Advanced Non-Destructive Methods for Defect Characterization Under Coating for In-Service Storage Tanks

In recent years there has been significant development of non-destructive technologies for on-stream inspection using remotely operated tools. Many operator companies have a keen interest in adopting such technologies to fulfil the integrity, reliability, and regulatory requirements while minimizing the operational impact. There has been substantial development of in-line inspection tools for pipeline defect characterization, but there is an industry gap of such tools for in-service floor inspections of crude oil storage tanks. Further research and development are required to overcome the challenges of sludge removal, sensor data acquisition under sediments, tool navigation in a viscous product, and electrical hazards in flammable and combustible products. To accelerate industry innovation, Enbridge has designed and constructed a test tank environment which is a small-scale version of a large-capacity crude storage tank with prefabricated floor defects for vendors to evaluate their robotic in-service inspection equipment. This paper will describe the test tank design as well as the stages of the project for evaluating tool performance in different product environments. In the first stage, the tools will be tested in water, and their performance will be compared with conventional technologies used in out-of-service inspections.