How Do I Start A Service Of Removing Sedimentation From Big Petroleum Tank?

I'm not sure where to get one but I think you should consider a system like is used to keep swimming pools clean. The system I am thinking of uses lengths of hose attached to a central hub and pickup tubes at regular intervals around the perimeter. A pump circulates the fluid by pushing it out through the hoses. This causes the hoses to writhe on the bottom like a bunch of snakes, keeping the sediment in motion and generally pushed towards the outer perimeter where it is drawn in through the pick-up tubes. Strainers on the pick-up tubes keep any larger trash from being picked up and filters at the pump clean out the finer particulates. Of course a swimming pool set up probably wouldn't work as is due to the difference between water and petrol. The pump, hoses etc would need to be solvent resistant.

This set up would require that not all the petrol is removed but 2 or 3 feet left in to use as cleaning agent. Very little would be lost - only the sludge and debris.

Alternatively the system could be installed permanently and used intermittently with periodic inspections.

Wow. This is a difficult opportunity. Can't have any sparking, presuming fumes still present at some level; Cant be manually pushed- confined spaces and petrol fumes issues.

When we removed underground fuel tanks, we threw in a coule hundred pounds of dry ice to displace any Oxygen to prevent any possible ignition if spark by static electricity was created by movement of tank,tools, workers etc.

Keeping safety factors in mind is first step to consider.

What is size and composition of sediment. is it wetted, like wetcement or sludge, or more like hard dried grinder swarf?

milo

What is size and composition of sediment. is it wetted, like wetcement or sludge, or more like hard dried grinder swarf?

Composition of sediment: It contains a wide spectrum of elements including, salt, sand, many metals like vanadium, baryum etc...

The bottom is very dry but the top is more like sludge.

Thank you for your interest.

H.L.

I suspect some of it is biological material as well. There are bacteria that grow in any water layer and feed on petroleum products from crude oil to jet fuel. I do not know of a Canadian company that does this, although I am sure there are several, since the regulations require periodic draining/cleaning. Check the phone listings, but if no success, try:

E.A. Engineering, Science, and Technology

which has offices in Watertown and Middletown New York. I do not have addresses or phone numbers, but those should be readily available. They should be able to help, or at least make a better recommendation as to who can.

Thank you,

H.L.

Hello Mr. Lefebvre,

In 05 & 06 I was working with a firm to develop us a private label line of pumps, that might would be safe for your pumping needs.

It an animal , called a peristaltic pump. It's just basically, a hose pump, developing a vacuum. Nothing, actually ever touches the fluid being pumped, just a prime mover rotation against the reflex rubber hose, sort of like a rotary motor works with lobes. We do have to prime them, but fluid levels staying constant, it just keeps sucking fluids and rather quickly.

If you like, I will make some inquires and get you some specifications. You will most likely need to specify for me the needed gallons per minute and the consistency & chemicals of the sludge , and most likely a few other things too. No hard solids can be pumped with a hose pump, as that puncture of the hose might be caused.

While they were not explosive contents, when we were looking at this pump type and particular line for us to represent for sale, we were seeking an affordable Concrete Pump for shotcrete applications ( turns out that's a highly acidic and corrosive fluid ) and for a Winery Must pump ( I'm building a Winery too and that is also a highly acidic fluid, which can damage pumps quickly ).

These hose pumps can be engineered to withstand many hours of continuous use and any fluid can be pumped without fear of explosion, from the compression of the line and no sparks would come from the pump, if the right rotors were used . For our targeted usage , it worked fine. You just gotta keep the hard solids out.

One thing I don't know, is how to keep the sludge flowing toward the line in a fuel tank. Do the tanks have a V bottom or is there some harvesting appliance, already in use or would that need to be developed too ?

Let me know if I can help and I will look further for you.

Best Regards,

Joe Woodall, Managing Partner

Georgia Adobe Rammed Earth & Renewable Energy

2395 Bowman Hwy. NW.

Dewy Rose GA 30634

www.georgiaadobe.com

How do you know you have sedimentation? and why do you want to remove it?

How do you know you have sedimentation? and why do you want to remove it?

The environment laws in the province of Quebec asks that every big petroleum tanks be emptied once every 15 years. The amount of sedimentation depends on the type of crude imported, but the average thickness of sedimentation is one meter.

Thank you for the reply.

I would suggest that you sonar scan the tank internal first and that way you would know how much there is and where it is located.

Probably best to take soem samples too - so that you can correctly have it either treated or disposed of as hazardous waste

To me this question is indicative that refiners are reaching the proverbial "bottom of the barrel". I thought refiners avoided allowing tanks to get so low that sediment could become a problem. When storage tanks must be drawn down to the point that sediment becomes a problem, there has to be a reason, supply disruptions come to mind.

I thought refiners avoided allowing tanks to get so low that sediment could become a problem. When storage tanks must be drawn down to the point that sediment becomes a problem, there has to be a reason, supply disruptions come to mind.

Please see my comments answering RVI MAN.

Thank you for your comments.

H.L.

You did not mention where these above ground storage tanks are located, however there are likely various tank cleaning companies (such as Smitt Tank Service) that specialize in this particular procedure. Typically the procedure utilizes vacuum trucks that are on the outside of the tanks with vacuum hoses running into the tank. Specially trained personnel enter the tank and squeegee the sludge to the vacuum hoses. This is the procedure that we have used in Ontario at several oil terminals.

Hope this is of help,

Regards,

Flyfisher946

flyfisher946@msn.com

Work for somebody who does it for a few years to learn the trade in this dangerous industry. This could save your life.

Work for somebody who does it for a few years to learn the trade in this dangerous industry. This could save your life.

I am not looking for a job but for expertise. If you know somebody that knows how to proceed in this project of mine please let me know.

Thank you for your comment Marcot.

H.L from Brossard Qc

Mr. Lefebvre

There's company such as Veolia, Stablex/Marsulex in Montreal's area who are specialized in such cleaning. We do inside linings at Ultramar and Petro-Canada tank. Their diameter are up to 269ft. Special safety protocol are in place depending on the configuration of the tank you have, floating roof for example, or kind of baffles etc..

Can you provide MSDS of the sludge? I may be able to give you a hand on this one.

Contactez-moi sur mon cellulaire au 514-592-5534. Je suis en Abitibi cette semaine mais de retour à Montréal vendredi. Les travaux doivent se faire à quelle période?

Mario

Mario,

Je vous contacterez en début de semaine prochaine.

Merci,

Hubert Lefebvre