and holds it in position once it has been unlocked, therefore eliminating the risk of it breaking or coming adrift. According to Berry’s their new cap is simple to retrofit and solves this long standing problem.

For more details and specification call Berry’s on 0121 558 4411 or email enquiries@dberryandco.co.uk.

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Articles

Fairbanks launches their DSEAR Survey Service

By Bob Conlin, Fairbanks Environmental Fairbanks Environmental, the Wetstock Monitoring and Management Specialists, have now extended their portfolio of compliance services to include their own DSEAR compliance service. They have developed a comprehensive survey of a site operator’s management and control of the hazardous substances which assesses a site operator’s current status of compliance with legislation, document facilities, procedures and systems of work on the forecourt.

As explained later the survey includes a risk rating process presenting the results in assessment tables. This replaces the need to also undertake an assessment in accordance with HS(G)146.

When undertaking the survey, which will take up to half a day on an average sized forecourt, Fairbanks ensures that the site operator fully understands and is involved in the process so that he/she ‘owns’ the resulting assessment report and takes responsibility for the action plan remedial actions.

The output of the survey is a site specific Management & Control of Hazardous Substances Report which consists of :

•

The risk assessment,

•

assessment tables,

•

an action plan,

•

a hazard classification drawing

Risk Assessment Sheets

The Assessment Sheets are divided into 16 separate areas which consist of common industry best practice control measures and key factors on the forecourt. These include; staff training, emergency plans, control of contractors, fire detection and fire fighting, safety checks and maintenance and leak containment and detection.

The assessment of each area takes the form of a series of questions which establish whether adequate control measures are in place.

Assessment Tables

The Assessment Tables assess the risks in the areas on the forecourt where a hazardous substance will have an impact. Hazardous contents (gasoline, LPG etc) are identified and recorded and individual areas on the forecourt are classified based upon industry recognised criteria.

The concept of establishing a risk rating ‘score’ as adopted in HS(G)146 is retained here which also enables group operators and major oil companies to 47

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Articles ‘risk rate’ their sites against the various aspects of delivery, storage, pipework, dispensing, vapour emission control, and prioritise the remedial works across their network.

In order to assess the fire and explosion risks of individual key areas this section of the assessment divides them into 7 "Aspects" with each aspect being subdivided into a number of "Elements".

For example under the Aspect ‘Storage’, each tank is recorded in terms of its age, type, leak detection method, proximity to vulnerable receptors such as basements and is given its own score, rather than having a combined score for all tanks. All such data collected is stored on the Fairbanks database.

Action Plan

The Action Plan consists of a list of remedial actions, which are Fairbanks’ recommendations on how to rectify any non compliances. It is intended as an aid to the site operator to prioritise and plan his actions in order to improve the Management & Control of the hazards and risks presented by Hazardous Substances on the forecourt.

The site operator is however free to decide how best to rectify such non compliances.

The Action Plan also acts as a management control document by requiring a completion date and signature by the responsible person.

Site Drawings

DSEAR requires site operators to identify and mark all relevant Hazardous Areas. One way of doing this is to produce a site plan. Fairbanks will prepare a drawing either by surveying the site or using a current CAD layout drawing if one is available. The drawing is a view of the forecourt showing hazardous areas in relation to equipment & facilities on the forecourt. It also differentiates between the classification

of

hazardous areas present during a tanker delivery and at all other times.

Please refer any questions or enquiries to either Brian Reed, Business Development Manager or Michelle King, Audit Manager on tel: 01695 51775 or email to DSEAR@fairbanks.co.uk

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Vapour Recovery in Europe

By Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Kunter, Wolfgang Pein, Dr. rer. nat. Wolfgang Schrittenlacher Every time you fill up your car with petrol 0.1% is lost through evaporation into the atmosphere. On its journey from the Refinery to the customers car petrol passes through three processes where petrol vapour is lost through evaporation.

Road tankers are filled at the loading gantry and then underground storage tanks are filled at the petrol station; finally the customers’ vehicles are filled. In 2004 in the United Kingdom approximately 33 Million tonnes of petrol were consumed. On this basis an estimated 99,000 tonnes of petrol would have been lost assuming there were no vapour recovery systems in place. When filling road tankers and underground storage tanks at service stations, vapour recovery systems are already established in most EU countries and also in UK (Vapour recovery stages 1A & 1B). However, in the UK there is still an estimated amount of more than 33,000 tonnes of vapour emitted to atmosphere when filling vehicles. Stage II Vapour recovery is the process of collecting vapours when filling vehicles.

