Abstract: An umbilical connection for use in a hazardous environment like a floating roof storage tank has one or more hydraulic hoses, one or more electrical cables or a combination thereof. Each hydraulic hose has a static dissipative and abrasion resistant covering. Each electrical cable has an abrasion resistant coating. The hoses and cables are bundled and wrapped in a static dissipative and abrasion resistant open mesh sheath or an overbraid to form the intrinsically safe umbilical connection.

Abstract: A hatch cover for deployment over a hatchway formed in a floating roof liquid storage tank permits rapid loading and unloading of inspection or maintenance equipment and minimizes vapor emissions from the tank. The portable hatch cover has two base plates movably connected at a hinge and each defining complementary recesses. A circular flange extends from the bottom surfaces of the base plates to seat the hatch cover in the hatchway. Two door panels are movably connected at hinges to the top surfaces of the base plates. When one or both of the door panels are opened, equipment may be loaded into the tank through the complementary recesses. When closed, the door panels cover the recesses in the base plates. Complementary notches in the door panels provide an opening through which equipment tubing or wiring may extend when the door panels are closed. A collar gasket optionally may be wrapped around the tubing or wiring as a further means to limit vapor emissions from the tank.

Abstract: Methods for remotely inspecting an internal floating roof and the seals associated with such internal floating roof project an illumination pattern from a series of substantially parallel laser beams onto the floating roof and/or the seal. Another laser beam projects at a predetermined angle offset from the series of laser beams. The illumination pattern and offset spot from the other laser are viewed through a camera. The length of a defect in the internal floating roof or seal or a gap between the seal and the tank wall is calculated as the length of a side of a right triangle based upon the predetermined angle and the predetermined distance between the lasers and the floating roof or seal.

Abstract: An umbilical connection for use in a hazardous environment like a floating roof storage tank has one or more hydraulic hoses, one or more electrical cables or a combination thereof. Each hydraulic hose has a static dissipative and abrasion resistant covering. Each electrical cable has an abrasion resistant coating. The hoses and cables are bundled and wrapped in a static dissipative and abrasion resistant open mesh sheath or an overbraid to form the umbilical connection.