The roof follows the fuel
The biggest design decision on a fuel tank is the roof, and it is set by how volatile the product is:
| Fuel | Usual tank type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel (HSD), LDO | Cone roof | Low vapour pressure — a fixed roof is the economical choice |
| Furnace oil (FO), heavy fuel oil | Cone roof, heated and insulated | Kept above its pour point so it can be pumped |
| Petrol (MS), ATF, naphtha | Internal floating roof (IFR) | A floating deck cuts vapour loss; the fixed roof keeps out rain |
| Crude oil | External or double-deck floating roof | See crude oil storage tank manufacturer |
Carbon steel to SA 516 or IS 2062 suits diesel and most fuels; stainless 321 is used for furnace oil held at elevated temperature.
Reference: Indian Oil terminal, Amlekhgunj, Nepal
A cross-border delivery for the IOCL petroleum terminal at Amlekhgunj: two internal floating roof product storage tanks of 4,100 KL each (20 m diameter × 16 m high), two IFR transmix tanks of 250 KL each, and two 3,000 KL water storage tanks, with structural steel erection and associated works.
Before founding HAIL, our leadership team built more than 2,000 storage tanks, including a 27-tank petroleum terminal with MS, HSD, ATF and naphtha product tanks under a single EPCC contract. That experience shapes how we plan fuel storage today.
Who we build fuel tanks for
- Oil depots and terminals — product tanks for HSD, MS, ATF and kerosene, laid out to OISD-244.
- Refineries — intermediate and product tankage.
- Power plants and industrial sites — fuel oil and diesel storage for boilers, furnaces and standby generation.
Shop-built or field-erected
Large-diameter tanks are erected on your site: shell plates are cut, bevelled and rolled at our Kalol workshop near Vadodara — which rolls plate up to 50 mm thick and 3 m wide — then erected by jacking. Smaller tanks and pressure storage can be built complete in the workshop and despatched. Send the size and we will tell you which route is cheaper for your job; it is usually decided by transport limits, not by preference.
Compliance and licensing, handled
Fuel storage in India is licensed, not just built. Tanks are designed to API 650 and IS 803, terminals are laid out to OISD-244, fire-water systems follow OISD-117, and we carry the PESO licensing as part of a turnkey scope that can include the foundation, tankage, piping, fire protection and foam system. Shell seams are radiographed by an approved NDT agency, bottom welds are vacuum-box tested, and every tank is hydrotested with a phased settlement survey.
Need tanks for chemicals rather than fuel? See our chemical storage tank page.
Frequently asked questions — diesel and fuel storage tanks
Which fuels do you build storage tanks for?
Diesel (HSD), light diesel oil (LDO), furnace oil, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), kerosene, petrol (MS), naphtha, biodiesel and ethanol-blended fuels.
Should a diesel tank have a cone roof or a floating roof?
Diesel has a low vapour pressure, so a cone roof is normally the economical choice. Volatile fuels such as petrol, ATF and naphtha usually go in an internal floating roof tank to cut vapour loss.
Have you built fuel storage tanks before?
Yes. For the Indian Oil terminal at Amlekhgunj, Nepal, HAIL built two 4,100 KL internal floating roof product tanks (20 m × 16 m) and two 250 KL transmix tanks.
Do you handle PESO licensing?
Yes. PESO licensing is part of our turnkey scope, alongside OISD-244 layout and OISD-117 fire-water compliance.
Do you build heated furnace oil tanks?
Yes. Furnace oil and heavy fuel oil are stored in cone-roof tanks with heating and insulation, so the product stays above its pour point; stainless 321 is used where it is held at elevated temperature.
Can a smaller fuel tank be built in your workshop?
Smaller tanks can be built complete at our Kalol workshop and despatched; large tanks are erected on site. Send the capacity and we will recommend the cheaper route.