Hydrocarbons are amongst the gases responsible for the much spoken about greenhouse effect. Furthermore the cyclic hydrocarbons which are present in the emitted vapours are known to be carcinogenic. Clearly there are many environmental reasons to control and limit these emissions.

Vapour recovery stage I In most European countries Stages 1A & 1B vapour recovery have already been implemented for the loading and unloading of road tankers. In addition to the fill line a vapour recovery hose also has to be connected to allow a return path for the displaced vapours. During the filling process the liquid displaces the vapour and the pressure differential acts as the driving force to expel the vapours from the road tanker and return it to storage. Vapours equivalent to approximately 35 to 40 litres of petrol are recovered when recovering vapours during the process of filling a road tanker with 35000 litres of petrol. Road tankers are predominately bottom loaded with an interlock system in place to ensure that the vapour recovery hose is correctly connected.

When unloading the road tanker at the service station a similar situation prevails, however this is slightly more complicated. The vent pipes from all petrol tanks are normally manifolded to give one vapour recovery line connected to a single elevated vent riser.

Underground diesel tanks remain independent of the vapour recovery system and retain their individual vent pipes and risers. The single petrol vent riser is fitted with a pressure/vacuum valve preset to relieve at 35mb of pressure or 2mb of vacuum. When filling the underground storage tank (UST) there is a dynamic increase in pressure, however under normal circumstances this does not lead to a hydrocarbon emission. Only if there are increases in pressure above 35mb will the pressure/vent valve operate allowing an escape of vapour. (One illustration of how this situation could occur is in the event of the road tanker driver not connecting the vapour recovery line correctly).

In some instances problems have been experienced with a build up of pressure due to overfill prevention valves being incorrectly installed or not being “gas tight”. This normally manifests itself with tank fill caps flying off under pressure when being removed in order to connect the delivery hoses! In some European countries a throttle valve in the vent riser is allowed as an alternative to the pressure/vacuum valve; however this leads to higher level of hydrocarbon emission. The conditions have been studied in detail in reference /3/.

Stage II Vapour Recovery

Stage Ib

Stage II

Figure 1: Vapour recovery at the service station 51

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Articles The final missing link in the vapour recovery chain in the UK is in dealing with containing the vapours displaced when refuelling vehicles at service stations – Stage II. Stages 1b & Stage II vapour recovery at service stations are as illustrated in figure 1.

If Stage II vapour recovery is not implemented there are two potential sources of Hydrocarbon emissions to be considered.

Firstly there is the emission of vapour as the vapour in the cars' tank is displaced by the incoming fuel. An additional emission at the vent riser may also be induced if Stage II Vapour Recovery is not installed; this can be as a result of a pressure drop being generated within the UST as the fuel is being delivered into the vehicle tank. This reduction in pressure can cause the ingestion of a corresponding amount of air. Because the vapour phase needs to be in equilibrium there is a tendency to maintain a concentration of hydrocarbons, this can cause a subsequent additional evaporation of hydrocarbons from the liquid to the gas phase. This in turn can lead to an eventual increase of vapour pressure in the UST hence allowing an excess emission of hydrocarbons from the vent riser. This excess pressure can also lead to an increased emission of vapour when the fill line and vapour recovery line are connected for the purpose of unloading of the road tanker. The pressure increase due to evaporation in the UST is minimised when Stage II Vapour Recovery is installed because the recovered gases contain a comparable amount of hydrocarbons.

Since there are no standardised interfaces between the nozzle and the vehicle tank filler many problems were experienced with the early displacement or passive/balanced Stage II Vapour Recovery systems. This system relies on the slight overpressure within the vehicle tank to be the driving force to propel the displaced vapours back to the UST. It is however extremely difficult to maintain a gas tight connection between the nozzle and the vehicle fill point, rubber bellows were initially used for this purpose but were found to be cumbersome in operation and not very efficient. As a result of this experience the European market decided not to introduce "Balanced Systems" but favoured the development of so called "Active Vapour Recovery Systems". Active vapour recovery systems consist of a special nozzle equipped with a ring shaped suction opening, a coaxial delivery hose and a vacuum pump connecting to a vapour return pipe to the UST. Figure 2: illustrates this type of system.

