Method and apparatus for monitoring operational performance of fluid storage systems

A method of monitoring a fluid storage and dispensing system, said system comprising a plurality of measurement apparatus for measuring a volume associated with said system, said method comprising:

• simultaneously collecting measurement data from said plurality of measurement apparatus in a form readable by a computer to determine a change in said volume;
• repeating said collecting step to obtain a plurality of said measurement data from said plurality of measurement apparatus;
• storing said plurality of measurement data in a compressed matrix format in a computer memory;
• and
• statistically analyzing said compressed matrix format to determine operational monitoring information.

An apparatus for monitoring a fluid storage and dispensing system, said apparatus comprising:

• measurement apparatus for measuring a volume associated with said system;
• and
• a computer comprising a processing means for collecting a plurality of measurement data from said measurement apparatus and a memory for storing said plurality of measurement data in a compressed matrix format which is a product of a data matrix and the transpose of the data matrix;
• wherein said processing means performs statistical analysis of said compressed matrix format to determine operational monitoring information.

A method of monitoring a fluid storage and dispensing system, said system comprising a plurality of measurement apparatus for measuring a volume associated with said system, said method comprising:

• simultaneously collecting measurement data from said plurality of measurement apparatus in a form readable by a computer to determine a change in said volume;
• repeating said collecting step to obtain a plurality of said measurement data from said plurality of measurement apparatus;
• storing in a computer memory said plurality of measurement data in a compressed matrix format which is a product of a data matrix and the transpose of the data matrix;
• and
• statistically analyzing said compressed matrix format to determine operational monitoring information.

A method of monitoring a fluid storage and dispensing system, said system comprising measurement apparatus for measuring a volume associated with said system, said method comprising:

• collecting a plurality of measurement data from said measurement apparatus in a form readable by a computer;
• storing in a computer memory said plurality of measurement data in a compressed matrix format which is a product of a data matrix and the transpose of the data matrix;
• statistically analyzing said compressed matrix format;
• determining whether a quantity of fluid removed from said system is caused by a leak in said system;
• and
• delivering a warning that a leak has been detected in said system.