Improvements In Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning Of Tankers
Crude oil storage tank cleaning, or commonly called Crude Oil Washing (COW), is mainly the process of cleaning the storage using the oil itself. Prior to strict environmental regulations, tankers were cleaned using jets that sprayed seawater inside the containers. Also, before ballast tanks were introduced in ship design, water had to be stored in order for the propeller to be properly immersed at sea.
Many regulations have been in effect after concerns were raised in the wastes produced in the cleaning process after every trip of tankers. Companies themselves have used these changes to their benefit, as it also decreases the oil that is thrown away and reused on their next trip. Many of these advancements will be discussed to understand how these processes changed in a few decades time.
Every day, a great number of tanker vessels carry petroleum to refineries from oil platforms for processing. Thus, it is ideal to make sure that there is profit on every trip and to decrease cost whenever possible. One commonly followed procedure for cost efficiency in the industry is the regular cleaning of the tanks storing the fuels. If this is skipped, the petroleum will form a sticky layer from the walls that would add unnecessary weight to the vessel when emptied for its return trip.
Early methods used in the removal of the layers of oil on the container walls involved the heating and spraying of seawater inside these tanks, and were then released overboard. This, unfortunately, also released the petroleum that was mixed in the process and were simply discharged without ensuring its safety.
In 1954, the Oil Pollution Convention (OILPOL) was adopted as a measure to lessen pollution through the prohibition of the release of waste within 50 miles from the nearest land. On some instances, this limit was extended to 100 miles on environmentally protected sites, where the spillage may have very grave impacts.
The OILPOL measure did not really eliminate the waste produced and only moved to different areas, which was the main reason why a new process called Load on Top was introduced where pressurized heated water was still used, but instead of simply discharging the mix back at sea, they store it in specialized slop tanks. While the vessel is on its way back to the platform, the lighter oil would float on top of this mixture, while the heavier water would settle at the bottom and then be returned to the sea.
An estimated amount of 8 million tons of petroleum were prevented from being discharged back into the sea. The remaining fuel from this process can then be reused by mixing with a fresh batch of crude oil, which resulted in higher profit margins by cutting losses.
Another improvement for the crude oil storage tank cleaning process was once again introduced and called the Crude Oil Washing, which used pressurized fuel and sprayed onto the walls to remove the layered sediments that got stuck. This latest process eliminated the use of water, thus removing the need to separate the petroleum from a cleansing agent that would usually produce waste.
Many regulations have been in effect after concerns were raised in the wastes produced in the cleaning process after every trip of tankers. Companies themselves have used these changes to their benefit, as it also decreases the oil that is thrown away and reused on their next trip. Many of these advancements will be discussed to understand how these processes changed in a few decades time.
Every day, a great number of tanker vessels carry petroleum to refineries from oil platforms for processing. Thus, it is ideal to make sure that there is profit on every trip and to decrease cost whenever possible. One commonly followed procedure for cost efficiency in the industry is the regular cleaning of the tanks storing the fuels. If this is skipped, the petroleum will form a sticky layer from the walls that would add unnecessary weight to the vessel when emptied for its return trip.
Early methods used in the removal of the layers of oil on the container walls involved the heating and spraying of seawater inside these tanks, and were then released overboard. This, unfortunately, also released the petroleum that was mixed in the process and were simply discharged without ensuring its safety.
In 1954, the Oil Pollution Convention (OILPOL) was adopted as a measure to lessen pollution through the prohibition of the release of waste within 50 miles from the nearest land. On some instances, this limit was extended to 100 miles on environmentally protected sites, where the spillage may have very grave impacts.
The OILPOL measure did not really eliminate the waste produced and only moved to different areas, which was the main reason why a new process called Load on Top was introduced where pressurized heated water was still used, but instead of simply discharging the mix back at sea, they store it in specialized slop tanks. While the vessel is on its way back to the platform, the lighter oil would float on top of this mixture, while the heavier water would settle at the bottom and then be returned to the sea.
An estimated amount of 8 million tons of petroleum were prevented from being discharged back into the sea. The remaining fuel from this process can then be reused by mixing with a fresh batch of crude oil, which resulted in higher profit margins by cutting losses.
Another improvement for the crude oil storage tank cleaning process was once again introduced and called the Crude Oil Washing, which used pressurized fuel and sprayed onto the walls to remove the layered sediments that got stuck. This latest process eliminated the use of water, thus removing the need to separate the petroleum from a cleansing agent that would usually produce waste.
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posted by Vittoria @ October 26, 2013
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