American Petroleum Institute

Guide for Safe Storage and Handling of Heated Petroleum-Derived Asphalt Products and Crude-Oil Residua
 N RP 2023

Annotation

This publication describes phenomena which can occur and precautions to be taken in the storage and handling of asphalt products and residua derived from crude petroleum. It applies when these materials are stored in heated tanks at refineries and bulk storage facilities and transported in tank vehicles. Storage temperature may be either below or above the boiling point of water. The products to which these precautions apply include all petroleum materials for which similar storage and handling precautions are suitable, specifically those which need to be heated for storage and handling. This includes materials in the following categories:

a. Performance grade asphalt cement used as a binder for paving (called bitumen in some areas).

b. Road oils.

c. Cutback asphalts and asphalts compounded with special diluents.

d. Asphalt emulsions.

e. Fillers and industrial asphalts, such as used for roofing and waterproofing.

f. Blowing fluxes.

g. Crude-oil residua.

h. Heavy crude oils of low volatility that may be stored at temperatures above the boiling point of water.

i. Asphalts containing polymers.

The scope of this document does not include "end-use" and application by customers. Information addressing end use applications can be obtained from a variety of organizations, including those listed in Appendix H. Some storage and handling practices for industrial and marine residual (bunker) fuels and low gravity heavy crude oils fall within the scope of this Recommended Practice (RP). The content may be applicable to those materials at the discretion of facility management.