360 DIGITAL TWINS

New innovative ways of leveraging 360 technologies to reduce site visits, data
silos and project re-work while increasing collaboration and remote
communications in the oil and gas industry.
 OUTLINE

 Introductions
 Why digital twins?
 Digital Silos vs Operations
 Technology options; using the right tool for the job?

 CASE STUDY – Qi2 Elements, tank integrity inspections

 Kelly Watt – Visual Plan Inc.

Kelly is a specialist with 3D Lidar, Photogrammetry and video imaging

and analysis technologies. He has extensive experience in public safety,
AEC and facility management with nearly 20 years working for and
building technology companies.

Visual Plan is a SAS based Digital Twin software. The software is used
for collaboration and compiles all things CAD and all things 3D to
manage Digital Twin Comparisons. We process 360°video and imagery
into measurable 3d tours using photogrammetry and synchronize data
to compare 360 imagery to BIM, Lidar Point Clouds and 2D-CAD to
provide a baseline of truth for entire teams and organizations.
Email: kelly@visualplan.net
Phone: 206.202.4220
Web: www.visualplan.net
 Why digital twins?

80%-90% of Facility Site-Visits could be avoided by

using 3D Visualization.
Dan Reed - Fuel and Process Chemistries, Dorf Ketal

CONFIDENTIAL
Digital Twins offer 24-7 access to
critical and difficult to reach facilities
 Making Complex Sites Simple to Navigate

Putting a full navigation & visualization

capability into the hands of front-line
operations personnel.
Reducing Digital Silos
 Making Complex Sites Simple to Navigate

Putting a full navigation & visualization

capability into the hands of front-line
operations personnel.
 3D Visualization offers Facility Operations the ability to remotely
find, navigate, inspect, confirm, approve, protect, teach, learn, and fix.

1% increase 10% reduction

in mechanical
availability
= in maintenance cost
annually.

SOLOMAN ASSOCIATES

CONFIDENTIAL
 Kevin Kupitz – Qi2 Elements.
Kevin Kupitz
President, Storage Tank
Resources Group, Qi2 Elements
Email:
K.Kupitz@qi2elements.com
Web: www.qi2elements.com
Kevin Kupitz serves as President of Storage Tank Resources Group, the services division
of Qi2 Elements responsible for delivery of inspection and engineering services for
aboveground storage tanks, pressure vessels, piping, and other essential assets.
Mr. Kupitz, with a career dedicated to tank inspection services, leads the strategy and
operations of all tank services. He is guiding the development and evolutionary
application of advanced robotics and inspection process guide software to improve
inspection coverage, accuracy, and to improve the speed and uniformity of tank inspection
reports. Recognized in the industry by his peers as a thought leader, Mr. Kupitz joined Qi2
in 2019 as Vice President, NDE Robotic Services, to form Qi2 Elements on the shared
vision to bring advanced technology to the application of tank inspection. Mr. Kupitz was
appointed President in 2021, of the reformed business unit, on the addition of the Pipeline
Resources group to Qi2 Elements.
Before joining Qi2, Mr. Kupitz served as Senior Vice President of TEAM/TCI Services,
Inc., the tank inspection subsidiary of TEAM, Inc. (TEAM Industrial Services), an
acquisition by TEAM of the company where Mr. Kupitz was part owner and Director of
Sales and Operations. Mr. Kupitz is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a BS,
Business & Economics.
Above Ground Storage Tank
• Overview
– Over 1M ASTs in the U.S. alone
– Must be externally (While In-Service) inspected every
5 years
– Must be internally (While Out-of-Service) inspected at
least every 20 years
• Take the tank off-line
• Empty
• Clean
• Inspect
• Repair
• Post repair inspection
• Test
• Refill
 Current Technology
• Written report in PDF or WORD format
• All tank data stated in a table
• Pictures or findings with recommended repairs
• Written descriptions
• A detailed explanation of conditions
• A note about tank/inspection conditions
• Drawings with finding locations
• Conversations with SMEs and owners are based on oral
descriptions
• Pieces of the report are sent to repair contractors for quotes
• Only information specific to the tank
 • Reduce the need for site visits.