Figure 2: Active vapour recovery system 1 2 3 4 5 52

underground storage tank fuel pump fuel counter double walled hose nozzle

6 dispenser controller 7 operational electronic for vapour recovery system 8 motor for vacuum pup 9 vacuum pump 10 ventmast

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Articles Using an active vapour recovery system allows the displaced vapour from the vehicle tank to be recovered via the special nozzle using the suction generated by the vacuum pump. As there is no sealed connection between the nozzle and the vehicle fuel tank a certain amount of air is inevitably recovered together with the displaced hydrocarbon mixture.

Therefore the efficiency of the recovery system is clearly less than 100 % but 85% efficiency should be easily achievable. To achieve this level of efficiency it is necessary to gear the vapour recovery rate to the speed of the fuel delivery. Currently there are two widely used solutions to this problem, the first system employs a constant speed vacuum pump and the vapour flow is controlled by an electromagnetic valve. The second system uses a speed controlled servo motor as shown in figure 2.1 In a normal refuelling operation the fuel counter (3) sends a signal to the dispenser controller (6) according to the fuel flow. This signal is used to calculate the total fuel dispensed and the dispenser controller sends a message to the point of sale (POS) recording the transaction. The fuel flow signal pulses are "mirrored" by the dispenser Vapor Recovery Monitoring Dispenser electronic, controller and are provided at a separate port for the electronic operation (7) of the can be used in all dispensers vapour recovery system. Due to Weights and Measures regulations a decoupling is necessary to exclude a retroaction. The electronics control the number of revolutions of the vacuum pump (or controls the electromagnetic valve) in order to equalize fuel flow and gas flow within the tolerance limits of 95 % to 105 %.

1

There are also other types of vapour recovery systems, such as liquid driven vacuum pumps and systems with a proportioning valve in the nozzle controlled by the liquid flow. These systems are not widespread in use and are not discussed further.

Since the control characteristic is nonlinear an adjustment and calibration of the system is necessary. This is generally achieved by carrying out a so called "dry calibration"2. The setup is shown in figure 3.

2

in Switzerland a wet calibration system is used

Figure 3: Dispenser with vapour recovery system 1 2 3 4 5 6

underground storage tank fuel pump fuel counter double walled hose nozzle dispenser controller

7 operational electronic for vapour recovery system 8 motor for vacuum pup 9 vacuum pump 10 vent mast 11 gas meter 12 hand terminal and external gas meter for dry calibration 53

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Articles The system has to be connected as shown in figure 3. The hand terminal (12) sends a signal to the operational electronics (7) of the vapour recovery system simulating fuel flow (typically 40 l/min). The operational electronics generates a signal for the valve position or for the speed of pump according to the preset value. The actual gas flow is measured by the gas meter (11) which is also connected to the hand terminal. This process is carried out for the whole range of operational fuel delivery speeds. The controller in the hand terminal calculates the corrected values and these are transferred to the operational electronics of the vapour recovery system where they are stored in non volatile memory.

Following the simulation of a fuel flow of 40 l/min a gas flow of 40 l/min (+/5%) should be indicated on the display of the hand held terminal if the so called k-factor (as explained below) is preset to 1.00. Once this calibration and test procedure has been carried out the system should be ready for operation assuming that the installation has been correctly carried out.

Vapor Recovery Monitoring Display, optional display for the POS/BOS area to get status information from the Vapor recovery system

One complicated issue is the volume transport efficiency of the vapour recovery system which is dependent on the concentration of hydrocarbons in the vapours. The effect is generally more significant in valve systems and depends also on the construction of the vapour pump. There are systems available which are virtually independent of the hydrocarbon concentration and others which can accommodate a dependence of up to 15 %. This effect is taken into account by the so called “k-factor”. If there is no hydrocarbon concentration dependence the k-factor equals 1,00 and if the effect is 15 % the k-factor equals 1,15. The k-factor must be determined in type test procedures described in publications 4, 5, 6, detailed at the end of this article. The k-factor represents the decrease in volume transport efficiency determined at about 20 °C. Because the hydrocarbon concentration is temperature dependent so is the decrease of the volume transport efficiency. This temperature effect is ignored and so a slight deviation can be expected. At lower temperatures the vapour recovery rate is somewhat higher and at raised temperatures it is lower.

