High safety oil tank cleaning systems

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How do Oreco oil tank cleaning systems ensure high safety standards?

The Oreco systems are among the safest tank cleaning systems available today. We continuously improve our systems to comply with the strictest safety standards.

Potential hazards and risks:

Staff health and safety issues	How our systems reduce risks
Exposure to hydrocarbons and toxic substances.	• Staff don't need to enter tanks during cleaning.
Respiratory problems or oxygen deficiency.	• No scaffolding is required.
Injuries caused by falls, inadequate lighting or structural tank failure.	• Our systems normally clean in an inert atmosphere.
Risk of explosion and fire.	• All BLABO® process equipment are designed for safe operation in EEx zone 1.

Environmental issues	How our systems reduce risks
Hydrocarbon emissions during the tank cleaning process.	• The BLABO® and MoClean® processes are closed loop systems, releasing minimum quantities of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere.
Hydrocarbon emissions when tank is ventilated.	• Using the BLABO® or MoClean® systems wash the tank with water prior to ventilation, which removes hydrocarbons thus eliminating hydrocarbon emissions.
Disposal of sludge.	• Cleaning by BLABO® and MoClean® achieve up to 99% hydrocarbon recovery, minimising the amount of sludge for disposal.

Process and plant safety issues	How our systems reduce risks
Fire and explosion risks- sparks caused by electrical equipment, lightning, static electricity, high-pressure jetting, pyrophoric deposits, etc.	• All system modules are grounded with cables during the entire operation. • Tank atmosphere is inert if the tank contains a low flash point liquid. • The oxygen level in the tank is continuously monitored during cleaning. Automatic system shutdown occurs if the oxygen content reaches a hazardous level (e.g. max. 8% for crude oil tanks). • For tanks containing high flash point liquid (e.g. heavy fuel oil) the system automatically monitors of the LEL (lower explosion level). • All BLABO® process modules are designed for safe operation in EEx zone 1. • The MoClean® truck is positioned outside the EEx area during operation. • The MoClean® truck is equipped with a gas-detector with 2 alarm levels: 1. level: 10% of LEL (warning light and siren)2. level: 30% of LEL (automatic shutdown of the MoClean® truck).
Risk of tank implosion or collapse.	• BLABO® does not use vacuum pumps and tank vacuum breakers are still in operation. • The MoClean® process utilises a vapour return system to insure a constant inert gas pressure in the tank.
Hot work.	• No hot work is performed during the cleaning operation. If required, safe cold tapping on the tank can be performed using the SafeTap tool.
Risk of oil spillage during cleaning.	• All piping is assembled using a secure quick-connection stainless steel piping system. • Special for BLABO®: Automatic overflow-protection of the Skimming module with bypass when levels are reached. • Special for MoClean®: Automatic overflow-protection of the MoClean® truck tank.

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