Challenge
A leading refinery wanted to maintain the integrity of valuable assets and prevent deterioration due to corrosion whilst maintaining the operational readiness of equipment to facilitate quick turn-around once needed. The facility is located in a challenging environment: next to the ocean, experiencing temperatures up to 50C, high airborne chlorides, and up to 100% humidity. The large volume of assets meant warehouse inventory was not possible, existing outdoor racking was the only option.
Effective storage and preservation of assets and equipment are an essential part of the inventory management system. A robust well-planned inventory preservation system increases the lifecycle of the products while at the same time decreasing the costs of storage and preservation. Cortec’s solutions to inventory management come in many different shapes, sizes, and formats. Learn how to plan and execute an inventory protection plan to avoid losses from corrosion and different elements.
Application
The Cortec “Clean, Preserve & Protect” programme that is widely followed by Oil & Gas Operators in the Middle East was proposed; consisting of a Turn-key solution including the supply of all products and service applications. Preservation procedures were developed for long term preservation of equipment which is to be stored for commissioning or re-commissioning up to five years into the future.
Three stages of the process were identified and implemented by a skilled team of service applicators:
- Rust Removal Station – Immerse assets in an epoxy coated bath filled with VpCI®-422
- Power Wash Station – Power wash and neutralize surfaces of assets with 10% VpCI®-4143.
- Preservation Station – Application of rust preventatives, emitters and wrapping of equipment
Scope of project included:
- Flanges
- Elbows
- Valves
- Heat Exchanger tube bundles
- Trays
- Nuts & Bolts
Conclusion
The client was satisfied that the equipment was adequately, yet economically preserved in order to maintain its technical integrity for the period standing idle and to make resuming production as straightforward as possible. The rust removal process was cost-effective and simple to implement and the client is currently considering Cortec’s Clean, Preserve, Protect system for wide-scale implementation.
Distributor Texel Energy Services
Products
