In-Service Inspection and Structural Integrity Assessment of Atmospheric Storage Tanks

This paper presents a series of advanced inspection techniques for assessing the structural integrity of atmospheric storage tanks, in a global (floor, annular ring, shell & roof) and integrated fashion while the tank is in-service. The methods presented with sample results and advantages include floor condition assessment using Acoustic Emission, on-line tank floor annular ring corrosion evaluation using long range automated Ultrasonics and on-line tank shell or roof corrosion mapping using automated Ultrasonics C-Scan. The paper discusses means of management of the data acquired from all above techniques, according to codes and state-of-the-art risk-based inspection (RBI) programs. This is done using a combination of structural drawing software, specially designed for the needs of incorporating on stream inspection results and plant condition monitoring software.