Stress-free tank cleaning

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Chemical Engineering (New York); (United States)

OSTI ID:5633813

Haimowitz, S

In the fall of 1991, sludge buildup in a 690,000-bbl crude-oil storage tank caused measurement and loading problems for the Mobil Oil refinery in Paulsboro, N.J. Four ft of sludge had accumulated at the bottom of the tank, which holds oil prior to refining. Faced with operating and environmental constraints, Mobil cleaned the tank with Nalco 5601, a system made by Nalco Chemical Co., (Sugar Land, Texas). The system, which employs chemicals, water and heat, removed 58,000 bbl of sludge from the tank and recovered 37,500 bbl of oil from it without generating hazardous wastes. This oil contained only trace amounts of sediments and water, and was processed without requiring further treatment. Water was also recovered from the sludge: 11,000 bbl were treated biologically onsite. There were 3,700 bbl of solids remaining, which were left in the tank, as they only took up 4 in. and no longer affected level measurement. The system cleaned the tank in 10 days and recovered 99% of the oil in the sludge without generating hazardous wastes. The value of the recovered oil is $646,000, and Mobil estimates that its return on investment for the project is nearly 300%.

• OSTI ID: 5633813
• Journal Information: Chemical Engineering (New York); (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Engineering (New York); (United States) Vol. 100:12; ISSN CHEEA3; ISSN 0009-2460
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020800* -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
022000 -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
CLEANING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PROCESSING
SLUDGES
STORAGE FACILITIES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER TREATMENT