This error was generally accepted during the introduction of Stage II Vapour Recovery systems for the purpose of simplification.

Stage II Vapour Recovery Systems have now been implemented in several European countries. The status of the implementation is given in the following table together with an estimate for the monitoring devices: Country

No.

VR%

Service

*

Start of Installation

Installation

Performance

Monitoring

Completed

Monitoring

Installation

% **

Completion

Stations Germany

15722

100

1 Jan 1993

1 Jan 1998

29

12-2007

Switzerland

3559

100

1 Feb 1992

1 Jan 1995

8

12-2009

Sweden

4046

90

1 Jan 1992

1 Jan 1995

<0,5

Netherlands

3600

90

1 July 1996

1 July 1999

0

Austria

2878

95

1 Jan 1993

1 Jan 1998

0

Italy

23400

100

1 May 1996

1 July 2000

0

Luxembourg

240

100

1 Jan 1992

1 Jan 1996

0

Denmark

2308

78

1 April 1995

1 Jan 2000

0

France

15500

>95

April

Oct 2002

0

UK

11435

<50

2001>3000m3

Portugal

2500

0

0

Spain

8522

<5

0

Czech Republic

1965

90

0

Belgium

4177

1

Finland

1892

6

Hungary

1630

80

Norway

1995

2

1 Jan 2002

0 0

1996

0 0

* figures 1 january 2003 by DGMK ** estimated for October 2005 From the 17 countries listed 11 are equipped with Stage II Vapour Recovery ,it is anticipated that most European countries will follow this trend to reduce the VOC emissions.

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Articles Monitoring of stage II vapour recovery systems Under normal working conditions it became apparent that vapour recovery systems could become faulty without the knowledge of the service station manager. Independent studies carried out by various organisations identified that between 30% and 40 % of the operational systems were not working correctly. For this reason several countries adopted a policy of the mandatory monitoring of vapour recovery systems to ensure compliance with the required performance standards. To date this is required in Germany, Switzerland and California. Since the introduction of monitoring devices in Germany, tests have shown that the general performance or vapour recovery systems has improved drastically.

The structure of the vapour recovery system with a monitoring device is shown in figure 4.

The monitoring device consists of a gas flow sensor (11) situated in the vapour recovery line. An electronic evaluation unit (12) is also connected in order to determine the gas flow during refuelling operations. This electronic evaluation device has an impulse interface connected to the same output as the operational electronics of the vapour recovery system. In the evaluation electronics the recovery rate is calculated and compared with the allowable limits. If the recovery rate is out of tolerance an alarm signal is generated which alerts the service station manager that there is a problem. The alarm criteria adopted in Germany and Switzerland is that if the average vapour recovery rate calculated over 10 consecutive refuelling operations is out of a tolerance range of ± 15 % an alarm signal is generated. This also triggers the start of a timed period during which a repair should be affected, failure to repair the system within this time period (typically 7 days) will cause the monitoring device to turn off the defective fuelling position until such time as repairs are carried out. The time period of 7 days was adopted in order to allow an adequate time for the

Figure 4: Vapour recovery system with monitoring device 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

underground storage tank fuel pump fuel counter double walled hose nozzle dispenser controller operational electronic for vapour recovery system

8 motor for vacuum pup 9 vacuum pump 10 vent mast 11 flow sensor of monitoring device 12 evaluation electronic of monitoring device 13 switch off signal output 57

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Articles appropriate checks and repair of the system to be carried out. Assuming the repair was successful the alarm can be reset and the fuelling point returned to operational status. As the monitoring device described operates entirely independently of the vapour recovery system there is a high level of confidence, that faults will be readily detected.

Another system is available using the gas flow data to correct the gas flow generated by the vapour recovery system. This has the advantage that variations in the vapour recovery rate due to temperature changes will not lead to an alarm. Furthermore moderate degradations of the vapour recovery system can be compensated. On the other hand, since such systems are not independent of the vapour recovery system any error in the flow sensor of the monitoring device may not be detected and under these circumstances a fault condition may not reported even though the system is not working properly!

Vapor Recovery Monitoring Gas flow meter, will be connected to the electronic

Type tests of vapour recovery systems and monitoring devices and tests on the station

To ensure the fulfilment of the regulations the equipment has to be type tested by an independent authority A proposal for a harmonized type test for Europe is given in the C.E.C.O.D documentation. This proposal takes into account the experience gained so far.

