Using crude oil tankers may seem easy, wait until the times comes to do the cleaning. There however are several procedures of Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning that have been used over the years and new improved methods that employed by some contractors. This process involves the removal of bottom sludge, separating it into oil and solid matter and the actual receptacle washing.
To start with the conventional methods, the sludge is manually removed from the tank bottom. This is done by trained personnel taking between three (3) to four (4) months. It involves both man and machines to complete the tedious process. When using solely remote operated machines, the process may take even double the time.
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.
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.
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.
Even though this method is efficient and faster, some sludge still remains at the bottom of the storage chamber and requires time to dissolve. This may takes around 4 months to dissolve for a 100,000KL tank. It also requires a temporary storage tank to handle the diesel/sludge mixture pumped out of the chamber in order to clean the receptacle.
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.
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.
To start with the conventional methods, the sludge is manually removed from the tank bottom. This is done by trained personnel taking between three (3) to four (4) months. It involves both man and machines to complete the tedious process. When using solely remote operated machines, the process may take even double the time.
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.
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.
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.
Even though this method is efficient and faster, some sludge still remains at the bottom of the storage chamber and requires time to dissolve. This may takes around 4 months to dissolve for a 100,000KL tank. It also requires a temporary storage tank to handle the diesel/sludge mixture pumped out of the chamber in order to clean the receptacle.
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.
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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