Fuel Storage System Decommission
Like all plant equipment, a fuel storage installation will have an operational life span. Once your installation has reached the end of its life, it is vital that it is decommissioned safely. If the proper precautions are not followed or if the installation is not decommissioned in a timely manner, the risk of injury and environmental damage will increase.
Experience You Can Trust
We have the knowledge and experience to overcome any operational challenges that you may face when attempting to decommission your fuel storage installation. Whether your tank is in a hard to reach location, has a large amount of pipework connected to it or if the tank is large itself, you can be sure that EOSS will provide an excellent service to keep your site running and cause minimal disruption to your day..
What Does A Tank Decommission Project Include?
There are a number of steps which we undertake to ensure the decommission project is completed in a safe and timely manner. By following this process, we keep you informed each step of the way all whilst causing minimal disruption to your day to day operations.
Specific industries and different sizes and types of tank have specific guidance on how to decommission them. We structure every decommission project to follow the relevant legislation and best practise guidance that applies to the intallation including APEA – Blue Book and OFTEC TECHNICAL BOOK 3 – Decommissioning Oil Storage Tanks.
Step 1: Site Visit & Project Planning
We will conduct a site visit to assess the condition, specification and contents of the redundant tanks and determine if there are any site restrictions which would impact on the safe and timely removal of the tanks. A thorough assessment is undertaken to prevent any unnecessary delays. Before commencing any work, the client will be issued with a thorough Risk Assessment & Method Statement to ensure they are satisfied the project has been planned appropriately.
Step 2: Sampling Risidual Liquids
In order to ensure health and safety is prioritised during the project and that the disposal method of any residual liquids is legally compliant and the most cost effective option, a sample of the contents will usually be taken and sent to laboratory for analysis. In some cases, residual oils will hold commercial value which can be offset against the cost of the project.
Step 3: Isolation & Waste Removal
All residual liquids will be drained or pumped out and disposed of correctly. Any residues which cannot be drained will be removed mechanically by a vacuum tanker or, where necessary, manually by confined space entry. Confined Space Entry teams will be equipped with a gas detector to warn them of any dangers
Step 4: Decontamination Of Tanks
The tanks will be thoroughly cleaned to remove all hazardous residues. For steel tanks this will allow them to be recycled as scrap metal which will again have a commercial value to the client. Cleaning can be undertaken using water, a suitable degreaser or using steam. Cleaning can be undertaken in situ, or at a licenced site after removal.
Underground tanks will be injected with resin generated foam which wil allow for removal at a later date.
Step 5: Purging
If a tank is to be entered or hot works to be conducted, the tank will require purging (the removal of flammable gases or vapours) or made inert before these works can commence.
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Step 6: Tank Removal & Disposal
Once safe to do so the tanks will be removed via a crane/Hiab and transported under our upper tier hazardous waste licence to a licenced waste facility for disposal. If access issues make it unsafe or uneconomical to remove the tank intact the tank can be dismantled in situ using hot and cold cutting techniques. Ideally the tank will be removed intact and dismantled at a more practical location.
Step 7: Ancillary Equipment
This can include removal/capping of pipework and decontamination of plinths and bunds often to a level where they can be disposed of as inert waste.
Step 8: Remediation
Where tanks have potentially caused contamination to the surrounding land, we can undertake an investigation to establish any contamination and can undertake remediation works to remove any contamination which is discovered.