An inspection technology that protects people, operations, and the planet
Englobe’s specialized Fuel Management team has been delivering state-of-the-art tank and line testing and inspection services nationwide for over 30 years. These services are particularly appreciated by tank owners who, by law, must provide regular proof of tank inspection to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
One client benefitted immensely from our API 653 robotic inspection service, performed on aboveground storage tanks. Through its expertise and technology, our Englobe team provided CST Coal the staunch support it needed at a time when the company faced a daunting and urgent situation.
An urgent and risky situation
To remain compliant with the Alberta Fire Code, CST Coal—a single mine and processing operation—was required to provide immediate proof of inspection for seven 90,000-litre aboveground fuel storage tanks. These tanks are crucial for supplying fuel to the mine’s machinery and vehicles at its Grand Cache, Alberta location.
Such inspections usually involve multiple steps. The first step is to shut down operations, which already implies a significant operational impact. Next, the contents of each tank must be emptied, and all remaining gases or other waste material must be fully discharged. Lastly, the tanks must be thoroughly cleaned to prepare them for inspection. Once these steps are completed, the inspection crew can then safely enter the tank to conduct the inspection.
This traditional procedure is fraught with significant hazards and liabilities to the inspection crew. They may be exposed to undischarged hazardous gases as well as a high fire risk. In addition, tank owners incur considerable costs as their operations must be shut down for days. Lastly, this procedure also generates significant amounts of chemical and gaseous waste, which CST Coal had to safely dispose of without damaging its pristine location in the Rockies.
An innovative solution
At this point, the Englobe Fuel Management team proposed an innovative solution: its API 653 robotic inspection technology, which the team is licensed to use in Canada. This advanced technology systematically scans tank floors to gather a high volume of ultrasonic thickness (UT) data, which is later analyzed by a qualified inspector.
By using this robotic technology, the Englobe team could conduct the inspections without requiring CST Coal to empty its tanks. This approach not only saved time but also significantly reduced the risks associated with the inspection process. The technology eliminates the need for human inspectors to work in confined and dangerous spaces, thus minimizing health and safety risks.
Our API 653 inspection helped eliminate significant health, safety and environmental risk factors associated with conventional inspections. Our inspectors were able to safely assess the tank’s floor plate for thickness, top and bottom-side pitting, and corrosion locations, without ever endangering their own health or that of their surroundings.
says Brent Boodoosingh, Senior Director at Englobe Fuel Management
A great outcome
By leveraging this cutting-edge technology, the Englobe Fuel Management team was able to inspect all seven CST Coal tanks in only five days. This rapid inspection process allowed CST Coal to continue operating normally without any significant downtime. The ability to maintain operations during the inspection was a game-changer for CST Coal, as it avoided the shutdowns traditionally associated with tank inspections.
source - CST Coal
This is a perfect example of how this technology can be used to safely and efficiently perform a procedure that was costly and dangerous in the past. Using our robotic inspection technology protected both our people and the environment and allowed our client to save tens of thousands of dollars.
notes Peter Sutherland, Vice President, Expertise at Englobe
The Englobe Fuel Management team’s efforts also enabled CST Coal to demonstrate proof of regulatory compliance for another decade, thus maintaining its operations.