WAPA Floating Fuel Storage Facility

Here's the summary right from the Governor's web site.

http://www.governordejongh.com/blog/2012/02/governor-seeks-federal-assistance-in-aftermath-of-hovensa-closure.html

And yes, there was mention of the floating storage facility.

"Governor de Jongh opened dialogue with officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for WAPA to operate a floating fuel storage facility as a back-up, since the refinery's closing means fuel will have to be transported to the territory."

If this is "fixed" there would be a lot less risk than having tankers come in a out. Tankers are moving storage facilities.

Lucy, No disrespect intended, but this is WAPA we are talking about. Tankers/barges still need to come in and out to deliver fuel. Trusting WAPA to run something that floats and contains fuel is a death wish for Long Reef and condo row. I hope SEA takes a bloody good look at this one.

Now, if it was an offshore delivery pipeline to a floating platform, that is a totally different kettle of fish. But a floating storage facility? I don't' think so.

Island, I only commented on the technical feasibility and technical risk (....assuming proper management and the necessary experience). You are correct that handling something like that off to WAPA to manage would be like handing a baby a loaded gun.

I can see it now - power outage stops bilge pumps on WAPA floating storage, tank sinks, ecological disaster ensues, Feds forced to spend hundreds of millions on cleanup...

Did U ever think that the floating storage facility is actually a tanker that is moored. Tankers are self contained with power generating equipment. In any case, even if they are not thinking a tanker, then redundancy like an on-board diesel generator would most likely included. All of the resorts that have their own sewage plant are required to have back-up emergency power.

As if the WAPA facility isn't a big enough blight on the landscape as it is. Lets park a rusted old tanker there too. Maybe the deck of the tanker can be used as a platform for a floating casino (ha).

Ok - I realize we have to solve these problems, and, as previously only barges of fuel came in/out of the channel from Hovensa, this may be a temporary solution. But it would be bloody nice to see our government proposing longer term solutions - and making plans to follow through on them.

Oh, I guess I forgot where I lived for the moment - more important that we ignore incompetence and sound fiscal decisions, i.e. necessary layoffs at the hospital, and rally against skilled travelling nurses, while planning our next fish fry. 😎

It is most nearly impossible to utilize a floating storage facility anywhere close to the Richmond Plant. The maximum draft in some of those areas of the channel is under 16'00". That is not a lot of draft for floating storage. For example, the WAPA Barges generally draw 13'00"- and are carrying somewhere around 15000 bbls.

WAPA Richmond burns roughly 3500 barrels per day. That means a minimum of 24,500 bbls/week. For a barge- that would be a 300' x 42'
vessel loaded to about 18'00"- not doable in Richmond.

Tankers on WS (Worldscale rates) a Product Tanker loaded to about 47,000 tons (685 X 105 x 30) is probably not on world scale but would be on time charter- probably about $10,000 per day.

So, that would add $70,000 a week to the cost of fuel- and would have to be pipelined ashore at Richmond- probaby from far offshore.

More realistically will be a shuttle tanker running from Hess in the Gulf to STX- every ten days- that would be about $50 a ton, based on 47,000 tons or $2,350,000 a trip- that will really jack up our kwh...

They may have been thinking (... if they do any real thinking) of somewhere close to STT for this floating storage facility. I just think it is a diversion to show they are doing something. Much like WAPA has been doing something for the last 6 or 7 years .... sending out RFPs for Power Purchase Agreements for developers to use their money to build projects; then sell the power 'cheap" to WAPA. First there was a wind project (cancelled), then Alpine (cancelled) and now 5 MWe of solar PV on STX. We will see if the solar materializes as it has been going on 2 years now. Even if it does go ahead, it is a far cry from the day time demand.