Tank calibration is the science of determining the exact true volume of a containment

system corresponding to a certain measurement value. Reliable quantity measurement is

the critical basis of good contractual relationships in worldwide trading of chemicals,
petroleum products and liquefied gases. This can only be assured by accurate and
regular calibration. At Global Remote, we use the latest and the most innovative laser-
calibration measurement technology to help companies to reduce time and costs of tank
management, as well as offering precise storage tank calibration to International
Standards.
Our tank calibration experts have over two decades of experience in dealing with
calibration inaccuracies and providing great value-add know-how in the fields of storage
tanks calibration and measurements. We can conduct field or site dimensional
measurement for various Tank Shapes as follows:
 Vertical Cylindrical Tank
 Horizontal Cylindrical Tank
 Spherical Tank
 Or any Regular Volumetric Tank
Depending on the Tank size and shape, Client’s requirement or Local Govt.
regulation GR follows below-mentioned API standards which includes the
subject of tank calibration;
 Chapter 2.2A Measurement and Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks by the
Manual Tank Strapping Method. Chapter 2.2B Calibration of Upright Cylindrical
Tanks Using the Optical Reference Line Method.
 Chapter 2.2C/ISO 7507-3:1993 Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks Using the
Optical-Triangulation Method.
 Chapter 2.2D/ISO 7507-4:1995 Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks Using the
Internal Electro-Optical Distance Ranging Method.
 Chapter 2.2E/ISO 12917-1:2002 Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products—
Calibration of Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks – Part 1: Manual Methods
 Chapter 2.2F/ISO 12917-2:2002 Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products—
Calibration of Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks—Part 2: Internal Electro-Optical
Distance-Ranging Method.
 Chapter 2.2G Calibration of Upright Cylindrical Tanks Using the Total Station
Reference Line Method Standard 2552 Measurement and Calibration of Spheres
and Spheroids
C.F. Leung, ... K.W. Leong, in Ground Improvement Case
Histories, 2015
11.3.5 Evaluation of tank settlement according to API standard 653
Measurement of tank settlement comprises three components: uniform settlement,
planar tilt, and out-of-plane settlement. While excessive uniform settlement and
uniform settlement may not impair the structural integrity of tanks, they can
cause serviceability issues. Out-of-plane settlement can lead to serviceability
problems of the tank and also induce localized stress concentration that may cause
accelerated corrosion or rupture. Measured settlements need to be evaluated to
determine the effects on tanks.
Readers can refer to Annex B—Evaluation of Tank Bottom Settlement of API
Standard 653 for assessing tank settlements. As specified in this standard, a tank shell
needs to be evaluated based on the deformation of the shell as well as out-of-plane
settlement (circumferential settlement) of tank bottom. The bottom plate is also
required to be assessed for any edge differential settlement and localized depressions
or bulges. A flowchart for evaluation of out-of-plane settlement for tanks in
accordance to the standard is shown in Fig. 11.16.
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Figure 11.16. Evaluation of out-of-plane settlement in accordance with API Standard 653.

Two examples of evaluating tank circumferential settlement profile in accordance to

API Standard 653 are described here. The first example is on a case where a valid
optimal cosine curve can be established for the circumferential settlement profile of a
tank. The tank is 46 m in diameter and 24 m in height.
As shown in Fig. 11.17, the circumferential settlement profile is very close to a planar
tilt, which is represented by the optimal cosine curve, except that there is a localized
bulge at about 135°. The computed out-of-plane settlement at the location is 16 mm,
which is less than the permissible value of 23.6 mm, calculated in accordance with
Clause B3.2.1 in Annex B of API Standard 653. It can be concluded that the out-of-
plane settlement of this tank satisfies the criteria.

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Figure 11.17. Evaluation of out-of-plane settlement (valid optimal cosine curve can be established).

The second example of evaluating circumferential differential settlement evaluates

settlements for the tank settlement at 100% load, as shown earlier in Fig. 11.15. The
curves are shown in Fig. 11.18.

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Figure 11.18. Evaluation of out-of-plane settlement.

The calculated R2 value of optimal cosine curve is 0.14, which is less than 0.9 as
specified in API standard 653 (2009) and this renders the optimal cosine curve
invalid. Thus, the procedure specified in Clause B2.2.5 needs to be followed. For
demonstration, sag arc 1 measuring from 180°–300° in Fig. 11.18 is evaluated. The
maximum out-of-plane settlement for this sag arc is about 4 mm. It is less than the
permissible out-of-plane settlement computed according to Clause B3.2.2, which is
about 8 mm. Therefore, the out-of-plane settlement for this portion of the tank is
satisfactory.