To ensure that the systems function correctly following installation and commissioning test procedures should be carried `out in accordance C.E.C.O.D paper (4). There is also a necessity for periodic tests to be carried out to ensure continued operation The experience in retrofitting monitoring systems in Germany has shown (after 15000 installations) that it is necessary for field engineers involved in the installation process to undergo specific training to ensure successful implementation of vapour recovery and their associated monitoring systems.

Upshot for the UK The environmental implications for the UK have been the subject of ongoing discussion for a considerable time.

Finally it looks as if Stage II Vapour Recovery and associated monitoring devices will become a standard requirement on UK sites in the foreseeable future.

Experience gained in other European countries shows that it is certainly more cost effective to install/retrofit both systems simultaneously.

With Stage II Vapour Recovery systems in place an Field installation of an Vapor Recovery Monitoring system overall positive effect on the air quality can be expected with the inhalation of carcinogenic substances by the customer at the petrol pump greatly reduced /13/.

Bibliography /1/ DGMK Forschungsbericht 4590; Messung und Ermittlung von KohlenwasserstoffEmissionen bei Lagerung, Umschlag und Transport von Ottokraftststoffen und Prüfen von Verfahren zur Beherrschung dieser Emissionen (1976); DGMK Research Report 4590; measurement and determination of hydrocarbon emission in storage, loading and transport of motor gasoline and test of procedures to control this emissions (1976): In this report a value 0,94 g/l was determined on the average ranging from 0,7 g/l to 1,4 g/l depending on situation and on temperature. see also: Scott Research Laboratories Inc; Scott project number 2874; Investigation of passenger car refuelling losses; final report (sept. 1972) 58

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Articles see also: DGMK Forschungsbericht 246; Verminderung von Emissionen beim Betanken von Kraftfahrzeugen mit Ottomotoren (1980) DGMK Research report 246; Reduction of gasoline car refuelling emissions (1980) /2/ BP statistical review of world energy (june 2005) states an oil consumption of 80.8 Mio metric tons in the UK for the year 2004; The International Energy Agency (IEA) states a demand of gasoline fuel for the UK of 0,45 Million barrels per day in 2004; this can be recalculated to 26,7 Million liters/a or with the density of about 0,8 kg/l to 33 Mio tons per year. /3/ DGMK Forschungsbericht 504; Drücke und Volumenströme im System Tankwagen/Tankstelle bei der Anlieferung von Ottokraftstoffen (1996); DGMK research report 504; Pressures and flowrates in the system tank truck/petrol station during delivery of gasoline (1996). /4/ C.E.C.O.D. Committee of European Manufacturers of Petroleum Measuring and Distribution Equipment: Proposal for test procedures for vapour recovery systems and vapour recovery monitoring devices in metering petrol pumps/dispensers and dispersed unit delivery systems on filling stations; Issue 10; January 2005. /5/ Systemprüfung für aktive Gasrückführungssysteme und deren Überwachungssysteme in Deutschland ; Merkblatt 1. (Type test of active vapour recovery systems and their automatic monitoring systems in Germany; reference sheet 1) /6/ Buwal Handbuch für die Kontrolle von Tankstellen mit Gasrückführung (Switzerland) /7/ Overview as prepared by the CECOD committee Subgroup 7 (October 2003) /8/ TÜV Rheinland Sicherheit und Umweltschutz GmbH; Ermittlung der Volumenrate und des Rückführungsgrades von Gasrückführungssystemen an Tankstellen in Nordrhein-Westfalen (February 1998) Or DGMK Forschungsbericht 550-01/1 Messaktion zur Überprüfung von Gasrückführungssystemen an öffentlichen Tankstellen in der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg (5/2001); DGMK research report 550-01/1 Measurements to check vapour recovery systems of public retail stations in Hamburg (5/2001) -9/9/ See DGMK research report (4/2003) under http://www.dgmk.de/downstream/report_550-05_%20englisch.pdf /10/ 21. BImSchV Verordnung zur Änderung der Immissionsrechtlichen Vorschriften vom 6. Mai 2002 ( this regulation contains the changes given for the vapour recovery system and the basics for the implementation of the automatic monitoring device) /11/ Prüfung von Gasrückführungssystemen; Merkblatt 908 Teil 1; VDTÜV 8/2005 (Test of vapour recovery systems; reference sheet 908 part 1; VDTÜV 8/2005; this reference sheet contain also the procedure on how to test the monitoring system on the site) /12/ Process Guidance Note 1/14 (XX); November 2005; see www.defra.gov.uk /13/ Final Regulatory Impact Assessment on Petrol Vapour Recovery stage II controls (PVR II); November 2005; see www.defra.gov.uk /6/ Buwal Handbuch für die Kontrolle von Tankstellen mit Gasrückführung (Switzerland) /7/ Overview as prepared by the CECOD committee Subgroup 7 (October 2003) /8/ TÜV Rheinland Sicherheit und Umweltschutz GmbH; Ermittlung der Volumenrate und des Rückführungsgrades von Gasrückführungssystemen an Tankstellen in Nordrhein-Westfalen (February 1998) Or DGMK Forschungsbericht 550-01/1 Messaktion zur Überprüfung von Gasrückführungssystemen an öffentlichen Tankstellen in der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg (5/2001); DGMK research report 550-01/1 Measurements to check vapour recovery systems of public retail stations in Hamburg (5/2001) -9/9/ See DGMK research report (4/2003) under http://www.dgmk.de/downstream/report_550-05_%20englisch.pdf /10/ 21. BImSchV Verordnung zur Änderung der Immissionsrechtlichen Vorschriften vom 6. Mai 2002 ( this regulation contains the changes given for the vapour recovery system and the basics for the implementation of the automatic monitoring device) /11/ Prüfung von Gasrückführungssystemen; Merkblatt 908 Teil 1; VDTÜV 8/2005 (Test of vapour recovery systems; reference sheet 908 part 1; VDTÜV 8/2005; this reference sheet contain also the procedure on how to test the monitoring system on the site) /12/ Process Guidance Note 1/14 (XX); November 2005; see www.defra.gov.uk /13/ Final Regulatory Impact Assessment on Petrol Vapour Recovery stage II controls (PVR II); November 2005; see www.defra.gov.uk 59

