The scaffold is the cost. The X1 removes it — a CVI drone that fits standard manways and pays back in a single inspection cycle.
API 653 mandates periodic in-service and out-of-service inspection of aboveground storage tanks. For most operators, that means scaffolding, confined space entry, multi-day shutdowns, and five- to six-figure inspection costs — per tank, per cycle.
A close visual inspection (CVI) drone changes the cost structure without changing what API 653 requires. The inspector still certifies. The findings still go into the report. The difference is that the camera gets to the surface without a scaffold, and the technician stays outside the tank.
API 653 (Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction) outlines requirements for the inspection of in-service and out-of-service aboveground storage tanks. Qualified inspectors assess shell condition, bottom integrity, roof structures, and appurtenances on defined intervals. The standard does not prescribe inspection method — it prescribes inspection outcome. Close visual inspection, when it can access the surface, satisfies the visual component of that requirement.
Drones are increasingly deployed for the visual inspection phase: they navigate the tank interior, capture high-resolution imagery of the shell, floating roof underside, and structural welds, and deliver that footage to the inspector for assessment. The inspector reviews, documents findings, and issues the report. The scaffold never gets built.
For a standard 50,000-barrel storage tank, a scaffold-supported internal inspection commonly includes:
Total per-inspection costs of $50,000–$100,000+ are not unusual for larger tanks. With 400,000+ aboveground storage tanks in the United States alone, the aggregate cost exposure is enormous.
Priced below typical capital-expenditure thresholds, the X1 is sized for OPEX approval in most organizations — your plant manager or inspection superintendent can often approve the purchase without executive sign-off.
The calculation is straightforward: a single scaffold-eliminated tank inspection commonly saves $30,000 or more — more than the cost of the drone. The return is positive before the second tank.
Across an asset base of even 10–20 tanks inspected over a contract cycle, the savings scale linearly. Inspection service companies can amortize the X1 across client billing immediately.
The X1 is backed by Nolvis Care maintenance coverage at $4,000/year, providing parts and cage replacement, loaner unit access, and technical support.
Whether you operate a refinery, terminal, or pipeline storage facility — or you're an inspection service company building out your drone capability — the X1 is a direct path to API 653 visual inspection without the scaffold overhead.
Contact us and we'll walk through your specific tank configuration, access point dimensions, and inspection workflow.
Yes. Drones are used for the close visual inspection (CVI) component of API 653 tank inspection. They access the tank interior through standard manways, capture inspection-grade imagery of shell surfaces and structural elements, and deliver footage to a certified inspector for review and documentation. The drone handles access; the inspector handles certification.
It depends on the drone. The Nolvis X1 passes through openings as small as 16 inches. Others require 18-inch or larger access points. For older tanks with smaller manways, check the drone's frame dimensions carefully before purchase.
A scaffold-supported tank inspection can cost $50,000–$100,000+ when scaffold erection, tank preparation, and downtime are included. Drone-based CVI can reduce per-inspection costs by 50–80%, with full payback on the hardware in a single inspection cycle.
We'll calculate your ROI in 5 minutes — and walk through your manway dimensions and inspection workflow.
