Crude oil washing system

Crude Oil WashingCrude Oil Washing
SystemSystem
brought to you bybrought to you by
COOLRICH ENGINEERING (M) SDN BHDCOOLRICH ENGINEERING (M) SDN BHD
www.coolrich.comwww.coolrich.com

Crude OilCrude Oil
WashingWashing
SystemSystem
Crude oil washingCrude oil washing (COW) is rinsing the(COW) is rinsing the
residue from the storage tanks of an oil tankerresidue from the storage tanks of an oil tanker
using the crude oil cargo itself, after the cargousing the crude oil cargo itself, after the cargo
storage tanks have been cleared. Crude oil isstorage tanks have been cleared. Crude oil is
pumped back and preheated in the slop tanks,pumped back and preheated in the slop tanks,
then sprayed back through high tension nozzlesthen sprayed back through high tension nozzles
in the freight storage tanks onto the walls of thein the freight storage tanks onto the walls of the
tank.tank.

Crude OilCrude Oil
WashingWashing
SystemSystem
Due to the sticky nature of the crude oil, the oilDue to the sticky nature of the crude oil, the oil
hold on to the storage tank wall surfaces, andhold on to the storage tank wall surfaces, and
such oil adds to the cargo 'Remaining on board'such oil adds to the cargo 'Remaining on board'
(the ROB). By COW the containers, the amount(the ROB). By COW the containers, the amount
of ROB is substantially reduced. With theof ROB is substantially reduced. With the
existing high expense of oil, the financialexisting high expense of oil, the financial
savings are substantial, both for the Charterersavings are substantial, both for the Charterer
as well as the Ship owner.as well as the Ship owner.

Crude OilCrude Oil
WashingWashing
SystemSystem
If the cargo ROB is regarded as 'liquid andIf the cargo ROB is regarded as 'liquid and
pumpable' then the charterers could assert frompumpable' then the charterers could assert from
the owner for any cargo loss. It replaced the lotsthe owner for any cargo loss. It replaced the lots
on the top and seawater washing systems, bothon the top and seawater washing systems, both
of which involved led releasing oil-contaminatedof which involved led releasing oil-contaminated
water right into the sea.water right into the sea.

Crude OilCrude Oil
Washing SystemWashing System
HistoryHistory

HistoryHistory
Even with load on top there is still some oil inEven with load on top there is still some oil in
the released water from the slop tank.the released water from the slop tank.
Beginning in the 1970s, efficient tools usingBeginning in the 1970s, efficient tools using
crude oil itself for washing started to change thecrude oil itself for washing started to change the
water-based cleaning, resulting in the existingwater-based cleaning, resulting in the existing
technique of crude oil cleaning. This minimizestechnique of crude oil cleaning. This minimizes
the remaining deliberate discharge of oil-the remaining deliberate discharge of oil-
contaminated water as well as raises thecontaminated water as well as raises the
amount of cargo discharged, supplying anamount of cargo discharged, supplying an
additional benefit to the cargo proprietor.additional benefit to the cargo proprietor.

HistoryHistory
Modern vessels likewise use segregatedModern vessels likewise use segregated
ballast storage tanks and theseballast storage tanks and these
eliminate the issue of discharge of oilyeliminate the issue of discharge of oily
ballast water.ballast water.

HistoryHistory
Crude oil cleaning (COW) is a system where oilCrude oil cleaning (COW) is a system where oil
tanks on a tanker are cleared out betweentanks on a tanker are cleared out between
voyages not with water but with crude oil - thevoyages not with water but with crude oil - the
cargo itself. The solvent action of the crude oilcargo itself. The solvent action of the crude oil
makes the cleansing process far more effectivemakes the cleansing process far more effective
than when water is made use of. (There isthan when water is made use of. (There is
normally a final water rinse but the amount ofnormally a final water rinse but the amount of
water involved is reduced.) The system helpswater involved is reduced.) The system helps
avoid contamination of the seas fromavoid contamination of the seas from
operational measures.operational measures.

Crude OilCrude Oil
WashingWashing
SystemSystem
Disadvantages with Water WashingDisadvantages with Water Washing

Disadvantages withDisadvantages with
Water WashingWater Washing
As vessel sizes increased and also much moreAs vessel sizes increased and also much more
strict policies versus oil pollution were applied, itstrict policies versus oil pollution were applied, it
was understood that water washing alone is anwas understood that water washing alone is an
inferior container cleaning approach. WHOLEinferior container cleaning approach. WHOLE
LOT (Load On Top), no matter how full andLOT (Load On Top), no matter how full and
advanced it may be, can never eliminate theadvanced it may be, can never eliminate the
great disadvantages with water cleaninggreat disadvantages with water cleaning
compared to COW:compared to COW:

Disadvantages withDisadvantages with
Water WashingWater Washing
 Longer time for washing each storageLonger time for washing each storage
tank, leading to maximized bunkertank, leading to maximized bunker
expenses.expenses.
 Handling bigger quantities of water isHandling bigger quantities of water is
expensive and also induces maximizedexpensive and also induces maximized
pollution of the sea given that the water ispollution of the sea given that the water is
contaminated with oil, even when WHOLEcontaminated with oil, even when WHOLE
LOT procedures are utilized.LOT procedures are utilized.
 Increased rust as a result of substantialIncreased rust as a result of substantial
water washing.water washing.

Crude Oil Washing SystemCrude Oil Washing System
Development of Crude Oil WashingDevelopment of Crude Oil Washing

Development of CrudeDevelopment of Crude
Oil WashingOil Washing
The introduction of load on top was aThe introduction of load on top was a
good contribution to the fight versusgood contribution to the fight versus
aquatic pollution but it did not entirelyaquatic pollution but it did not entirely
get rid of contamination arising fromget rid of contamination arising from
storage tank cleaning operations.storage tank cleaning operations.
Although the quantity as well as rate ofAlthough the quantity as well as rate of
discharge is carefully managed, thedischarge is carefully managed, the
process still resulted in some pollutionprocess still resulted in some pollution
occurring.occurring.

In the late 1970s an improvement was
presented. Instead of using water, the
container cleaning machines relied on
crude oil - in other words, the cargo
itself. When shot into the debris
holding on to the storage tank walls,
the oil merely liquefied them, turning
them back right into usable oil that can
be pumped off with the rest of the
cargo.

There was no requirement for slop
tanks to be utilized since the process
left virtually no slops. The process
ended up being referred to as Crude Oil
Washing (COW).

Development of Crude Development of Crude
Crude Oil Washing indicated that the
mixture of oil and water, which
previously resulted in a lot functional
pollution, was practically ended. At the
same time, the proprietor is able to
release far more of this cargo than
previously, considering that much less
of it is left holding on to the storage
tank wall surfaces and bottoms.

Crude Oil Washing SystemCrude Oil Washing System
Advantages with COWAdvantages with COW

Since that equipment and treatments are
well adapted for COW, the following
advantages are obtained in contrast with
water washing:
Substantial reduction in air pollution
capacity since less oil continues to be
aboard after discharge and also much less
oil-contaminated water is handed
throughout the ballast passage

* Reductions in time and price of container
cleansing.
* Desludging manually prevented.
* Minimized container cleansing time at sea.
* Boosted out-turn of payload.
* Decreased dead freight as less oil-water
slops are kept on board.
* Less seawater discharged to refineries.
* Decreased storage tank rust caused by
water washing.

Crude oil washing system

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