A contractor-operated robotics inspection team from Burns & McDonnell and A.Hak Industrial Services conducted the first autonomous tank bottom inspection of a Department of Defense (DoD) bulk fuel tank at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base July 10 - 14.

This service is regularly performed in the commercial sector, however, the use of this technology in the government sector is still untested, making the recent inspection at Fort Worth a milestone in tank inspections.

The robotic inspection was conducted on an aboveground 3.3 million-gallon fuel storage tank, and is the culmination of two years of planning by Defense Logistics Agency - Energy, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Energy, Naval Facilities Expeditionary Warfare Command (NAVFAC EXWC) and NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville.

Fort Worth was chosen as the representative test for the DoD due to its already pending internal inspection requirement, location within the U.S., and relative large size.

Results from the robotics inspection of the fuel tank bottom will be compared to more traditional visual methods where certified inspectors physically enter into the emptied fuel tank and conduct floor thickness evaluations.

During an out-of-service inspection, fuel tanks are drained, opened and cleaned, and a confined space permit is issued. A certified inspector then enters into the tank, and using a set inspection criteria established by the American Petroleum Institute, makes a thorough examination of the tank before submitting a list of recommended repairs.

These repairs are reviewed by government engineers before being finalized into a tank repair contract awarded to one of a select few bulk fuel engineering firms.

In contrast, a robotics inspection does not require the tank to be drained and can be conducted while allowing the tank to be maintained in a usable state. Using a remotely operated vehicle called OTIS (Oil Tank Inspection Service), the robotic scanner is lowered into a fuel tank by a tether and remotely controlled from the exterior of the tank.

Following either a manual or pre-programmed inspection criteria, the robot crawls along the bottom of the tank taking ultrasound thickness readings that are then mapped and reported to represent the overall condition of the tank bottom.

Additional features can be added to the robot as well to allow video recording of the tank bottom and to conduct sludge analysis.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville, Fort Worth Detachment's quality surveillance representative, Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Fuels 1st Class Jan Ascona, was present for the entirety of the operation.

"The setup required to use the robot and inspect the tank was minimal. The [contractor] team from the Netherlands [A.Hak] was extremely professional and knew exactly what they were doing - it was clear this was not the first time they had done this," said Ascona.

"While robotics inspections can only analyze the tank bottoms at this time, the potential savings in time and loss of tank functionality cannot be understated," said Ascona.

Preliminary results from the robotics inspection are available nearly instantaneously and can lead to determinations on whether further repairs are required, and whether a tank can be certified for continued further use without additional, time-consuming inspections.

"The opportunity to use modern technology has been proven in the commercial industry and, thereby, poses minimal risk with the reward of potentially cutting down on our tank out-of-service time is enormous here," said Jim Cunniff, Regional Fuel Director for NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville.

"Ensuring our tanks remain compliant and in service is one of our greatest challenges in Navy fuels, and this robotics capability may assist us in the future ensure those two goals are met," said Cunniff.

Following the robotics inspection of the Fort Worth fuels tank, the tank was taken out of service, drained and Burns & McDonnell conducted a traditional internal inspection, July 28.

Results from this visual inspection will be compared to the robotic analysis of the tank bottom to determine the validity of the robotics inspection and validate future usage.

"DoD is looking at new technology and also what the industry is doing ... for fuel storage tank robotic inspections in the future," said Terri Regin, NAVFAC EXWC program manager.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide, providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

For more NAVSUP GLS news, visit http://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/ourteam/navsupgls/news.



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For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.