Onshore Refinery Tank Inspection Case Study Using MultiPhonon

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This case study presents the successful in-service inspection of multiple onshore storage tanks at a refinery, performed using MultiPhonon non-intrusive inspection technology.

The inspections were carried out under normal operating conditions, without emptying the tanks, interrupting production, or requiring confined-space entry. By applying Volumetric Mode inspection, the MultiPhonon system enabled full assessment of each tank — including critical areas such as tank bottoms, where corrosion commonly develops.

The case study demonstrates how MultiPhonon detects active defects, including corrosion and wall loss, by analyzing phonon behavior within the material’s crystal lattice. This approach provides comprehensive volumetric coverage, accurate defect localization, and high confidence results while significantly reducing inspection time, safety exposure, and operational costs compared to traditional tank inspection methods.

Completed with a small inspection team and minimal preparation, the project highlights the efficiency, scalability, and reliability of MultiPhonon for refinery tank integrity management. The results supported informed maintenance planning while keeping all assets fully operational.