Abstract
Background: Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) are critical assets in the oil and gas sector, where maintaining their structural integrity is essential for operational safety, environmental protection, and cost-efficiency. In Kazakhstan, traditional time-based inspection (TBI) methods dominate, despite their inefficiency and inflexibility. The integration of Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) with advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technologies offers a promising alternative to optimize inspection intervals and improve asset management, especially considering regulatory limitations and economic pressures that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: To optimize re-inspection intervals for ASTs in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry by integrating RBI methodologies with advanced NDT technologies, particularly ROSEN TBIT Ultra, and to compare these with traditional inspection methods. Materials and methods: RBI methodology outlined in API RP 580 and 581, industrial data for the given tank X. Results: The integration of RBI and advanced NDT enabled prioritization of high-risk tanks, identification of localized corrosion mechanisms, and optimization of inspection intervals. Compared to the rigid TBI schedule, the proposed approach demonstrated higher inspection efficiency, lower resource wastage, and reduced risk of catastrophic failure, while aligning with global standards and local legal frameworks. Conclusion: By adopting RBI methodologies supported by technologies like ROSEN TBIT Ultra, Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry can transition from fixed-interval inspections toward a predictive, risk-prioritized approach. This transition supports better asset integrity management, enhances safety, and contributes to long-term infrastructure reliability, especially critical for aging storage systems.