Method and system for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a particular location
First Claim
1. A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a particular location, comprising the steps of:
- storing volume capacity information associated with each tank at the particular location in a database;
periodically conducting an inspection of each tank at the particular location from a remote vantage point and without direct access to each tank, including collecting one or more images of each tank;
transmitting the collected images of each tank to a central processing facility;
analyzing the collected images of each tank to determine a liquid level for each tank;
calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in each tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and
communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity at the particular location to a third-party market participant.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a tank comprises the steps of: receiving, at a central processing facility, volume capacity information associated with the tank and storing the volume capacity information in a database; receiving, at the central processing facility, one or more images of the tank; analyzing the one or more images of the tank to determine a liquid level for the tank; calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank to a third-party market participant.
50 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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storing volume capacity information associated with each tank at the particular location in a database; periodically conducting an inspection of each tank at the particular location from a remote vantage point and without direct access to each tank, including collecting one or more images of each tank; transmitting the collected images of each tank to a central processing facility; analyzing the collected images of each tank to determine a liquid level for each tank; calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in each tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity at the particular location to a third-party market participant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19)
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8. A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a tank with an external floating roof, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a central processing facility, volume capacity information associated with the tank and storing the volume capacity information in a database; receiving, at the central processing facility, one or more images of the tank; analyzing the one or more images of the tank to determine a liquid level for the tank, including a determination of a height of the external floating roof of the tank relative to a top of the tank; calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank to a third-party market participant. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 21, 22, 28)
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12. A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a tank with a fixed roof, comprising the steps of:
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periodically conducting an inspection of the tank from a remote vantage point and without direct access to the tank, including collecting one or more images of the tank; receiving, at a central processing facility, volume capacity information associated with the tank and storing the volume capacity information in a database; receiving, at the central processing facility, the one or more images of the tank from the inspection; analyzing the one or more images of the tank to determine a liquid level for the tank, including a determination of a height of a liquid level within the tank relative to a top of the tank based on the one or more images of the tank; calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank to a third-party market participant. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 30)
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13. A method for analyzing usage of one or more tanks used for storage of a liquid energy commodity at a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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storing volume capacity information associated with each tank at the particular location in a database; periodically conducting an inspection of each tank at the particular location, including collecting one or more images of each tank; transmitting the collected images of each tank to a central processing facility; analyzing the collected images of each tank to determine a liquid level for each tank; calculating an amount of the liquid energy commodity in each tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; conducting a further analysis based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database to determine a frequency at which the liquid level in each tank varies over time; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in each tank and the frequency at which the liquid level in each tank varies over time to a third-party market participant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26)
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18. A method for determining an amount of crude oil stored in a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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storing volume capacity information associated with each tank at the particular location in a database; periodically conducting an inspection of each tank at the particular location from a remote vantage point and without direct access to each tank, including collecting one or more images of each tank; transmitting the collected images of each tank to a central processing facility; analyzing the collected images of each tank to determine a liquid level for each tank; calculating the amount of crude oil in each tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of crude oil at the particular location to a third-party market participant. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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27. A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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storing volume capacity information associated with each tank at the particular location in a database; periodically conducting an inspection of each tank at the particular location, including collecting one or more images of each tank via a satellite imaging system; transmitting the collected images of each tank from the satellite imaging system to a central processing facility; analyzing the collected images of each tank to determine a liquid level for each tank; calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in each tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity at the particular location to a third-party market participant.
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29. A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity stored in a tank with a fixed roof, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a central processing facility, volume capacity information associated with the tank and storing the volume capacity information in a database; receiving, at the central processing facility, one or more images of the tank, wherein the one or more images of each tank are received from a satellite imaging systems; analyzing the one or more images of the tank to determine a liquid level for the tank, including a determination of a height of a liquid level within the tank relative to a top of the tank based on the one or more images of the tank; calculating the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank based on the determined liquid level and the volume capacity information retrieved from the database; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in the tank to a third-party market participant.
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Specification