360° – Eliminated the chance for any safety incidents

– Examine access to tank. Proximity to tank

Advantages
– Determine equipment and material staging areas
• More accurate quotes. No surprises when arriving on-site
– No need for numerous site visits for job walks
Picture vs. 360° Visual
 360° Advantages
• Pre-Inspection

– Full 360 scan of interior and exterior of tank

• Shell, roof, bottom, containment area, piping, foundation
• Drone for large tanks
• View internal and external images together

– Spatially located findings

• Easy to locate and determine access and interference
• Determine closest welded components
– Tank measurements
 360° Advantages
• Pre-Inspection

– Location of inspection findings on 360° scan

• In-environment flagging of Inspection findings
• Label finding severity
• Consistent annotations for each finding
• Add picture, note, link, video to all annotations
• Produce a report for each finding

– Immediately share the scan

• During the inspection with company engineers to
discuss unusual findings/resolve issues/request
additional evaluations
• After the inspection with customers, SMEs and
Engineers to review findings, make accurate
decisions and discuss course of action
• Send the scan to repair contractors for quotes. No
site visit needed.
 Post Inspection
360°
•

– Confirm necessary repairs were made

Advantages • Resolve finding

• Document additional work performed during tank turnaround
• Discuss unresolved work with contractors
• Produce an As-built digital twin inside and out. Tanks can be in
service for over 20 years.
 STAGES WHERE VISUALIZATION MAKES AN IMPACT

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6

Cleaning Pre-Inspection Repair Quoting Repairs Post-Inspection Recoat/New
Performed Liner/Repaint

Exterior 360 scans Inspection scans Site visits are 360 visualization Post-repair 360 walkthroughs
provide spatial capture interior reduced from third of inspection inspection 360 can be provided to
context for the and exterior party contractors, repair lists scans provide recoat teams for
tank, equipment surfaces, as a virtual provides universal comprehensive visual confirmation
staging, storage surrounding walkthrough of the understanding visual confirmation of before/after, as
and safety assets and tank tank and from a single that all repairs well as provided to
considerations. components, inspection results visual record of were performed organization
generating spatial can be provided required and and in compliance. stakeholders as
relationships and remotely to service quoted repairs. Timestamps can dynamic and
visually orienting providers, Virtual access can be compared side comprehensive as-
the locations of expediting be shared to all by side for efficient builts.
needed repairs. decision-making stakeholders review.
Engineering/SME and reducing the remotely, to
consultations. number of confirm punch lists
individuals on site. and repair
locations.
QUESTIONS?

QUESTIONS?

WWW.Qi2elements.com
 360 VISUALIZATION BENEFITS

360 Visualization Benefits Value Savings

Remote access to tank via virtual walkthrough Minimizes jobsite travel - no need for project leaders, $$$$
management or contractors to travel to site to see issues or
provide quotes.

Provides clearer details of internal and Expedites decision making and provides visual project $$$$
external tank features certainty.

Establishes spatial relationships of assets Reduces need for additional data collection of still photographs; $$$
and components provides clear and measurable environmental data for
contractor and repair pre-planning.

In-environment, spatially placed dynamic Provides more data for development of assumed scope of work $$$
annotations for estimating and planning for out of service inspection
projects.

Visual comparison of before and after repair Better traceability of repairs, easier verification for tank integrity $$$
conditions audits, and comprehensive as-built walkthroughs.

Comprehensive, single visual source of data Saves communication time for project leaders, designers, $$
engineers, contractors and management by decreasing the
number of needed clarifications.
QI2 ELEMENTS CONFIDENTIAL
QI2
 CONTACT
Contact: Kelly Watt

Role: CEO

Phone: 1 206-202-4220

Email: kelly@visualplan.net

Website: www.visualplan.net