Industrial cleaning services during Spirit Energy’s largest onshore decommissioning project
Project Description
In 2018, Augean North Sea Services (ANSS) provided industrial cleaning services to Barrow’s South Morecambe Terminal during Spirit Energy’s largest onshore decommissioning project to date.
Augean North Sea Services (ANSS) were tasked with safely removing any residual sludges and cleaning 3 condensate tanks so that they would be ready for disconnection and subsequent demolition.
One of the tanks in particular, T-1602, presented a challenge to the crew due to over 350m3 of thick, contaminated fluids and sludge that coated the walls and floor. This sludge contained hydrocarbons and malodorous heavy iron sulphides, the removal and disposal of which required a safe and cost-effective solution to be provided by ANSS.
Solution
Firstly, the tank was drained of condensate and methanol-water mixture and separated on-site, providing a significant cost reduction. The tank was then jetted from the entry hatch to minimise the amount of work that had to be carried out utilizing confined space entry by the ANSS team.
Due to the hazardous waste, the decision was made to clean the interior as an inert entry. This type of entry avoids the potential for an explosive mixture to be created whilst jetting the hydrocarbon-entrained sludge by generating a nitrogen-rich atmosphere inside the tank. An ANSS Emergency Response Team was on hand throughout, monitoring and communicating with the cleaning crew. To ensure effective removal of all wastes ANSS worked wearing full PPE and breathing apparatus for extended periods inside the tank.
As a result, all three tanks were completed safely and successfully by the ANSS crew.
Project Overview
Project Name: Onshore terminal decommissioning project
Volume: 350m3 of contaminated sludge
Project Scope: Specialist Industrial Services
Project Highlights:
Augean provided Spirit with a solution that delivered the workscope with safety and competency as main focusses.
By separating the waste streams on-site, they were also able to provide a cost reduction to their client.
This has been a safely executed, high risk activity that was key to the continuing progress of the decommissioning project, through good communication and excellent One Team Working. The lessons learnt also provide the business with invaluable information, to take forward into key activities over the forthcoming months.
