Inventory Tracking Optimized at Energy Logistics Company
Feb, 26 2024
Case Studies
United Energy Trading
United Energy Trading has been providing clients with reliable energy marketing and logistics since 2002. In order to maintain stable and predictable prices in volatile markets, they concentrate on price optimization with robust risk management. United Energy Trading offers a variety of refined products, including gas and crude oil, while also driving clean energy options to offset carbon emissions for a sustainable future.
Applications: Fuel Inventory Management
Market: Fuel Distribution
Challenge
Lowering overhead expenses and keeping a field operation that is safe, sustainable, and environmentally sound are United Energy Trading’s primary objectives. United Energy Trading monitors fuel inventory levels in several isolated tanks located throughout rural America.
“We need to know how much fuel we have left in our tanks for inventory tracking. We must keep our records consistent and current for auditing purposes,” said Vincenzo, Energy Manager
With tanks spread out across the country, traveling to the many remote site locations to manually check inventory levels, was not an option. The manual recording process was time-consuming, cumbersome, and inefficient. It was imperative that United Energy Trading implement a process that would accurately and consistently monitor and report fuel levels remotely.
Solution
In 2023, United Energy Trading installed the TankScan TSM1000 tank monitoring system on two diesel fuel tanks on oil frac trailers. The remote monitoring system leverages existing wireless cellular infrastructure and a cloud software application to eliminate large startup and setup costs associated with typical SCADA systems. The install requires screwing the monitor into a 2” port on the top of tank and plugging in the battery. The cloud application is setup remotely and offers unlimited users, historical trending, and email/text notifications.
The tank levels are viewed from a field operator’s cell phone or from a PC at a remote office. The system is cost-effective due to its use of existing infrastructures through internet connectivity, internet browser, email, text message, and cloud computing. The user is provided with accurate readings to devices he already owns, understands, and supports.
Results
United Energy Trading has seen several benefits from remote level monitoring, including:
• Eliminating trips to the tanks has reduced labor and overhead costs
• Remote tank level visibility has improved field operations reliability
• Automated notifications help to lower environmental risks
• Inventory auditing process refined, providing accurate and consistent readings
“I had never used a remote tank monitoring system before, and TankScan worked great with an easy install process. I plan to install them again this week in Wyoming”, said Vincenzo.