Basin uses TankScan to Provide Value-Added Solution

Basin Concrete, Inc. was established in 1979 as a mobile concrete business. It has serviced the Williston Basin area with mobile concrete units throughout the 1980s and 1990s with the focus being on cementing main holes and plugged abandoned oil wells. In the early 1990s the rental and trucking division was added and Basin started hauling tubular and oil field equipment. In recent years the company has expanded to include crane and hydro vac divisions.

The Challenge        

Basin customers continuously battle the challenges faced by performing manual tank measurement procedures. Like most fuel tanks, Basin’s customer’s tank levels were monitored manually. Three major concerns of manual measurements are efficiency, accuracy and safety.

Physically climbing tanks could take up to a half hour for each tank. If it is winter and cold, weather conditions could add additional time to this manual task. And then there is always the risk of human error. If tanks aren’t measured accurately or frequently enough there is a risk of run outs or overfills.

In the oil fields safety is another big concern. Climbing on any tank poses a risk for employees. Wet or cold weather can leave the surfaces slippery and add additional risk. Additionally, there is the concern of potential exposure to volatile hydrocarbons while manually measuring tank levels.

“We knew we needed a way to help customers automate tank monitoring” said Stephan Buckingham, Manager of Sales & Rental at Basin Concrete, Inc. “With ATEK’s reliable system and full-service support, TankScan was the ideal choice.”

The Solution        

In 2012, Basin Concrete turned to ATEK Access Technologies for its TankScan wireless tank monitoring system, which allows Basin to offer a value-added solution to their customers. Basin’s unique solution provides a wireless tank monitor with their rental tanks. TankScan provides Basin’s customers with another option to improve their business, eliminating the need for manual measurements solving the concerns around errors and safety. 

TankScan uses a battery-powered micro impulse radar sensor that sits on top of each tank and takes measurements several times daily to determine fluid depth. The monitor collects data about the tank’s fluid level and sends it to the ATEK Intelligence Platform (AIP) web-based portal. Customers are able to log into AIP from a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone and monitor their tanks from anywhere an Internet connection is available. Customers are provided with accurate readings that eliminate human error, ensuring the supply chain delivery and collection of fluids is uninterrupted.

The TankScan solution provides Basin with an additional differentiation in the market that gives them an opportunity to become more valuable to their customers.

“The installation process was easy and ATEK’s TankScan support team was ready to help when we had questions,” said Buckingham. “Once the monitors were installed, we were amazed at how easy it was to access the data from each tank.”

The Results        

Through utilization of the TankScan solution, Basin has realized numerous benefits including:

• Basin has helped their customers reduce the labor and other associated costs with manual tank measurement while increasing efficiency. 
• Through remote asset visibility, Basin has optimized their customer’s distribution process. They can schedule delivery and collection of liquid products ahead of time, eliminating costly emergency trips and reducing excess inventory. 
• TankScan enhances safety by eliminating the need to climb on top of tanks for manual tank measurement. 
• The ATEK Service Platform (ASP) allows ATEK Access Technologies to remotely monitor the health of TankScan wireless tank monitoring sensors in the field, ensuring that all devices are online and operating at the best possible level.

“TankScan takes the guess work out of customers’ tank management,” said Buckingham. “They can schedule on-time deliveries easily with the peace of mind that they’ll never have run outs or overfills.”