Analytical Studies of Variations in the Quantities of Petroleum Products during Internal Transfers in a Storage Plant in Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

This study has been leaded to find the causes of the deviation rates beyond the tolerance. For this study, the mastery of the transfer system was decisive for the resolution of easily identifiable problems and for our guidance in the choice of methods for identifying complex problems. The methods used for this study were the graphical representation method and the ISHIKAWA diagram. The graphical representation of deviation rate (over the period of April to August) enabled us to view 35% discrepancy rates beyond the tolerance limits for the SSP and 20% for GO. Through the ISHIKAWA diagram, we highlighted the root causes of gaps in general and organized these causes into two categories that are the physical gaps and fictive gaps. The estimation of these causes has shown that errors in the temperature measurement are the source of 80% of gap rates beyond tolerance limits and 20% are divided between technical gauging errors and physical gaps (not significant). Solutions have been thereafter proposed to minimize the amount of product gaps during transfers.