OIL RECOVERY / RECYCLING FACILITY

Crude Oil Tank Cleaning with TC-2002 Rotary Jet Mixer Technology

Background:
A Tennessee refinery solicited bids to remove 18 feet of solids in an 80,000 barrel tank. The estimated cost for the removal of solids, disposing of hazardous waste and cleaning the tank was $3.2 million.

Challenges:
The challenge was to provide new technology to remove 18 feet of solids in a 10 day period, utilizing our patent-pending United process. Our goal was to suspend the solids in solution with cutter stock and discharge the solids to a series of 20,000 barrel barges. The fuel oil sediment at this facility is paraffin and asphaltenes, which were re-suspended in solution with the proper cutter stock. The biggest concern for a job of this size was crew safety, cost and environmental hazards associated with handling large volumes of material with pumps and barges.

Technological Methodology and Solutions:
The TC-2002 Rotary Jet Mixer system bolts onto the existing man-ways of the tank. In this application three (3) units were installed with a capacity of pumping 3,000 GPM at 110 PSI each. The insitu volume of sludge was estimated at 30,000 BBLS and it was determined an additional 80,000 BBLS of cutter stock would be required to blend the material to the required United specification of 25% BS &W.

• The solids removal cycle with the United Process significantly reduces the amount of time the tank was out of service.
• Eliminates the liabilities associated with off-site transportation and disposal of hazardous waste.
• Greatly reduces the cost for labor, tank cleaning and dewatering equipment.
• Reduces the potential safety exposure of a large tank cleaning crew operating in a confined space.
• Minimal equipment and labor costs associated with the United Process.
• No emissions from the process.
• Greatly reduced opportunities for leaks and spills associated with temporary storage tanks and mix tanks associated with conventional cleaning.

Economics:
By utilizing the United Process, the client saved $1,500,000 over conventional cleaning technology. $1,000,000 was save from the cost associated with cleaning, dewatering, transportation and disposal. The client estimated an additional $500,000 savings by reducing the total time the tank was out of service.

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