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 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 also a one step tank cleaning technology in use. It is more efficient than the conventional method and takes relatively less time. Here, nozzles are fitted on top the storage chamber and diesel is pumped through them into the sludge. This washes the sludge after which the mixture of diesel and sludge is pumped out of the receptacle.
Even though this method is more efficient than the conventional one, some sludge will still remain solid and stuck to the tank base. This may take up to four months to dissolve then the mixture is pumped out into another tank. This means that an extra receptacle is required to store the mixture before it I separated.
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 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 also a one step tank cleaning technology in use. It is more efficient than the conventional method and takes relatively less time. Here, nozzles are fitted on top the storage chamber and diesel is pumped through them into the sludge. This washes the sludge after which the mixture of diesel and sludge is pumped out of the receptacle.
Even though this method is more efficient than the conventional one, some sludge will still remain solid and stuck to the tank base. This may take up to four months to dissolve then the mixture is pumped out into another tank. This means that an extra receptacle is required to store the mixture before it I separated.
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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