Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning has been a challenging and daunting task for years. To simplify the processes used, we have broken down the three common methods below. Ti is a very involving process that includes the removal of sludge at the bottom of the storage chamber, treating the sludge to separate it and lastly is washing the receptacle. Some companies still use the conventional methods while some have advanced to the new developed methods for efficiency and time saving.
In the conventional method, the sludge is removed from storage chamber's bottom, a process that can take between 90 to 120 days. This is done with experienced personnel and machines and with more operators, the stage can take less like 2 to 3 months. And when using receptacle cleaning machines that are remotely operated will take double the time as compared to human operators.
The second step in the conventional method is to treat the oil sludge. This involves separating the sludge into three components; recovered oil, solids and waste water. This is done inside the receptacle.
The third stage is to wash the tank since the sludge has been removed. By the use of high pressure cleaners, the floor and walls of storage chamber are thoroughly cleaned and de-rusted by use of sand blasting. It can take around 50 days if one team is working on it or about 30 days for two teams working simultaneously. To clean the external wall by sand blasting, the operators will take another 30 to 60 days based on the number of teams working on it. Another more efficient alternative which is more expensive is to use ultra-high pressure cleaning which combines de-rusting and de-painting in one process.
There is a one step cleaning method that has been developed and used by some companies. In this process, diesel is pumped through nozzles in a jet fixed on the receptacle's roof. This washes the sludge dissolving it after which the sludge/diesel mixture is pumped out of the storage chamber.
Using this method may be efficient but some solid sludge may take time to dissolve. For a 100,000KL tank this may take up to 4 months to dissolve. Temporary storage of the diesel/sludge mixture should be made as it is planned how to separate them into oil, solid and water. Another receptacle is required to contain the pumped out mixture when a receptacle is being cleaned.
A two step washing technology is also in use. This is an advanced method and is very different from the first two. It cleans oil tanks in a matter of weeks as compared to the 4 months for the other processes. The first step involves the use of submerged rotary jet mixer to dissolve the sludge into the oil solutions, a process called re-suspension. Around 90% of the hydrocarbons can be recovered using this process. This only takes 10 days, 7 days for equipment installation and 3 days for cleaning.
The second stage involves removing the remaining 10% sludge if the client requires. Since the mixing was so thorough, this residual sludge is soft and easily to remove as compared to the other methods. Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning is not an easy job but it eventually has to be done in spite of the time and money it takes to perform it.
In the conventional method, the sludge is removed from storage chamber's bottom, a process that can take between 90 to 120 days. This is done with experienced personnel and machines and with more operators, the stage can take less like 2 to 3 months. And when using receptacle cleaning machines that are remotely operated will take double the time as compared to human operators.
The second step in the conventional method is to treat the oil sludge. This involves separating the sludge into three components; recovered oil, solids and waste water. This is done inside the receptacle.
The third stage is to wash the tank since the sludge has been removed. By the use of high pressure cleaners, the floor and walls of storage chamber are thoroughly cleaned and de-rusted by use of sand blasting. It can take around 50 days if one team is working on it or about 30 days for two teams working simultaneously. To clean the external wall by sand blasting, the operators will take another 30 to 60 days based on the number of teams working on it. Another more efficient alternative which is more expensive is to use ultra-high pressure cleaning which combines de-rusting and de-painting in one process.
There is a one step cleaning method that has been developed and used by some companies. In this process, diesel is pumped through nozzles in a jet fixed on the receptacle's roof. This washes the sludge dissolving it after which the sludge/diesel mixture is pumped out of the storage chamber.
Using this method may be efficient but some solid sludge may take time to dissolve. For a 100,000KL tank this may take up to 4 months to dissolve. Temporary storage of the diesel/sludge mixture should be made as it is planned how to separate them into oil, solid and water. Another receptacle is required to contain the pumped out mixture when a receptacle is being cleaned.
A two step washing technology is also in use. This is an advanced method and is very different from the first two. It cleans oil tanks in a matter of weeks as compared to the 4 months for the other processes. The first step involves the use of submerged rotary jet mixer to dissolve the sludge into the oil solutions, a process called re-suspension. Around 90% of the hydrocarbons can be recovered using this process. This only takes 10 days, 7 days for equipment installation and 3 days for cleaning.
The second stage involves removing the remaining 10% sludge if the client requires. Since the mixing was so thorough, this residual sludge is soft and easily to remove as compared to the other methods. Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning is not an easy job but it eventually has to be done in spite of the time and money it takes to perform it.
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If you want the finest crude oil storage tank cleaning services, click the link to www.petro-genesis.com. To read about all of our other tank services, visit PetroGenesis Distribution on the Web today at http://www.petro-genesis.com.
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