OES Crude Tank Cleaning Procedures

Oil & Gas Services Division
Cleaning of Crude Oil Storage Tanks

Crude oil storage tanks will settle out the long chain and paraffin based materials over
time and could lose 5 to 50 % of the tank storage capacity. This material has been viewed
as a waste product over the years, when in fact the paraffin waxes and asphaltenes will
burn with a very high BTU value when the material has been put back into a stable
emulsion and is made pump-able using OES processes.
In most cases, the recovered crude portion of the bottoms minus the solids and most of
the water will offset the entire cleaning cost of the tank, in a fraction of the time of
conventional cleaning methods.
The Process
First we determine how much static or dead material is in the tank. Once this is done
either thru physical gauging or an infrared scan on the outer shell we determine how much
of the proprietary chemical will be needed to loosen the heavy bottom.
The chemical along with the jetting system will allow the operator on the outside of the
tank to "spin" the content, either clockwise or counter clockwise. This ensures 100%
contact of the bottom material and the chemical allowing for a break in the surface tension
along the walls and over the entire floor area of the tank.
Benefits
The tank is cleaned in a fraction of the time conventional cleaning takes. It is possible to
clean and recover the crude portion, while leaving the tank in service. We eliminate the
need for blind suction and discharge lines while the tank is being circulated and we
prevent the tank from being taken out of service for long periods of time.
We allow the owner to recover for resale the crude portion of the bottom, thus eliminating
costly offsite disposal to re-claimers.
Due to the nature of the proprietary chemical, the tank will be degassed as part of the
circulation. The surfactant based solution will actually generate CO 2 when it interacts with
small amounts of water that is tied up in the sludge and miniscule foaming is taking place.
This is similar to DAF systems used in water treatment, meaning dissolved air flotation or
in this case dissolved CO2 flotation.
Manpower will be virtually eliminated with the exception of the in-organics that will end up
in the center of the tank and will have to be removed the old fashioned way.
Once our system is in place, with one large diameter suction line and two jet assemblies
mounted onto existing man ways, the system can be operated with one person (see
drawing attached).
The system is safer, faster and a fraction of the cost of other systems.
Performance guarantees are available on request.
Oman Energy Services LLC (OES) will provide all necessary equipment, personnel and
chemicals required to complete the in-service cleaning of the storage tanks.
Technical Proposal
1. The system requires the tapping the existing manways with a 6 figure 150 full
opening gate valve. This valve will be mounted at approximately 180 o from the
water draws. The tap will consist of 1 - 4 hole to accommodate our pack off
gland/stinger assembly.
2. Once the tapping is complete and the stinger is mounted we will close our
circulating system c/w piping and circulating pump. The pump is a centrifugal trash
pump capable of handling large solids.
3. Once the circulating system is installed and pressure tested we will introduce the
chemical at concentrations beginning at 250 ppm chemical to the total volume of
the oil/water bottoms matrix. This chemical will act as a very effective demulsifier,
wetting agent and corrosion inhibitor and will remain in the water phase of the tank
matrix once the process is complete.
4. This procedure will serve to clean the existing line and force the occluding material
in the line back into the tank. The chemical will also reduce the surface tension of
the heavy material and allow it to re-suspend into the oil phase.
5. Once the chemical is introduced we will commence our circulating procedures of
the mix in the tank. We will circulate the tank clockwise and counter clockwise until
we determine that we have achieved 3 phase separation in the tank. This will allow
the inorganic portion of the matrix (the solids) to drop out and be consolidated in
the centre of the tank.
6. The water in the tank will separate and will sit on top of the solids with the oil
portion on top of the water. We will now be able to determine through physical
gauging, using water paste or through an infrared scan on the outer shell of the
tank the volume of water and oil in the tank.
7. During the procedures described above the foaming action of the chemical and the
spinning action of the procedures will complete a de-gassing of the tanks in
addition to breaking the existing emulsions. It should be noted that the chemical
and water will produce miniscule foaming which in turn will generate small volumes
of CO2. This is similar to DAF (dissolved air flotation systems) used in wastewater
treatment facilities. In this case it will be CO2 as opposed to O2.
8. We anticipate 5 to 7 days circulation time per tank allowing settling periods of the
solids in the tank. This will leave the solids liberated and deposited in the centre of
the tank with more than 95% of the oil released from the solids and able to be
recovered. Once the oil phase has been transferred to the next tank the water
phase will be left in the tank for further washing of the solids.
9. In the event the client wishes to have the clean solids removed from the tank it will
be necessary to open the tank and have the solids physically removed or to
incorporate a centrifuge/decanter into the circulating system. However the
centrifuge is an expensive alternative but could be implemented for the future and
ongoing cleaning of other tanks in the system.
Equipment Provided by OES

a) 1 4 x 4 160 hp diesel driven centrifugal pump c/w positive air and emergency
shutdown.
b) 2 3 stinger assemblies.
c) Hard piping and hoses for suction and discharge lines from the pump.
d) Proprietary surfactant blend chemical.
e) Tapping tool c/w 4 tungsten hole saws if required.
f) Complete set of hand tools.
g) Fire extinguishers.
h) Spare parts as determined.
Provided by Owner
a) Vacuum truck services.
b) Cutter stock (light cycle oil or diesel) if required.
Respectfully Submitted,
Oman Energy Services LLC

OES Crude Tank Cleaning Procedures

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

OES Crude Tank Cleaning Procedures

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

OES Crude Tank Cleaning Procedures

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How does the cleaning process work?

What are the benefits of this cleaning process?

Oil & Gas Services Division

Cleaning of Crude Oil Storage Tanks

Equipment Provided by OES

You might also like