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Articles

Want to get involved with your APEA Council?

By Brian Baker, APEA Chairman The APEA is the subject of constant change. As conditions change within our industry many people retire or move on to serve elsewhere, others join us from outside of the industry.

Your council is continually looking for new blood! Some council members have served for many years and are conscious that a fresh look at things may offer enormous benefit to the association as a whole.

If you have the drive, ambition (and

most importantly the time available) to increase your involvement in the APEA your input would be most welcome. By involving yourself in the activities of your local branch you will be making a great contribution to the association, and if you feel you have something to offer at council level - don’t be shy – put yourself forward!

Working with a respected organisation such as the APEA is not only a rewarding experience but also

provides a great networking opportunity. By serving on council you will be at the forefront of our industry and in a position to help mould its future.

If you are interested, please let us know. For an informal chat, please contact Paul Craven on 07702 447959 or e-mail on paul_craven@uko2.co.uk Go on you know you would like to.

APEA Council

Branches Eastern The APEA Eastern Branch met at the Limes Hotel Needham Market on December 13th for its December meeting and Christmas lunch.

The meeting was well attended with excellent presentations given by Chris Cooper and Lee Markham of UPP who talked about UPP’s new products and vacuum test of chambers, manholes and secondary containments. Brian Baker, Milton Keynes County Council, gave an Industry update on current issues and that an APEA book is being prepared.

Brian asked for individuals or companies to provide information of interest, story’s, history etc. If you have anything please forward it via the association web site.

Brian Baker (APEA Chairman) and Anton Martiniussen (Branch Secretary) Jamie Thompson gave a briefing on APEA activity in Denmark.

Anton Martiniussen of the Forecourt Equipment Federation gave an update on Stage II vapour recovery. The day was concluded by an excellent Christmas Lunch for the members.

Anton Matiniussen Branch Secretary

Members at the Eastern Branch Christmas Dinner

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Branches North West APEA NW Branch Technical Meeting 22nd November 2005 Mr Steve Jones, Treasurer of the APEA North West Branch opened our second and final meeting of 2005 and extended a warm welcome to the gathering of 35 members and their guests.

