TECHNICAL TANK CLEANING
TURNING SLUDGE INTO PROFIT HydroCarbon Solutions’ tank cleaning technology generates useable oil from tank sludge BORN IN oilfields of West Texas back in 2004, HydroCarbon Solutions (HCS) has been cleaning aboveground storage tanks one at a time for the past 17 years. Bringing environmentally friendly technology and non-person entry to the hazardous job of crude oil tank deposition cleaning, HCS has seen the demand for their services double in that time. ASSET RECOVERY TECHNOLOGY The tank cleaning fluid used by HCS un-bonds the paraffin wax by converting it back into liquid oil which can be more easily removed. HCS has products for oil wells, pipelines, storage tanks and barges. The technology can mitigate risks to both the environment and onsite personnel, while recovering lost revenue for crude oil asset owners and operators. The tank cleaning technology is the result of 20 years of work on hydrocarbons and waxes by HCS chemists. HCS believes that its tank cleaning technology is the easiest and most effective way to generate additional revenue from crude oil sludge, as it converts it back into an on-spec crude which is ready for market. The technology has been tested by several major oil company laboratories, which have found no adverse effects on the base crude oil or equipment such as storage tank liners.
TABLE 1: HOW IT WORKS Deposition reducing chemical
Conventional method
Liabilities turned into assets – unwanted sludge is now a saleable crude oil product
Loss of inventory – and revenue with no merchantable asset
The HCS process requires minimal third-party equipment and personnel
High expenditure on specialist equipment and additional personnel
Significant reduction in costly out-ofservice time for cleaning, inspections, repairs and maintenance
Tankage out-of-service for extended time periods through labour-intensive cleaning
Treats sludge accumulation and protects against water corrosion and paraffin build-up Non-person-entry reduces risks to on-site crews by limiting exposure to hazardous confined spaces
Workforces repeatedly exposed to hazards from confined spaces and toxic environments
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then flashing off the light ends. HCS developed a paraffin treatment that saves time and cost, keeps the rods clear of paraffin, and migrates downstream to keep everything flowing. Valves and provers work more efficiently as well. Storage tanks The HCS process offers a unique solution to accumulated crude oil tank bottoms. This means limited hazardous substances need to be extracted after the process is complete and no personnel need enter the tank until after the hazardous material is gone. HCS cleaning fluids are added to the tank and mixed, and the newly-converted oil can be sold. The tank can be returned to service if this is a preventative maintenance exercise, or prepared for full API 653/EEMUA 159 tank inspection.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFIT HCS has found that owners and operators of oil wells, storage tanks, barges, or pipelines which use its technology can profit from the process, as the value of the newly recovered crude oil is far higher than the initial cost of using any of the treatments. HCS estimates that typically, for every US$1 spent on a chemical treatment there will be a return of US$5-8 in saleable crude oil, depending on market prices. For most tank farms, the savings are in tank cleaning costs, and HCS estimates that for every US$1 (€0.85) spent on the cleaning chemicals, a tank farm will save US$3 in cleaning expenses. The cleaning process can take as little as one month.
Hazardous waste disposal process worsens environmental impact
Pipelines APPLICATIONS Oil wells The HCS process can be used to treat paraffin downhole to eliminate hot oiling. The treatment saves on heating oil and
HCS has been optimised for the treatment of asphaltene and paraffinic wax in oil pipelines. Small amounts of HCS can be added to keep pipelines free of asphaltene and paraffinic wax buildup. The process maintains the internal
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