Project Overview
Engineering inspection and volumetric calibration of an aboveground storage tank used for industrial product storage.
The project included structural inspection, dimensional verification, ultrasonic thickness evaluation and liquid calibration to generate accurate volumetric capacity tables.
The work was performed following recognized international standards for tank inspection and calibration.
Industry
Industrial Processing Infrastructure
Edible Oil Storage Facilities
Infrastructure Evaluated
The inspection focused on a vertical aboveground storage tank used for industrial product storage with a nominal capacity of approximately 2000 tons.
The following elements were evaluated:
cylindrical tank shell
tank bottom plates
fixed roof structure
foundation conditions
Standards Applied
The inspection and calibration activities followed recognized international standards for tank integrity evaluation and volumetric calibration.
API 653 – Tank Inspection
Used to evaluate tank condition, dimensional tolerances, settlement behavior, verticality and structural integrity of the storage tank.
API 2555 – Liquid Calibration
Applied to perform liquid calibration and generate updated tank capacity tables for reliable volumetric measurement and inventory control.
ISO 17020 – Inspection Practice
Referenced as the quality framework supporting inspection competence, documented procedures and consistency in technical inspection activities.
Technical Scope
The project involved several inspection and evaluation activities.
Tank Liquid Calibration
Liquid calibration was conducted to generate updated capacity tables using controlled liquid transfer and temperature monitoring.
Visual Inspection
Internal inspection was performed to evaluate the tank bottom and shell condition and identify potential corrosion or structural damage.
Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement
Ultrasonic testing (UT) was used to determine the remaining thickness of tank bottom plates and shell courses.
Geometrical Inspection
The following measurements were performed to evaluate tank geometry:
verticality measurement
roundness evaluation
settlement verification
These tests allow identification of structural distortions affecting tank integrity and volumetric accuracy.
Key Findings
The inspection identified several relevant structural conditions.
Structural Observations
The evaluation detected localized deformations and depressions in the tank structure.
These conditions can influence tank geometry and volumetric accuracy.
Settlement Evaluation
Settlement measurements indicated deviations beyond recommended limits for certain operating conditions.
Roundness Evaluation
Roundness measurements confirmed that tank geometry remained within acceptable tolerance limits.
Volumetric Calibration
Due to the structural deviations identified during inspection, liquid calibration was determined to be the most reliable method to generate accurate capacity tables.
Calibration was performed following API 2555 methodology considering:
temperature corrections
liquid expansion effects
volumetric measurement control
Updated volumetric tables were generated for operational use.
Project Outcome
The project provided a comprehensive evaluation of the storage tank condition and generated updated calibration tables.
The results support improved:
inventory measurement accuracy
infrastructure reliability
operational safety
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