Cleaning of crude oil tank VSTP-50000 of Achinsk Refinery of the Eastern Oil Company, Achinsk

3 April 2008

Under Contract No.188-2/08 dated 03.04 2008, the specialists of Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Applied Technologies performed the cleaning and preparation for hot works of crude oil tank with pontoon VSTP-50000 (No.1) on the territory of Achinsk Refinery of the Eastern Oil Company OJSC (Rosneft Oil Company OJSC).

Work process

According to preliminary measurements, the bottom sediment volume - paraffin and mechanical impurities in the tank of 61 m diameter (2900 m2 bottom surface area) with pontoon amounted to over 10 000 m3.

Innovative steam nozzles of NP-18 (M) type were used to heat and liquefy the sediment.

The organic part of the sediment was removed by the Client pump with limited flow rate, which allowed to use the organic part as feedstock in the technological process of the Client. At the same time automatic steaming of the tank, cleaning of the tank internals from pyrophoric compounds and tank degassing operations were performed.

After the cleaning, manually removed and rinsed with water mineral components (sand and clay) in the amount of 160m3, remained. Heating steam condensate and bottom water remained after the separation of organic components were sufficiently treated to be safely drained into the industrial sewage system.

Conclusions

Due to the implementation of NNIAT efficient "know-how" in cleaning and sediment separation technology, the specialists of Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Applied Technologies successfully performed the cleaning operations and prepared the tank for hot works.

Client feedback

All oil organic part of the sediment was pumped out and used by the Client as feedstock in the technological process. All the works under the scope were executed in accordance with high quality standards and within the agreed timeframe.

The technology of removal of solid sediment from tanks, developed and implemented by NNIAT LLC, is cost-effective, safe, environmentally friendly, reduces work performance period and is recommended for wide use.

S.V. Gavrin — Chief Mechanical Engineer