THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

August 2009

In conversation with

Patrick Pfrang

Patrick Pfrang graduated at the St Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas with a BA degree in Business Administration. He joined Tanknology in 1991. After three years he was appointed operations manager. Patrick has travelled extensively for Tanknology across the Southern States of the US and has trained technicians in Japan and South Africa. Patrick lives in San Diego, California with his wife and two children

Patrick Pfrang, senior Tanknology technician demonstrating the Vacu-Tec system during a live test at a Cape Town filling station.

TANKNOLOGY IS NOW established in South Africa by Maintenance Technologies Solutions in conjunction with Tanknology Inc, USA. The methodology is internationally recognised as a tried and proven method of on-site testing for underground storage tanks (UST). After attending an on site test at a retail filling station in Cape Town, FuelWatch discussed various aspects of the Tanknology tests with Patrick Pfrang, a highly trained senior Tanknology technician. 

FW: Regular and precise tank monitoring has become an important management tool for fleet owners and fuel suppliers to ensure the fuel they store, or have access to, is clean, free of contamination and not a hazard to the environment. What is the background to “Tanknology” and its position in international markets? 

PP: Tanknology is the largest provider of UST compliance solutions in the world, with crews providing testing and related services at more than 50,000 sites each year. Tanknology and its licensee partners service such worldwide major oil companies and large retailers as ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, 7-Eleven, BP, Agip, Cosmo Oil, Petrobras, Repsol-YPF, and many more. 

Having tested more than 1 million USTs worldwide, Tanknology’s technological leadership is unmatched. With testing technology that is recognised by major oil companies around the world, the company holds 22 patents on UST compliance testing equipment and has obtained all requisite US and numerous international certifications. Currently the company has nearly 20 licensee partners providing service in more than 25 countries, including Italy, Portugal, UK & Ireland, Canada, Japan, Australia, Nigeria, Brazil, several Central American countries, and more. 

Tanknology constantly seeks new partners in many areas of the world in its effort to provide world-class environmental compliance globally. 

FW: Typically what is the range of tests you can undertake in terms of various liquid fuels, tank size and tank location - underground, overhead, etc? 

PP: The Tanknology VacuTectTM method was designed to perform tests mainly on Underground Storage Sites located at retail or industrial sites. Products can range from petrol, diesel, jet fuel, waste oil, and many chemicals. The maximum tank size the VacuTectTM system is certified for is 285 000 litres. 

FW: Could you give us a brief description of what the Tanknology test consists of and how long it takes? 

PP: The VacuTectTM system has the capability of testing the wet and dry part of the tank in a single test. It works by introducing a vacuum into the tank to create a slight negative pressure, so that any leak is shown by ingress of air or water. A leak below the tank fluid level generates a unique “bubble” signature that is transmitted by a probe inserted in the tank to a laptop in the mobile unit. Leaks above the fluid level produce a distinctive hissing sound. All signals are recorded and can be stored for documentation purposes. 

Most tank tests are performed in 60 minutes or less, with no disruption in customer fuel pumping services from other tanks. (Total on-site time varies depending on specific site set-up, line testing, and paperwork.) In some instances tests can be performed while the tank is being used. It is capable of testing two tanks simultaneously and four tanks can be tested in approximately two hours. 

FW: The technology and skill to interpret the data implies the tests need to be undertaken by a trained technician. With this in mind, how are technicians identified and trained in South Africa? 

PP: Following Tanknology USA’s minimum qualifications for a tank and line testing technician, Tanknology SA began its hiring process focusing on dependable individuals with experience in the petroleum industry and computer literacy. As a second stage of the International Training Process a highly experienced senior technician from Tanknology USA is sent out to South Africa to provide a rigorous hands on and theoretical training programme. New recruits are trained at retail sites, in a classroom environment and using online training tools. All the Tanknology proprietary testing protocols and procedures include the highest level of safety standards in the industry. Trainees also complete a comprehensive online training and certification programme. 

FW: Can these tests be undertaken when the tank is filled to capacity or likewise if it is empty?

PP: Tanks can be between 5% full (Ullage Volume up to 90 000 litres) to 95% full. So no request for delivery of additional product is needed in most cases. Tanks can be tested with as little as 150 mm of product, so only a small quantity of product is needed in order to perform the VacuTectTM test. 

FW: Clearly the cost of undertaking such tests will depend on the size, age and type of tank and the extent of the test. However, with your experience how do you rate the possibility of detecting the various problems and the probability of picking up a false alarm that could lead to digging up of an underground tank? 

PP: The VacuTect™ method is certified to exceed the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirement that a tightness test method performs with 95% probability of detecting a leak and less than 5% probability of a false alarm in order to confirm the presence of a leak. 

FW: Based on Tanknology’s extensive experience, is there an optimum time to subject tanks to these tests? 

PP: A prudent method of providing ongoing leak detection is to perform annual tightness tests combined with daily inventory reconciliation. In addition, a tightness test should be conducted whenever there is an indication of a possible leak, such as an inventory shortage, discovery of product in local groundwater or monitoring wells or fuel vapours in nearby basements or sewers, or alarm conditions indicated by a monitoring system. Tightness tests are also performed to verify the integrity of newly installed or repaired tanks and those at locations that are part of real estate transactions. 

FW: How have the major oil companies responded to these tests given the large number of filling stations and home base facilities they supply and serve? 

PP: Major Oil Companies have a high sense of Environmental awareness and responsibility and therefore they have avidly incorporated these tests to their ongoing maintenance programs. Their greatest challenge is to be environmentally conscious and financially profitable, therefore a test method that reduces downtime of the site and that provides reliable and conclusive results every time is their preferred solution; hence the strong popularity worldwide of the VacuTectTM system. 

At the time of writing Shell Oil SA are making use of the Tanknology UST testing method. Some other oil majors have shown interest in the tests. Given the age of many USTs in the country, Tanknology seems set to provide a helpful method to protect the environment and reduce fuel storage losses.