OUR SERVICES

After meticulously scrutinizing and testing all calibration methods available locally and internationally, SCMS Africa selected the E.O.D.R. (Electro Optical Distance Ranging) method to ensure we are at the forefront of providing accurate and advanced state of the art calibration and measurement services to the market in the petrochemical, structural and mechanical industry.

BENEFIT 1

EQUIPMENT:
• Due to its ability, the E.O.D.R. code enables us to utilize equipment which accurately measure safety heights, maximum tank volume efficiency and evaporation heights of floating roof tanks
• Report turnaround time is minimised due to data accumulation and processing integration
• As per code requirements, insulated tanks with ‘lagging’ can be accurately calibrated with the required corrections
• Our mechanical engineering and quality assurance team is available to provide quality assurance to validate all calibrations

BENEFIT 2

UNPARALLELED ACCURACY:
• An approximate result of 0.02% is attainable over open volume capacity. This provides clients with a remarkable money saving solution
• All corrections are accounted for within the open volume as per ISO 7507 -1, -4 &-5
• All measuring equipment are calibrated as per code requirement
• Dipping indicators are mounted directly adjacent to a groove, on all dip hatches to ensure correct and repetitive dipping of tank volumes

BENEFIT 3

HSE COMPLIANCE:
• With an intrinsically safe Leica total station, the technician is continuously ground based measuring the shell free of hazards
• All technicians are fully trained in safety with regards to first aid and fire fighting
• Safety height levels can be accurately measured from ground level
• ISO 45001:2018 certified for health and safety management system
• Quarterly HSE audits completed and passed by external parties
• 100% HSE record to date – no recordable incident year on year

BENEFIT 4

QUALITY COMPLIANCE:
• ISO 9001:2015 certified for quality management system

TANK CALIBRATION

The E.O.D.R. calibration scope can be applied to tanks in and out-of-service operational conditions, therefore an inefficiently operating tank can be calibrated as accurately with all the necessary corrections in terms of the hydrostatic head, deadwood displacement, thermal expansion etc. For IFR / IFB storage tanks, critical zone volume displacement calculations are calculated accordingly for additional accuracy within the open volume of vertical storage tanks.

In addition innage, ullage & ATG tables/reports are readily generated at the push of a button.

VERTICAL
STORAGE TANKS

• ISO 7507-1 (Strapping method)
• ISO 7507-4 (Internal E.O.D.R. method)
• ISO 7507-5 (External E.O.D.R. method)

HORIZONTAL
STORAGE TANKS

• ISO 12917-1 (Manual method)
• ISO 12917-2 (Internal E.O.D.R. method)

SPHERICAL
STORAGE TANKS

• API 2552 (Manual method
– Applied internal E.O.D.R.)

SPHERICAL
STORAGE TANKS

• API 2552 (Manual method
– Applied internal E.O.D.R.)

TANK SETTLEMENT

During our on-going pursuit to provide the best calibration services we followed the natural progression into developing comprehensive tank measurement solutions. These tank measuring services thus enable us to survey and analyse vertical storage tanks for structural anomalies which impair and subsequently compromise the efficiency and integrity of a vertical storage tank

SHELL ROUNDNESS (O-O-R)

Refers to the cylinder deflecting or deviating
from the mean radius essentially due to
stresses on the cylinder, subsequently
compounding the stresses throughout the
cylinder resulting in peaking and banding and
therefore weld failure.

SHELL VERTICALITY (O-O-V)

Refers to the cylinder top leaning over the
adjacent bottom critical weld/floor.
Occurrence can be due to multiple factors
resulting in critical weld/tank & IFR failure.

SHELL DIFFERENTIAL (O-O-P)

Refers to the critical weld deviating in vertical
height when compared to adjacent locations
around the periphery. Occurrence can be due
to soil, foundation & edge settlement resulting
in critical weld, tank & IFR/IFB failure.

EDGE SETTLEMENT

This settlement refers to the critical weld
settling over the foundation shoulder due
to downward force applied by the cylinder
and or crumbling foundation. Complete tank
failure can occur due to excessive weld stress
and corrosion due to exposed floor &
water accumulation.

FLOOR SETTLEMENT

This settlement refers to the localized &
remote bulges and depressions which develop
in the floor due to expansion and contracting
of the tank as well as operational procedures
in service conditions. Floor welds may start to
“tear” or “crack” under the applied stresses
and corrosion or metal failure may occur
under the floor.

FLOOR SAGGING

This settlement refers to a holistic sagging of the floor, be it downward or upward trajectory, from the originally constructed gravitational slope, most commonly due to stressed effected on the floor during operation. When sagging occurs in the “incorrectly” intended location incorrect product flow & sludge build up etc. settles and leads to corrosion of these locations.

HYDROSTATIC SETTLEMENT

This settlement refers to any vertical deviations from horizontal plane along the tank periphery at water fill intervals of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% followed by 0% again. Reason being is that accelerated stresses by use of water during hydrofill (which is typically denser than tank product, but not always) are applied to the tank to ensure the new tank or refurbished tank can / will handle the recommissioning and trade without failure during operation.

