Storage Tank Inspection and
Calibration Using Laser
Scanning and Trimble
RealWorks
GEO-6882
Carl Thompson
Overview
 Storage Tanks
 Tank Inspection
 TRW Advanced-Tank
Workflow & Deliverables
 Tank Calibration
 Trimble RealWorks
Calibration Workflow &
Deliverables
Storage Tanks
 Vertical, above
ground storage
tanks
 Petroleum products
 Chemicals
 Can be over 30m
tall and 100m in
diameter
 Many thousands in
service worldwide
Storage Tanks
Complex, expensive assets
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Pressurized
Insulated
Heated
Mixing systems
Floating roof
Double floor
Vented, Vented-closed capture
Lined
Corrosion prevention systems
Secondary Containment Systems
Causes of Degradation/Distortion
 Corrosion
 Wind/weather
 Seismic Activity
Causes of Degradation/Distortion
 Impacts
 Overfilling
 Over or Under Pressuring
Storage Tank Inspection
Regular inspection reduces the chance of major problems
 Maintenance is less expensive than
replacement
Storage Tank Inspection
Regular inspection reduces the chance of major problems
 Safety and Environmental Concerns
 External regulation
Tank Inspection Requirements
 Standards by:
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American Petroleum Institute (API)
International Standards Organization (ISO)
Steel Tank Institute (STI)
…
 Regulations by government entities
 Specific inspection schedules vary
– Corrosion rate
– Stored material
– Environmental risks
Inspection Types
Routine In-Service Inspection – At least monthly
Mainly visual inspection of external tank shell
surfaces
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Evidence of leaks
Signs of corrosion
External coating condition (paint)
Insulation condition
Appurtenances (man-ways, pipe
penetrations…)
• Shell distortions
• Foundation and Anchor bolts
• Signs of settlement
Inspection Types
External Inspection – At least once every 5 years by a
certified inspector
Visual inspection of exterior
• May involve removal of some coatings and
insulation
• Tank grounding systems
External ultrasonic thickness inspection - At least
once every 5 years
Inspection Types
Internal Inspection – At least once every 10
years by a certified inspector
Usually Out-of-Service Inspection
• Thorough inspection of
all internal structures and
roof system
• Floor and shell thickness
and pitting inspections
• Settlement inspection
• Distortion Inspection
Distortion/Settlement Reporting
Requirements
API Standard 653 Appendix B: Evaluation of
Tank Bottom Settlement
Concerns:
 Uniform Settlement – sinking
 Rigid Body Tilt – leaning
 Out-of-Plane Settlement
 Edge Settlement
 Localized floor settlement
Distortion/Settlement Reporting
Requirements
 API Standard 653 Appendix B: Evaluation of
Tank Bottom Settlement
 Settlement and Distortion evaluated at
Stations
Distortion Reporting
Requirements
Vertical Profiles at stations
Roundness at Courses – vertical intervals
Distortion –
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Out of roundness
Buckled areas
Flat spots
Peaking welds
Banding welds
Distortion/Settlement Reporting
Requirements
 Many measurement locations
Laser Scanning for Inspections
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Reduced Field time
Detailed, Accurate Data
Easy visualization
Complete Settlement Analysis
Complete Distortion Analysis
Allows office measurement of dimensions
TRW Advanced-Tank Edition
 Provides streamlined workflows to quickly
produced the right deliverables for tank
inspections
Simplified Workflow
 Clean the data set to focus on tank shell
 Configure stations
 Define courses and additional vertical
measurement locations
 Define tolerances
 Automatically generate reports with
customized details
 Export for immediate delivery or add to a
larger data set
Simplified Workflow
 Clean the data set to focus on tank shell
Simplified Workflow
 Configure stations
 Define courses and additional vertical
measurement locations
Simplified Workflow
 Define tolerances
Simplified Workflow
 Automatically generate
reports
 Export report details
Roundness Reports at
Vertical Intervals
Simplified Workflow
 Automatically generate
reports
 Export report details
Verticality Reports at
Stations
Inspection and Analysis Tools
 Quickly analyze the entire shell
Inspection and Analysis Tools
 Highlight areas of concern
 Export detailed features to dedicated software to
perform structural analysis or plan repairs
Secondary Containment Analysis
 Secondary containment intended to hold
leaked product
 Determine holding volume
 Locate low points and settled areas
 Verify side slopes
Secondary Containment Analysis
 Simple Workflow
 Volume Report
Tank Calibration
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Determine tank holding volume
Legal requirement for commercial transactions
Required for official inventories
Best Practices and Requirements by:
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International Organization of Legal Metrology: OIML R 71
ISO: ISO 7507
Germany: PTB A-4.2
United States: API 2550/2551/2552/2553/MPMS
China: JJG168-2005
Accepted Instruments
 ISO 7507-4:1995
 API Manual of Petroleum Measurement
Standards (MPMS) Standard 2550 Chapter
2.2D
– Calibration of upright cylindrical tanks using the
internal electro-Optical Distance Ranging Method
– Calibrations using total stations are accepted
– Laser Scanning standards not yet approved
Calibration Reporting
Requirements
 Calibration Tables / Filling Tables
Traditional Methods
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Manual Strapping
Optical Reference Line
Optical Triangulation
Internal/External total
station measurement
 Metered Pumping of
Water
Complications in Tank
Calibration
 Irregular interior surfaces
 Internal structures - Deadwood
Calibration with Laser Scanning
 Dense data
 Accurate capture of irregular surfaces
 Accurate capture of deadwood
Tank Calibration in TRW
 Import and register point cloud data
 Clean unwanted structures from data set to
isolate holding vessel
 Set sump and top fill elevations
 Automatically generate initial calibration data
 Use a spreadsheet macro to apply expansion
and contraction parameters
 Generate filling table
Tank Calibration in TRW
 Import, register, and clean data
 Select sump and top fill elevation
Tank Calibration in TRW
 Generate Initial calibration data
Tank Calibration in TRW
 Apply Compensation Parameters
 Generate Filling table
All can be in a Published
Package
 Use TRW Viewer to visualize, annotate, share
Summary
 Laser Scanning is a very efficient method for
tank inspection and calibration
 Greatly reduced field data collection
durations
 Software automation reduces the time to
produce deliverables
 There are opportunities for laser scanning
professionals to expand into this industry
For More Information
 Come talk to us in the Pavilion
 Other relevant sessions
Session ID
GEO-7569
Title
Day
Trimble InSphere: A demonstration of Wed
Trimble's new geospatial management
system applications
 www.trimble.com
Time
3:30
Location
Geospatial
Pavilion Theater 2
Thank you
GEO-6882