Several petroleum terminals reportedly are mulling a prohibition of natural gas-fueled trucks at the loading racks. The terminals currently considering such bans are in the Northeast, Midwest, and Texas Gulf Coast regions.
The bans reportedly are being contemplated due to a perceived risk related to spark-ignition natural gas engines. Some terminal managers have expressed a concern that the electrical ignition system in those engines could ignite vapors in the loading rack area.
The concerns reportedly hearken back to the days of gasoline truck engines and the open-spark risk of those engines. For that reason, the petroleum terminal industry barred gasoline-fueled vehicles from loading racks decades ago, according to officials at the International Liquid Terminals Association.
“More than anything, natural gas engines are simply something new for the storage terminal industry,” says Peter Weaver, ILTA’s compliance director. “People in this industry are trying to gain an understanding of the risks, if any, of operating trucks with natural gas-fueled engines in a hazardous environment.
“Right now there may not be a lot of natural gas-fueled trucks in petroleum transport service, but we know that one fleet recently asked a terminal if natural gas-fueled trucks would be approved for loading petroleum at that terminal. If the concerns about safety can’t be addressed adequately, the door could be shut to natural gas-fueled trucks in petroleum hauling service.”
Weaver adds that ILTA and its members want to be proactive in addressing the issue. Weaver says the association is encouraging the engine manufacturers and natural gas industry to develop an educational effort that could include a brochure that fully reviews the relevant technical and safety issues. ILTA also is exploring a webinar to address the natural gas engine issue.
“We believe our members would benefit from this educational effort,” Weaver says. “Tank truck carriers that operate out of our members’ facilities would also stand to gain.”