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The procedures in crude oil storage tank cleaning, also known as Crude Oil Washing (COW), is a process of cleaning the storage using the fuel itself. Before environmental regulations were enacted, these tankers were cleaned by spraying seawater into the containers. Initially, water was also stored in these same tanks to level the ships and ensure that the propellers will be below sea level, until ballast tanks were introduced.
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.
Initially, the cleaning method used was to pump in heated seawater and jet sprayed to remove the layer of oils from the surface, which were then pumped overboard. This method resulted in high amounts of fuel being discharged into the sea. Pollutants were highly concentrated on piers and docks where the ships were being cleaned.
In 1954, a measure was adopted to lessen the pollution produced by enforcing a ban in releasing these wastes within 50 miles from shore. The distance was also extended for up to 100 miles in places that raised great environmental concern as the wastes may cause irreversible damages. This measure was called the Oil Pollution Convention or OILPOL.
This measure did nothing to reduce the pollutants discharged and was merely transferred to different areas. This paved the way for the next process which was called the Load on Top, which still used pressurized heated water, but stored the oil-water mixture instead of simply pumping it into the sea. The mix is stored in what is called a specialized slop tank that separates overtime the heavier water and the lighter oil while the vessel is on its way back for its next delivery. The water that settled below is then pumped back into 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.
The latest enhancement in the process of crude oil storage tank cleaning was introduced and was called the Crude Oil Washing, where the removal of sediments and layers from the walls were done by using only pressurized fuel. The removal of water from the whole process meant that there was practically no waste due to any mixtures with oil.
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.
Initially, the cleaning method used was to pump in heated seawater and jet sprayed to remove the layer of oils from the surface, which were then pumped overboard. This method resulted in high amounts of fuel being discharged into the sea. Pollutants were highly concentrated on piers and docks where the ships were being cleaned.
In 1954, a measure was adopted to lessen the pollution produced by enforcing a ban in releasing these wastes within 50 miles from shore. The distance was also extended for up to 100 miles in places that raised great environmental concern as the wastes may cause irreversible damages. This measure was called the Oil Pollution Convention or OILPOL.
This measure did nothing to reduce the pollutants discharged and was merely transferred to different areas. This paved the way for the next process which was called the Load on Top, which still used pressurized heated water, but stored the oil-water mixture instead of simply pumping it into the sea. The mix is stored in what is called a specialized slop tank that separates overtime the heavier water and the lighter oil while the vessel is on its way back for its next delivery. The water that settled below is then pumped back into 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.
The latest enhancement in the process of crude oil storage tank cleaning was introduced and was called the Crude Oil Washing, where the removal of sediments and layers from the walls were done by using only pressurized fuel. The removal of water from the whole process meant that there was practically no waste due to any mixtures with oil.
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