Yet again the level of discussion at the pre meeting registration and over lunch reminded our branch secretary, Bob Conlin, what a valuable opportunity our branch meetings present for our members to meet and discuss topical issues and network in such a relaxed and friendly forum.

The meeting was then treated to four excellent technical presentations on vapour recovery, prefabricated forecourt installations and oil separators.

Mr Paul Reyner from OPW gave a presentation on the OPW Vapour Recovery System.

Mr Reyner started his presentation with a potted history of his company from formation in 1892 through to the present day. He discussed the advantages of the “Vapour Saving System” for both Stage One and Stage Two vapour recovery installations. He then discussed the other OPW products including overfill valves and nozzles which recently achieved approval and are made in China.

He went on to explain in detail the advantages of the Vapour Saving System, providing evidence that the system could achieve good savings particularly when used on Stage One systems where the tanks release vapour during the night time or at times when the tanks are at rest. He also pointed out that the Vapour Saving System, using membrane technology, was designed to keep tanks at negative pressure thereby saving harmful emissions and losses. He explained in more detail how the membrane worked and advised that the membrane had a 12,000 hour life cycle. The system was ATEX certified, UL approved, TUV approved and CARB approved. He advised the meeting that ongoing development of the product was taking place and that there was a Stage Two Vapour Saving System trial site.

Tom Hocking and Jacque Williams of D. Berry & Co gave a presentation on Prefabricated Installation Products.

They started their presentation with a potted history of D. Berry & Co which was created in 1966 as a general pipe supply company and has evolved into a specialist supplier for the industry. They presented the up to date range of Prefabricated Installation Products namely “Atlas”, which is a sealed chamber which directly connects to the manhole lid, containing all of the tank connection points. They pointed out that the modular construction not only modernised and kept the tank water tight but also lent itself to ease of installation and ongoing maintenance.

They then presented the Vent Master, which is a modular fill point and vent arrangement. They pointed out the versatility of the product, allowing a multiple grade fill point and multiple variations to the vent risers.

Finally they described their innovative adjustable vent riser which gave access to the p&v valve at ground level.

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Branches Joanne Bradley of the Environment Agency and committee member of the North West Branch of the APEA gave a preview of the new PPG3 (Pollution Prevention Guidance) Regulations.

She pointed out that the guidance was in respect to Oil Separators mainly on retail petrol filling stations but also an overview to other applications. She pointed out that by selecting the correct Oil Separator contamination of oil to surface water and foul drainage could be averted. She advised that the design of the surface area drainage system and associated Oil Separator was of paramount importance but that an interceptor of less than 7,600 litres capacity on a petrol forecourt was likely to be inadequate. At no time must vehicles washings be allowed through the Oil Separator. If an Oil Separator of less than 7,600 litres capacity were envisaged it would only be permissible following consent of written Risk Assessment. She advised that automatic closure devices and alarms should be fitted.

She believed that strict attention needs to be given to Oil Separator Management Systems and in every case forecourt Oil Separators must be inspected at least annually. She advised the meeting that the new guidance would be available on and after 16th January 2006 which would include an online list of approved Oil Separators.

Barry Young from Conder Products Ltd gave a presentation on the operation and maintenance of Forecourt Petrol Interceptors.

Barry commenced his presentation with a history of Conder Products Ltd which commenced manufacturing in Winchester in 1947. He explained various products which the company created between 1947 and 1972 when Conder Products made the first plastic Oil Separator.

He went on to explain and describe the uses and merits of selecting Class 1 or Class 2 Separators. He explained the need for closure devices and alarms and how they operated and went on to point out that interceptors ideally should be maintained on a six monthly basis with appropriate checks and tests on closure devices and alarms.

The meeting was then closed and everyone retired to the Buffet Lunch and informal session.

