Introducing Cutting-Edge Technologies for Robotic Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks

Regular inspections of aboveground storage tanks are required to monitor tank conditions and integrity and plan maintenance to avoid leaks and accidents that often involve fires, explosions, serious injury and loss of life. Current processes for inspecting tanks are dangerous, harmful to the environment, costly and disruptive to operations. Tanks are emptied of product, releasing hazardous vapors. They are inspected, cleaned, and repaired by workers inside tanks, requiring hazardous, confined space entry. A majority of tank related accidents occur while tanks are leaking or taken out of service. Inspecting tanks is expensive, requires significant preparation, and often results in months of downtime and lost productivity. Although robotic solutions for in-service inspection of aboveground storage tanks have been available for over 25 years, they have been ineffective and their use has been limited. This presentation explores how the introduction of cutting-edge technologies can enable wide-spread use of robotics for tank inspection, the economics and benefits of robotic in-service inspection versus current techniques and the barriers to the introduction and use of robotics technology.