Petroleum, oils and lubricants adds new facility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew Crawford
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Flexible, unmatched and responsive are all words that many Airmen from the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron petroleum oils and lubricants section use to describe their mission responsiveness and effectiveness.

Minot Air Force Base has a rich tradition of helping empower Airmen by giving them the necessary training and tools to accomplish the mission. Recently, the petroleum, oils and lubricants section welcomed a new, state of the art cryogenics building.

The new facility is equipped with two massive tanks holding 6,000 gallons of liquid oxygen mixed with nitrogen, which are used in B-52H Stratofortress operations, nearly doubling the old facilities capacity.

A B-52H Stratofortress is required to have more than 30 liters or nearly 8 gallons of liquid oxygen onboard during flight for use by the aircrew to prevent Hypoxia at altitude and for emergency breathing. Unlike many similar facilities located elsewhere, and to include the previous one here, the new facility shields Airmen from the harsh climates outdoors..

"Our old cryogenics facility was outside in the elements where the Airmen couldn't keep warm," said Master Sgt. Charles Bragg, 5th LRS fuels operation section chief. "There aren't a lot of indoor facilities quite like this one. We're glad to be operational."

Quality of life while working in the austere conditions experienced at Minot is pivotal, added Bragg. The previous facility gave Airmen no break from the cold of winter.

"The facility has been in the works for a while now," said Bragg. "It's been a long time coming, but we're glad to be able to utilize it now."

Fuels Airmen take pride in ensuring all the units on base receive top-notch fuel support, Bragg added. Supplying Airmen with this new facility will allow them to have all the keys, including a substantially larger and enclosed facility, to successfully support their mission.

In addition to providing support, safety is also paramount, Bragg said. Due to the dangers posed by extremely low temperatures of the liquids handled by the technicians along with their expansion rates, safety is imperative. A proper facility makes completing the mission not only easier but also safer. With an enclosed facility, it makes it easier to monitor and control the environment.

"It's a lot better coming to this facility, which is climate controlled, to work and take samples," said Airman 1st Class Martin Dicken, 5th LRS petroleum, oil and lubricants distribution operator. "It definitely helps us do our job effectively."

The last part of making the facility operational is to extract a sample of liquid oxygen to be sent to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for analysis. After analysis is completed and the sample deemed good, Minot Air Force Base's new facility will be utilized to the fullest for years to come.