Gasoline Distribution Chain

The gasoline distribution chain is normally divided into two stages:

Stage one is ranging from the receipt of the gasoline at the oil terminal to the off-loading at the service stations.

Stage two focuses on the refuelling of motor vehicles at the service stations.

Normally, focus is given to stage one, as stage two is not yet controlled by EU legislation. However, some countries (notably the U.S.) have introduced national environmental legislation aiming to reduce VOC emissions from re-fuelling of automobiles.

In the case of transportation of gasoline by road or rail tanker, VOC emission control is implemented where the storage, loading and re-loading of the gasoline takes place.

This means that gasoline vapours are recovered from:

• Filling of storage tanks
• Filling of road and rail tankers
• Off-loading at the service station

Return vapour from the tanks at the service stations is transported back to the oil terminal where it is processed in the VRU.

By these means, a closed circuit is made and as little VOC emission as possible is created.

For additional information on the gasoline distribution chain please refer to the “Institute of Petroleum: Guidelines for the Design and Operation of Gasoline Vapour Emission Controls”.