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.
Starting with the conventional method, the sludge is manually removed from the tank bottom. It may take about 100 days depending on the number of personnel working on it and the machines being used. With more operators it can even take 2 months. At times tank cleaning machines that are remotely operated are used; this can take double the time taken above.
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.
Once all this has been done, the receptacle is subjected to high pressure cleaning to wash its walls, roof and floor. A process called sand blasting is then employed so as to de-rust and d-paint the chamber. This stage can take around 50 days for one team and 30 days if two teams are working simultaneously on it. The outer walls of the storage chamber will require another 1 t o2 months de-painting and de-rusting. One can choose to sue the more expensive but effective ultra-high pressure cleaning so as to save time.
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.
The other method is a two step washing procedure. This is very advanced and way more effective than the first two. Very fast in cleaning and recovers more crude oil in the process. The first step is the use of a rotary jet mixer that is submerged into the sludge. It thoroughly mixes the sludge suspending it in the solution and recovers about 90% of the hydrocarbons. The machine needs 7 days to set up and only 3 days to complete the mixing.
This is followed by removing the remaining 10% sludge that is then very soft in comparison to the hard crust in the other methods. Given the violent mixing it has undergone, the sludge will not be a hard task to remove. This method of Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning is the most efficient and very time saving comparing 6 months for other methods and 10 days it uses.
Starting with the conventional method, the sludge is manually removed from the tank bottom. It may take about 100 days depending on the number of personnel working on it and the machines being used. With more operators it can even take 2 months. At times tank cleaning machines that are remotely operated are used; this can take double the time taken above.
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.
Once all this has been done, the receptacle is subjected to high pressure cleaning to wash its walls, roof and floor. A process called sand blasting is then employed so as to de-rust and d-paint the chamber. This stage can take around 50 days for one team and 30 days if two teams are working simultaneously on it. The outer walls of the storage chamber will require another 1 t o2 months de-painting and de-rusting. One can choose to sue the more expensive but effective ultra-high pressure cleaning so as to save time.
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.
The other method is a two step washing procedure. This is very advanced and way more effective than the first two. Very fast in cleaning and recovers more crude oil in the process. The first step is the use of a rotary jet mixer that is submerged into the sludge. It thoroughly mixes the sludge suspending it in the solution and recovers about 90% of the hydrocarbons. The machine needs 7 days to set up and only 3 days to complete the mixing.
This is followed by removing the remaining 10% sludge that is then very soft in comparison to the hard crust in the other methods. Given the violent mixing it has undergone, the sludge will not be a hard task to remove. This method of Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning is the most efficient and very time saving comparing 6 months for other methods and 10 days it uses.
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