The HCR™ Process
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After more than a decade of development, 2020 has seen the introduction of HCR™ (hydrocarbon recovery) technology to the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
HCR™ converts hazardous crude oil sludge into a saleable asset. Our process mitigates risks to both on-site personnel and the environment, while simultaneously recovering otherwise-lost revenue for owners and users of storage vessels, oil tankers and pipelines.
The HCR™ process uses a specially formulated surfactant blend, designed for recovery of saleable product from crude oil sludge.
Viscous with high-cling characteristics, HCR™ cleans and coats surfaces whilst treating large volumes of crude oil sludge economically, all while reducing environmental impact.
Tailored to reduce the viscosity of petroleum sludge, HCR™ dissolves emulsion deposits by suspending and dispersing paraffin that contributes to its formation.
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This process enables the recovery of up to 95 percent of the constituent hydrocarbon components, an outcome unmatched by any competing product on the market.
Features and Benefits
One gallon of HCR™ has been proven to treat hundreds of gallons of light or heavy sludge with zero negative downstream effects.
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HCR™ Technology
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Liabilities turned into assets – unwanted sludge is now a saleable crude oil product
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The HCR™ process requires minimal third party equipment and personnel
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Significant reduction in costly out-of-service time for cleaning, inspections, repairs and maintenance
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Treats sludge accumulation and protects against water corrosion and paraffin build-up
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No-man-entry reduces risks to on-site personnel by limiting exposure to hazardous confined spaces
Conventional Technology
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Loss of inventory - wasted revenue with no saleable asset
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Heavy expenditure on specialist equipment and additional manpower
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Assets out-of-service for extended time periods through labour-intensive cleaning
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Workforces repeatedly exposed to hazards from confined spaces and toxic environments
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Hazardous landfill waste disposal process worsens environmental impact
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Storage Tanks
HCR™ offers a unique solution to accumulated crude sludge in oil storage tanks. The process treats the accumulated sludge prior to the addition of crude oil. This means no hazardous substances need to be extracted after the process is complete and no personnel need enter the tank. The crude oil is then blended with the HCR™ mixture, yielding a saleable product at the end of the treatment process.
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Pipelines
The HCR™ process has been optimised for the treatment of sludge in oil pipelines. A calculated volume of HCR™ cleaner is deposited in front of a pig prior to launch. The pig administers the cleaner to sludge affected sections, followed by incremental additions of HCR™ cleaner as required. The process increases the internal diameter of the pipe, improving flow rate while avoiding out-of-service time.
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Crude Tankers
HCR™ delivers excellent results when deployed in crude oil tankers prior to departure. The process starts with the addition of a small quantity of the product to crude oil cargo in a shore battery for premixing. The HCR™ and crude mixture is then homogenised with the sludge in-transit, aided by the natural agitation of the waves. This instantly enables the extraction of sludge as a saleable product upon offloading.
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Results
Typical profile – A crude oil tank with significant sludge deposit:
Tank internal space, images post-treatment:
Mixer [left] and wall [right]: Walls, rivets and mixer shaft are notably clear of sludge. The HCR™ process performs essential maintenance by removing sludge that may otherwise cause corrosion damage to internal structures.
*Wider images of the tank, indicating clean walls and floating roof with minimal residual sludge apparent