PEAKING

This settlement / dimensional verification refers to any deviations from the tank radius with immediate proximity to the vertical weld seems of the tank plates. Reason being is that unwanted stresses are applied to the weld joint if the area around the weld seem is not uniformly round as designed, therefore the inward / outward projection of the weld may lead to weld failure.

BANDING

This settlement / dimensional verification refers to any deviations from the tank verticality with immediate proximity to the horizontal weld seems of the tank plates. Reason being is that unwanted stresses are applied to the weld joint if the area around the weld seem is not uniformly plumb as designed, therefore the inward / outward projection of the weld may lead to weld failure.

CODE COMPLIANCE CRITERIA
VERTICAL STORAGE TANKS

CODE CODE REFERENCE SCOPE
API 653 10.5.3 & Table 10.2 *Out-Of-Round (O-O-R)
10.5.2.1. *Out-Of-Verticality (O-O-V)
B.3.2.1. *Out-Of-Plane (O-O-P)
B3.3, Fig. B.8, B.9 & B.10 *Floor Settlement
B.2.3.1, B.3.4.5, Fig. B.11, B.12 & B.13 *Edge Settlement
API 650 7.5.3 Out-Of-Round (O-O-R)
7.5.2 Out-Of-Verticality (O-O-V)
7.3.7.6 Out-Of-Plane (O-O-P)
API 620 6.5.3 Out-Of-Round (O-O-R)
6.5.2 Out-Of-Verticality (O-O-V)
EEMUA 159 *Refer to API 653 *Refer to API 653
EN14015 16.7.1 Out-Of-Round (O-O-R)
16.7.3 Out-Of-Verticality (O-O-V)
16.2.2 Out-Of-Plane (O-O-P)
DEP (SAPREF) 3.1.3 Out-Of-Round (O-O-R)
3.1.1 Out-Of-Verticality (O-O-V)
4.2 Out-Of-Plane (O-O-P)


3D SCANNING

In addition to tried and trusted conventional measuring methods, we are proud to have included point cloud technologies, slowly being recognised as the preferred method for accurately capturing measured site data in using 3D laser scanning instruments.

3D laser scanning instruments continue to improve with their accuracy and streamlining of scan file registration a cost effective & safer solution. These improvements alongside SCMS Africa developing our surveying methods, has resulted in our accomplished surveyors being able to complete large scan surveys using multiple instruments efficiently & concurrently.

3D (POINT CLOUD) SERVICES/DELIVERABLES:

  • Reverse engineering
  • As built drawings
  • 3D CAD Model Generation
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Point Cloud Visual fly-throughs
  • Floor / wall flatness and levelness analysis
  • Stockpile volumes
  • Bund / dike volume & spill over point determination
  • P&IDs Drawings
  • Dimensional verifications

UNDERGROUND UTILITY DETECTION

Ground Penetrating Radar
(GPR)

Electro Magnetic Locator
(EML)

Digging holes in the ground is a fundamental part of construction and of installation and maintenance of buried utilities. Every time ground is broken, there is a risk of damaging buried cables and pipes.

Radiodetection offers a wide selection of Electromagnetic, Ground Penetrating Radar, Acoustic and Magnetic locating solutions that can help identify subsurface utilities and their exact depth, helping operatives to dig safely. Many products offer built-in GPS or wireless connectivity to third party high accuracy GNSS systems, while our mobile apps allow the creation of detailed maps directly from the field.

Why use a cable and pipe locator system?

Reduce Risks
First and foremost, increase the safety of your site personnel by lowering the number of cables and pipes they hit. Strikes are a significant danger to health and can cause serious injury, sometimes even death.

Save time
Strikes to cables and pipes will almost inevitably lead to wasteful delays to your project.

Reduce Costs
Help prevent damage to utility es and disruptions to services, which can be costly to repair and damaging to your reputation.

Avoid Penalties
Lower your exposure to compensation and fines for non-compliance to regulations.

STOCKPILE VOLUME SCANS

To calculate stockpile volume measurements, use SCMS Africa’s stockpile volume measurement equipment combined with our volumes software to deliver important information, rapidly. A small variation in volume accuracy would lead to tonnes and tonnes of deviation in physical stock quantity. Accuracy in the measurements is, therefore, the most important element when capturing the profile volume of the stockpiles.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Our service offering is not limited to tank calibration & tank settlement survey’s. As we do have the pertinent equipment and expertise, we additionally perform, but are not limited to, the following additional services:

  • • Storage tank & piping inspection
  • • Storage tank sludge profile detection (SPOT)
  • • Pipe volume measurements & calculations
  • • Aerial photogrammetry

GET IN TOUCH

+27 (0) 31 765 3119
+27 (0) 86 459 5067
+27 (0) 76 922 5235
info@scms.africa
Unit 10 Hilltop House,
5 Old Main Road,
Kloof, 3640, KZN, RSA
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