Risk Based Inspection (RBI) of Storage Tanks

RBI replaces time-based inspection systems with flexible inspection programmes. This is achieved by employing risk assessments based on operational, design, materials, and environmental considerations. 

It is a methodology for improving the availability of an asset whilst ensuring that its integrity and primary function is properly addressed.

There are two aspects of integrity, namely technical integrity and operational integrity:

1. A tank has technical integrity when, under specified conditions, the risk of failure endangering the safety of personnel, the environment or the asset value, is as low as reasonably practical. (Important factors would be, e.g. corroded roof/shell/bottom, edge settlement);
2. A tank has operational integrity when it is being operated as intended, such that it can achieve storage targets without undue risk to personnel, environment or to the tank itself (e.g. the risk of overfills).

Both the technical and the operational integrity should be maintained, or safeguarded, by the risk based maintenance method used. 

This can be achieved by monitoring and inspection 

using suitable techniques, with an appropriate inspection scope covering critical locations at an optimised inspection frequency. These inspection techniques can be applied when the tank is either in or out of service. It is recognised that conventional RBI methods are mainly focused on the metal parts of the asset. But for tanks in general, it is recommended that the foundation also be included (with regard to potential problems such as tilting or settlement) within the RBI process. Such ‘trendable’ degradation mechanisms, which could endanger tank integrity, are particularly suited to the RBI approach.

Independent of the RBI method in use, the final deliverable of RBI should be a complete and thorough inspection and (degradation) process monitoring plan for the entire tank, or for those tank components under consideration.

RBI is used to identify and understand risk, risk drivers, and where equipment is in its lifecycle. RBI can indicate whether inspection is needed; however this requires additional data that is extremely targeted to reduce the underlying uncertainties associated with the risks about the current and future predicted damage state of the equipment. 

RBI should not be used to recommend any inspection when it will not improve knowledge about the damage state. 

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