Branch Chairman Mr Steve Devine

Branch Representative Contact Details Ian Taylor - Eastern Hytek (GB) Ltd, Delta House, Green Street, Elsenham, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM22 6DS Tel: 01279 815600 Fax: 01279 812978 iantaylor@hytekgb.com Tom Hocking - Midlands D Berry & Co (PFS) Ltd Unit 130 Middlemore Ind Estate Kentish Road Birmingham B21 0AY Tel: 0121 558 4411 64

Fax: 0121 555 5546 enquiries@dberryandco.co.uk Mike Silmon - North East W O Silmon Ltd Industry Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE6 5XB. Tel: 0191 224 0777 Fax: 0191 224 0707 associationtreasurer@apea.org.uk Geoff Oldham - North West Suresite Ltd 3 Eastway Business Village Olivers Place, Fulwood Preston Lancashire PR2 9WT Tel: 01772 790901 Fax: 01772 790902 geoff.oldham@suresite.co.uk

Ian Hillier - Scottish Inverclyde Council Municipal Buildings, Clyde Square, Greenock PA15 1LY Tel: 01475 717171 Fax: 01475 712747 ian.hiller@inverclyde.gov.uk Philip Monger - Southern Petrol Retailers Association Meadowside, West End, Sherbourne St John, Basingstoke, Hants. RG24 9LE. Tel: 01256 850164 Fax: 01256 851273 philmongerpra@ukonline.co.uk TBC - Yorkshire & Humberside

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Training

Training

2006 Course Dates Petrol Filling Stations Construction and Environmental Awareness 17/18 May

Manchester

Wetstock Management

Joint course - 2 days each Construction and Environmental Awareness and Audit and Inspection 12 - 15 June

Dublin

22 June

Manchester

16 Nov

Canterbury

Fireworks and Explosives 18/19 Oct

Luton

Petrol Filling Stations Audit and Inspection 19/20 April

27/28 Sept

Manchester

Luton

Electrical Installations An Awareness

20 Sept

Luton

25 May

Birmingham

27 Sept

Birmingham

2 November

Leeds DSEAR

LPG Installations

20 April

Glasgow

4 May

Manchester

8 June

Northampton

5 Oct

Luton

9 Nov

Canterbury

Courses will be designed around the new TCB Document, Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations.

Please contact the APEA Business Manager on 01799 541816 or at admin@apea.org.uk if you wish to find out about purchasing a copy. APEA Members can purchase the guide at the discounted rate of £40 (non member rate £120).

It is strongly recommended that attendees have access to this document during courses.

All courses can be booked online at www.apea.org.uk on the ‘Training’ page.

Bespoke courses can be made available provided the minimum number of Delegates is 8. This offers a discount.

For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - Training Coordinator, (contact details on page 3) or Brian Humm, Training Chairman 84 Dunblane Road, Eltham, London SE9 6RT APEA Training Team

Mobile: 07818 097141

Gareth Bourhill

Phil Lambeth

Senior Incorporated Electrical

Senior Engineer

Jamie Thompson Independent Consultant

Engineer The DH Morris Group

Paul Craven

BP Global Alliance

Bob Conlin Director

Petroleum Officer Suffolk County Council

e-mail: brian.humm@london-fire.gov.uk

John Dallimore

Fairbanks Environmental

Independent Consulting Engineer Brian Humm Petroleum Officer

John Dallimore &Partners

Tom Armstrong Senior Project Engineer

LFEPA Richard Wigfull Brian Baker Fire Safety & Petroleum Officer Milton Keynes Council

Eddie Furniss

Consulting Engineer

Independent Trading Standards

J. Wigfull & Son

Consultant 65

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Membership To join the APEA simply complete the form below and forward to the APEA office with a cheque or your credit card details completed below or fax on +44 (0) 1799 541816 or complete the online application form at www.apea.org.uk APEA, PO Box 106, Saffron Walden, Essex. CB11 3XT. United Kingdom Membership Types Individual membership: £30.00 includes one copy of the Bulletin per quarter and one copy of Yearbook Corporate membership: £130.00 includes five copies of the Bulletin per quarter and five copies of Yearbook (one representative per company) Full Name Company/Authority Position Membership type

Individual £30.00 pa

Corporate £130.00 pa

Send correspondance to

Company address

Personal Address

Branch Membership

Eastern

Overseas

Midlands

Scottish

North East

Southern

North West

Yorkshire and Humberside

Ireland Do you wish to offer your expertise in any particular area

Comments

Company or Authority

Personal

Address

Address

Town/City

Town/City

County

County

Postcode

Postcode

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Country

Telephone

Telephone

Fax

Fax

email

email

Web site

Web site

I wish to apply for membership of the APEA by cheque (attached)/credit card (delete as applicable) Type of card *issue no - switch only Name on card Card no.

Expiry Date 66

*Switch / Access / Visa / Barclaycard / Delta / Connect (NOT AMEX / DINERS)