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Cost/benefit analysis

As a tank owner or manager, you need to know how much it will cost to clean your tanks. Evaluating the costs of a tank cleaning job usually involves comparing the up-front prices quoted by vendors. However, have you overlooked other less obvious costs that will affect the total cost of the job?

Most tank owners currently clean their tanks manually. Few have analysed the benefits of automated tank cleaning technology.

Examinating the total costs of a tank cleaning job illustrates the advantages of automated tank cleaning systems, such as the BLABO® or MoClean® systems.

Overall costs of tank cleaning
Contractor costs:
The quoted price for the tank cleaning job from (external) service provider.
Mobilization costs:
Construction of scaffolding, crane rental and operation, set-up of cleaning equipment, fresh air systems, high pressure equipment etc.
Utility and operating costs:
Consumption of steam, electricity, chemicals, other fuels during cleaning.
Re-processing costs:
Cleaned-out sludge and cutter fuel returned to facility may require re-processing.
Lost production / margin:
Turn-down or shut-down of process units resulting from the temporary loss of capacity while the tank is out of service.
Internal personnel costs:
Additional operations and maintenance manpower, round-the-clock operation, overtime pay, additional supervision (fire watch, gas watch, safety/work permitting), meals.
Waste handling / disposal:
Processing of waste streams and disposal of hazardous waste products, both inside and outside refinery.
Damage to tank interior and internals:
Repair of damages to coating, steam coils and other structures caused by improper tank cleaning procedures.
Legislation and regulations:
Necessary modifications, penalties and fines related to violation of environmental, health and safety regulations.
Personnel liability:
Injuries, illness and loss of life resulting from hazardous working environment and exposure to toxic substances.

Benefits/savings using Oreco tank cleaning systems
Mobilization costs:
No scaffolding or fresh air systems required. Process modules easily transported and moved using trucks and crane. Assembly of piping between process and tank using safe quick-connect piping.
Utility and operating costs:
Lower consumption of steam, electricity, compressed air, cutter stock. Wash water is re-circulated. No additional chemicals required.
Re-processing costs:
Fresh crude oil not required. Lower consumption of cutter stock. Separation of sludge into oil, water and solids minimises return of off-specification stocks to the customer.
Lost production / margin:
Faster cleaning process and shorter tank down-time reduces lost production caused by reduced tank capacity.
Internal personnel costs:
Fewer operations and maintenance personnel required in connection with cleaning process. As staff don't need to enter the tank, there is no need for fire and man-way watches.
Waste handling / disposal:
Separation of sludge into oil, water and solids minimizes waste for disposal.
Damage to tank interior and internals:
Tank cleaning machines clean effectively with no adverse effects on tank coating, steam coils and other structures.
Legislation and regulations:
Systems are designed to comply with present and future environmental, safety and health regulations. Closed-loop systems minimize hydrocarbon emissions to atmosphere.
Personnel liability:
Staff don't need to enter tank during cleaning. Continuous monitoring of tank atmosphere and automatic shutdown features. Gas detection at process with alarm and shutdown features.

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