Grissom ARB – API 653 Tank Repairs
Argus Consulting provided engineering design and construction support services for major repairs and reconstruction of three bulk fuel storage tanks at the Grissom Air Reserve Base (ARB) Bulk Fuel Facility. The project focused on restoring the integrity and long-term reliability of critical fuel storage infrastructure while improving containment, drainage, and operational performance.
The scope included tank bottom and roof replacement, reconstruction of ringwall foundations, installation of new tank liners and cathodic protection systems, and upgrades to fuel piping, internal floating roofs, water draw-off systems, level alarms, and overflow protection. Additional improvements included containment area regrading, drainage enhancements, concrete paving, access improvements, geotechnical investigations, environmental remediation support, and site restoration. Argus coordinated numerous modernization and repair tasks across the three tanks, addressing a broad range of structural, mechanical, civil, and operational requirements.
Key project features included:
- Innovative tank relocation strategy: The design incorporated a plan to raise and slide the existing tanks out of the construction area, enabling foundation reconstruction while accommodating the extensive repair scope.
- Geotechnical risk management: Argus collaborated with the contractor and geotechnical engineers to develop a conservative foundation design based on assumed soil-bearing capacity. During construction, the geotechnical team validated the design assumptions, allowing foundation work to proceed without additional soil improvements.
- Construction-phase design optimization: Argus revised the soil balancing and grading plan to reflect actual site conditions, improving construction efficiency and reducing reliance on initial assumptions regarding unusable or contaminated soils.
- Comprehensive fuel system rehabilitation: Repairs and upgrades addressed tank structures, fuel piping, level monitoring, water removal, overflow protection, containment, and corrosion prevention to support reliable long-term operations.
Through multidisciplinary engineering, close coordination with construction partners, and responsive design adjustments, Argus helped deliver a practical, maintainable solution for rehabilitating critical military fuel storage infrastructure while managing site-specific geotechnical and construction challenges.
