Interior inspection of oil tank with drone
In this case study, we explore how a single drone inspection helped identify major occupational hazards in an oil tank.
Key points from the case:
Case background
One of our customers contacted us with a concern that the ceiling of one of their oil tanks may have been damaged after many years of operation. They feared that structural problems had developed in the internal load-bearing elements, potentially compromising the safety and stability of the tank.
As the tank was about to undergo a planned decontamination where workers would need access to its interior, the customer wanted to make sure it was completely safe to send crews in. Such a task requires a thorough assessment of the tank’s condition to minimize the risk of unforeseen incidents and ensure a safe working environment.
To clarify the situation, the customer asked us to carry out a comprehensive inspection. The aim was to identify any weaknesses in the structure and assess whether repairs or other safety measures were needed before work could begin.
Our solution with drone inspection
We quickly realized that our Elios 3 drone was the ideal choice for the job. The drone is designed specifically to inspect hazardous or complex environments, which made it particularly suitable for this task. With its advanced technologies, it could easily navigate the interior of the tank and collect valuable data without exposing personnel to unnecessary risk.
During the inspection, we provided detailed video footage of the tank interior as well as a series of high-resolution images of the areas where we worked with the customer to identify potential issues. This visual data provided an accurate overview of the condition of the tank and enabled the customer to make informed decisions about any necessary actions.
In addition, we created an accurate 3D model of the tank interior with a precision of ± 0.6 cm. The model made it possible to pinpoint exactly where we found inappropriate events, which ensured a more targeted and efficient effort in the further process.
The result of our drone inspection
The result of our drone inspection was an eye-opener for the customer. The inspection revealed, as the images show, that the internal structure supporting the ceiling was in a much worse condition than feared. In several places, the structure had separated from the exterior walls and in some areas it was almost dissolved. In addition, there was extensive corrosion in the ceiling, which had developed after many years of operation.
Even more alarmingly, the entire structure had sunk over a meter from the ceiling, making it unsafe to send in personnel to clean the tank. The risk of collapse or further damage was simply too great.
In light of these findings, it proved to be a very wise decision to conduct a drone inspection before sending in personnel. Not only did the inspection ensure a more accurate assessment of the tank’s condition, it also prevented potentially dangerous situations that could have had very serious consequences.
