Robotics Speed Fuel Oil Tank Inspection;
Downtime, Costs Reduced by New Technology
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Collins, NYSERDA
1-866-NYSERDA, ext. 3250.
Albany, NY, Jan.29, 2002 – Tight supplies of fuel oil in recent
years not only made oil prices soar, but motivated the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to identify ways
to help suppliers avoid shortages. One area that NYSERDA is investigating
is how oil tanks are inspected. For most large fuel storage tanks,
state regulations require inspections every 10 years. These inspections
protect the environment by identifying corrosion of the tank, before
it begins to leak, but conventional techniques involve a time-consuming
process of taking the tank out of service for about a month, draining
and venting it, and then manually inspecting it.
NYSERDA collaborating with SPEC Consulting, LLC, the Intank Corporation
and Exxon-Mobil is testing a robot-mounted, ultrasonic sensor technology
for internal tank inspection--without taking the tank out of service.
To offset the cost of the $441,000 project, NYSERDA has provided $140,000
in funding and is now working with the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to ensure the robotic inspection
will provide a level of inspection equal to the conventional technique,
while reducing emissions and waste generation.
"NYSERDA continues to address the State's energy needs, by
taking advantage of new technologies that can improve and accelerate
the tank inspection process, while still protecting the environment,"
NYSERDA President William M. Flynn said. "Using robotics for
tank inspection may mean that oil tanks no longer have to be taken
out of service, which cuts downtime and overhead costs, and can
result in greater supply availability."
With this innovative process, tanks stay in-service, thus cutting
scheduling and overhead costs by 95% per tank inspection. Inspectors
will no longer have to physically get inside and manually inspect
the tank, but conduct the tank wall inspection through the robot-controlled
videography and written reporting.
When out of service for up to a month, current inspection techniques
can disrupt supply and leave customers looking elsewhere for fuel
oil. As a result, when supply cannot meet demand, consumer market
switching occurs and fuel oil prices usually rise.
"The in-service robotic inspection technique allows companies
to assess the integrity of an oil storage tank without removing
the tank from service. Since the tank will not have to be cleaned
for personnel to enter, the amount of waste and fugitive emissions
generated will be greatly reduced, and safety will be increased,"
said Joseph S. Burke, principal engineer for SPEC Consulting. "The
robotic inspection techniques developed for performing in-service
oil storage tank inspections may also be used to perform in-service
inspections of chemical and water storage tanks."
"I appreciate NYSERDA's contribution to fuel oil tank inspection
technology. The use of robotics will enable the tanks to stay operational,
which is important to the fuel suppliers and consumers," said
Senator Neil Breslin (D-Albany). "Using robotics will also
be environmentally friendly, which is important to everybody."
"I applaud the efforts of NYSERDA to develop new technologies
that will benefit our communities. By exploring the use of robotics
to inspect fuel tanks, we are taking steps necessary to conserve
energy and keep costs low, while at the same time protecting our
environment," said Assemblyman Bob Prentiss (R, C-Colonie).
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, supports research to develop
and demonstrate technologies that help New York save energy and reduce
emissions. NYSERDA also helps New York State businesses develop energy
and environmental products, commercializing the type of high-value-added
products that give New York State businesses a real chance to compete
in the expanding global marketplace. In addition, NYSERDA helps New
York State businesses, residents, and municipalities identify and
implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures that lower operating
costs and reduce environmental emissions.
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