Gosport Oil Fuel Depot

Acting as Principal Designer and Contractor, Murphy upgraded the oil fuel depot for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Naval Command in order to meet the future requirements of the Royal Navy, including the new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.

Murphy’s scope of work included the design and replacement of fuel storage tanks, pipework, fuel delivery systems, gatehouse, control room, fuel sampling laboratory and stores. Works also included a new fire and foam system, with tank deluge and a new effluent treatment works.

Murphy self-delivered the vast majority of the project with direct resource and in-house Specialist Welding Services (SWS) and Pipeline Testing Services (PTS).

The project involved demolishing existing tanks and rebuilding a further eight tanks – including six new tanks and two return tanks – as well as new security fencing and new buildings constructed according to the MOD’s specifications.

To protect environmental sustainability, the new system allows the Royal Navy to recycle fuel from its vessels, including fuel that is contaminated or substandard, by filtering it and putting it safely back into production. The old tanks were recycled.

We collaborated with the customer to sequence the delivery of works in three phases:

Phase 1 – Demolition and removal from site of 11 large diameter steel fuel storage tanks. Construction of two F44 Avcat (7,500m3) storage tanks and the associated tank bund. During phase 1 the new Avcat tanks will be connected to the existing site diesel supply/return system and will be operated as an interim replacement for the existing diesel tanks that will be taken out of service at phase 1.

Phase 2 – Construction of three F76 Diesel (7,500m ), one Swing 3 (7,500m3) storage tank, one Returns off spec (1,428m3) and one Returns filtrate (1,428m3) storage tanks, including new transfer pumps, new road tanker loading facilities, new site wide fire system including fire water tanks, new admin and control building, site wide security enhancements including gatehouse, and associated power, control and security systems.

Phase 3 – Integration of Phase 1 works with the Phase 2 works and control systems.