In article ,
Kurt Lochner wrote:

gl
Well, I've had some 'luck' as regards finding proper 'cites'
into the "oil embargo" of the '70's, particularly the kinds
of instrumentation that was developed to catch 'cheaters'
so far as the storage systems involved..

http://www.pushback.com/Wattenburg/inventions.html

1974
Method for remote inventory of oil storage tanks.
During the Arab oil embargo the oil companies were thought to be
hoarding gas and oil by fudging the inventory reports they had
to furnish to the government. Instead of the Energy Department’s
costly plan to send a thousand FBI agents to crawl inside the
tanks, Bill used an infrared video camera to measure the oil
level of tanks.
This said because it was thought he developed. Never said that he
actually found anything. Not really any more responsive than the other
replies.