The process of Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning is somewhat a challenge to many. It is a comprehensive activity involving the removal of the bottom crude oil sludge, treating the oil sludge and washing the receptacle . There is the conventional method of washing it and several scientific methods that come up every day as research goes on.
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 removed sludge is then treated in the second step. It is separated into oil, solid wastes and water. The process is done right in the storage chamber before pumping it out of system.
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.
Another method of Crude Oil Tank Cleaning is to use one step tank washing technology. This scientifically developed and is way more efficient as it washes in one step. It involves the pumping of diesel through nozzles installed on the roof of the storage chamber. This diesel washes the sludge after which the mixture of diesel and sludge is pumped from the receptacle bottom.
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 step can be skipped if the client feels so. But if there is a need, then the residual sludge is removed. And since it is only 10%, the process will take way less time. And after the thorough and violent mixing, the remaining sludge is quite soft and easy to handle as compared to when using the conventional method of Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning.
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 removed sludge is then treated in the second step. It is separated into oil, solid wastes and water. The process is done right in the storage chamber before pumping it out of system.
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.
Another method of Crude Oil Tank Cleaning is to use one step tank washing technology. This scientifically developed and is way more efficient as it washes in one step. It involves the pumping of diesel through nozzles installed on the roof of the storage chamber. This diesel washes the sludge after which the mixture of diesel and sludge is pumped from the receptacle bottom.
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 step can be skipped if the client feels so. But if there is a need, then the residual sludge is removed. And since it is only 10%, the process will take way less time. And after the thorough and violent mixing, the remaining sludge is quite soft and easy to handle as compared to when using the conventional method of Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.petro-genesis.com for more helpful information about Effective Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning Procedures
No comments:
Post a Comment