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| Tank Consultants, Inc. provides
storage tank calibration services, also known as
“Tank Strapping”, compliant with the API Manual of Petroleum Management
Standard (MPMS) Chapter 2 – Tank Calibration and sound engineering
practices. Our tank calibration services include direct physical measurement of
the tank geometry and the in-house calculation of capacity tables from those
measurements. Our services are provided by experienced API-653 certified field
inspectors and engineers. |
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Guidelines for
Strapping/Calibrating or Recalibrating Storage Tanks:
 | New construction. |
 | After repair or
modifications, e.g., new bottom installation. |
 | In conjunction with an
API-653 internal inspection. |
 | Every 15 Years. |
Tank
Calibration/Strapping Customer Specified
Options or Inputs:
 | Innage or ullage (also
known as outage). |
 | Level in feet-inches,
decimal feet, metric. |
 | Volume in barrels,
gallons, metric. |
 | API gravity of the
product to be stored. |
 | More than one reference
gauge point or datum (for bottom or water tables). |
 | Fraction tables in 1/16
Inches, 0.01 Feet, none, other. |
 | Strapping Tables in
“landscape” layout on letter or legal size paper. |
 | Deliverables in several media formats
including printed paper, laminated and electronic Adobe PDF or Microsoft Excel
Workbook (data values only). |
Tank
Calibration/Strapping Customer Deliverables:
 | Increment Factor Sheet
(IFS). |
 | Strapping Table (See
Sample). |
 | Tank Diagram: A
schematic diagram of the tank with critical dimensions related to tank
strapping. |
 | Supporting Data (optional and extra
charges apply): Copy of field measurement strapping data used in the capacity
table calculations. |
 | Media Formats: Printed, laminated,
electronic in Adobe PDF and/or Microsoft Excel Workbook (data values only). |
Tank
Calibration/Strapping Technologies Used by
Tank Consultants, Inc. to Perform Tank Calibrations
 | Internal bottom survey
elevations, datum elevation(s) and deadwood elevations performed with laser
level instrument. |

 | Shell thickness readings
taken with ultra-sonic thickness gauge. |
 | Reference circumference
and gauge height measurements performed with calibrated steel gauge tape. |


 | Plumbness measurements
and horizontal offsets done with a total station, a precision laser
range/distance finder instrument. |

 | Software calculations performed with
Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic. |

Why Use Tank Consultants
for Your Tank Calibration/Strapping Needs:
 | Our field measurements are conducted by
experienced API-653 certified inspectors and engineers with additional tank
calibration training. |
 | We measure certain
critical dimensions by two different methods and perform field calculations to
confirm measurements for improved accuracy. |
 | Our pricing structure is based on tank
specific requirements. If the tank does not have a floating roof, your pricing
will reflect that. Likewise, if you do not require comprehensive and precise
measurement of deadwood, you will not be charged for this labor intensive
service. For most large storage tanks, deadwood volumes represent an
insignificant portion of the total tank capacity. |
 | Save additional mobilization expense by
conducting the field tank strapping measurements in conjunction with our
API-653 post-repair inspection services. |
 | Our engineering calculations are done
in-house with internally developed software which insures a quick turn around
of deliverables. |
Sample Scope of Work:
Tank Calibration (Strapping)
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Perform a bottom
survey to calculate the displaced volume of the bottom. |
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Measure and record the
elevation of the datum plate and information about significant deadwood items
to be included in the volume calculations. |
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Measure
floating roof pontoons, average rim spaces, and leg height elevations. |
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Measure
and record each shell ring height and average thickness. |
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Measure and record the
gauge height and shell height using a calibrated gauging tape. |
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Strap the tank with a
calibrated steel tape (80% Ring Height 1). |
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Perform a plumbness
survey to calculate circumferences on upper rings in accordance with the
following methodology: |
Using the bottom
course as a reference circle (80% Ring Height), measure the shell deviation,
taking readings on each course at (20% and 80% Ring Height above the
horizontal weld).
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Provide a strapping
table and increment factor sheet (IFS) in accordance with API Manual of
Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 2 Tank Calibration Section 2A and 2B.
Provide the strapping documents in electronic Adobe PDF format, 2 printed
copies, and 2 laminated copies. |
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