The most common problems were roof failures, but there were also drainage issues, unmoored tanks and overflows. While an epic catastrophe like Harvey is bound to create such problems, these above-ground storage tanks still experience emissions releases and other failures during even the finest of weather.

Energy companies are taking new steps to avoid and prevent leaks, emissions and spills. Anglo-Dutch oil major Royal Dutch Shell, for instance, said it recently started using flying drones to help monitor its tanks.

Now, Phillips 66 wants to put the drones inside the tanks. The Houston refiner is partnering with the Boston startup Square Robot for robotics that can inspect tank floors and survey and map out any obstacles while they are filled with oil, gasoline or other petroleum products. The idea is to identify weaknesses and take measures to upgrade or replace tanks before the tanks fail and release vapors and spills.

“Ensuring the integrity of our equipment is one of our top priorities, and we are always looking for innovative new technologies to help us achieve this,” said Todd Denton, Phillips 66’s general manager for midstream operations. “Our collaboration with Square Robot presents a unique opportunity to develop technology that will enable us to maintain our equipment and minimize disruption to our customers.“

Square Robot’s founders mostly came from Boston’s Bluefin Robotics, which develops underwater robots and vehicles for military and personal uses. Square Robot, however, is trying to advance that technology by submerging robots in petroleum and using the partnership with Phillips to develop, improve and fine-tune its products. The first robots with Phillips 66 are expected to enter service in mid-2018.

And that’s not a moment too soon, considering how rapidly storage tanks are built in the Houston area.

As the region has evolved into a petroleum and petrochemical exporting hub, the region’s crude storage capacity has more than doubled in just six years from 21 million barrels to 56 million barrels, according to a recent report from Morningstar. Additional capacity of 21 million barrels is planned or under construction.

Some of the fastest-growing tank farms, for instance, are Enterprise Products’ Echo terminal by the Sam Houston Tollway and Texas 3, the Enterprise hydrocarbons terminal in East Houston by the Houston Ship Channel, and Magellan Midstream’s East Houston terminal, which suffered a sizable gasoline spill during Harvey near Galena Park.

In addition, at least 15 projects to expand or construct pipelines have been proposed to carry oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids from Permian Basin to Houston, Corpus Christi and Beaumont. And all of those liquids will need temporary storage.

So there’s plenty of opportunities ahead for robots to dominate the inspections market for all of these above-ground tanks.

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