Out of Sight Hoffman 2013 Wednesday

8/12/2019 Out of Sight Hoffman 2013 Wednesday

1/31

Out of Sigh t,

Out o f Mind?

How to Evaluate

USTsFiberglass Tank Inspection Methods:

Deflection Testing &

Remote Visual Inspections

24thNational Tanks

Conference

Denver, CO 2014


2/31

Things to Ponder

How long should a tank last?

Until the warranty expires?

30 years?

Longer?

Until it leaks?

Why do some tanks fail and others seem unaffected?

How should you decide when to repair or replace a tank?

Can tanks be repaired or replaced before they leak? Is Compl iancegood enough?

What about a Risk Management program?

?

?

?


3/31

UST Compliance (& Main tenance)

Leak Detection ATG, SIR, Secondary Containment

Fill/Overspill Protection

Corrosion Protection EPA regulations & upcoming revisions

PEI RP-900 and RP-1200


4/31

Risk Management of USTs

Evaluate risk factors for specific installations Site risk factors

Tank risk factors

Steel USTs

Fiberglass USTs

Establish risk management practices

Frequency/Type of leak detection

Frequency/Type of inspections & maintenance Removal/Replacement/Upgrading schedules


5/31

Site Risk Facto rs

Sensitive Receptor Survey Quality of Installation

Construction activities at site

Removal or installation of other tanks Settling or degradation of tank slab

Fluctuating groundwater conditions

Change in product storage

Flood, earthquake, or other excessive loading


6/31

Risk Assessment - Steel USTs

Make/Model/Age of tanks

Obtain specific information

Field inspection if necessary

Type of Corrosion Protection

(I.C./Sacrificial/Coating/Jacket) Soil Corrosivity Index

Maintenance/testing records for C.P. systems

Tank Maintenance (STI R-111) Leak Detection History

History of problems with similar systems


7/31

Risk Assessment - Fiberglass USTs

Make/Model/Age of tanks

Obtain specific information

Field inspection if necessary

Installation Checklist Warranty (UL Listing)

Product Compatibility

Leak Detection History History of problems with similar systems

Inspections of older or At-Risk tanks


8/31

Flor ida Tank Upgrade Program

Observations during upgrading of older tanks


9/31

ASTSWMO Biofuels Compat ib i l i ty Repo rt


10/31

Fiberglass Tank Inspect ion Methods

Deflection Measurements Diameter Measurement

Bottom Flatness Testing

Internal Measurements

Visual Inspection

Remote Visual Inspection

Internal Manned Entry

Other Methods? Fuel Sampling/Analysis

Hardness Testing

Filter Inspection


11/31

Case Study Deflect ion Test ing

Large Tank Owner in Midwest U.S. in late 1990s

After wide-spread use of ethanol blends (E-10)

Inspected several hundred early generation FRP tanks

Measured deflection and bottom flatness

Insufficient original data to analyze deflection results 33% of tanks had minor bottom flatness (


12/31

Video Inspect ion A labama

Follow-up to failed tests

9161105

Cracks & Blistering


13/31

Video Inspect ion - A rizona

3400099

Blistering & Delamination on half of tank


14/31

Video Inspect ion - Hawaii

146051

Crack & Light Blisters/Degradation


15/31

Video Inspect ion Hawaii

Tank failed ATG testsout of service

Blistering & Exposed Fibers


16/31

Video Inspect ion - Iowa

Crack & Bottom Flatness & Deflection


17/31

Video Inspect ion Louis iana

Fibers clogging filters

5175611

Filter Clogging with Fiberglass Fibers


18/31

Video Inspect ion New Mexico

At-Risk group of tanks (over 25 years old)

3410721

Blistering & Crack on Premium but not Diesel


19/31

Video Inspect ion Ohio

Investigation of water ingress

6146560

Water Ingress & Star Cracks


20/31

Video Inspect ion Texas

Failed ATG Tests

5170737

Crack & Bottom Flatness & Deflection


21/31

Summary o f Tanknology Video Inspect ions

Mostly older fiberglass tanks (20+ years) Widespread geographic representation

Higher number in warmer parts of country

Most inspections done on tanks with known orsuspected problems

Sample size small in relationship to tank population

Most tanks store ethanol blended products

Data is proprietary to tank owner


22/31

Types o f Fiberglass Tank Observat ion s

Deflection and/or flattening of tank bottom

Degradation of gel coat and tank interior (blistering,

delamination, crazing, exposed fibers)

Filter clogging due to fiberglass debris drawn into STP

Crack formationoften along rib lines

Leaks of product into rib space

Product or water in normally dry interstice

Crack through wall allowing ingress of groundwater Crack through wall allowing leak of product


23/31

Possib le causes of f iberg lass tank problems

Product compatibility issues?

Tank materials may have been selected for different product

Formulations have changed over the years (MTBE, Ethanol)

Concentrations of additives may vary due to splash blending

Age of tanks? (Most over 25 years old)

Local weather? (Seems common in warm regions)

Physical stresses on tanks?

Poor installation

Backfill Water table

Construction activity

Traffic conditions


24/31

Ind icat ions o f Poss ible Tank Issues

Filter Clogging Complaints of slow flow

Examine for presence of fiberglass residue/debris

Failed or erratic leak detection results

ATG or SIR test results

Perhaps intermittent

Water ingress into primary tank

Water or product into interstitial space

Product identified in wells


25/31

Resources EPA Biofuels Compendium

http://www.epa.gov/oust/altfuels/bfcompend.htm


26/31

CA SWRCB Ethanol Advisory


27/31

Fiberg lass Tank & Pipe Ins t i tute


28/31

NEIWPCC


29/31

PEI A lternat ive Fuels Compatibi l i ty Gu ide


30/31

API


31/31

Fol low-Up

Brad Hoffman

www.tanknology.com

Bhoffman AT Tanknology.com
http://www.tanknology.com/http://www.tanknology.com/

Out of Sight Hoffman 2013 Wednesday

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