Project Highlight #3

Client: Confidential (Oil Refiner)
Location: Pennsylvania Project
Duration: 7 months
Description: An oil refinery in west central Pennsylvania produced an acidic sludge from processing lubricating oil. The process used sulfuric acid and clay to remove impurities from raw materials; and the resulting sludge consisted of asphaltic sludge, clay, and sulfuric acid. For more than forty years this acidic sludge was deposited in excavations from an old strip mine. This project required us to remediate the site by neutralizing the sludge, then consolidating the neutralized sludge within a disposal cell and covering it with a synthetic liner. Approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sludge were neutralized and placed into a disposal cell. Because the sludge exhibited physical characteristics ranging from tar to slag, we used a shearing injector for injecting reagents into the sludge. Since the sludge varied from seven to 60 feet deep, it was treated in five- to 10-foot layers. Sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide emissions are major concerns when treating acidic sludge. These emissions were mitigated by utilizing water, lime based reagents, and special mixing and injection techniques.

Project Highlight #4

Client: Confidential (Oil Producer)
Location: Illinois
Duration: 4 months
Description: Due to pending regulatory changes, an Illinois oil producer had an expedited schedule to close 4 ponds containing 250,000 cubic yards of petroleum sludge containing PNA’s and NORM. Slurried reagents were utilized to minimize the potential airborne impact of treating materials containing up to 600 pCi/gram of radium. Requisite air and personnel monitoring techniques were required. Breathing zone and air sampling was performed in areas where NORM residuals or contaminated soil was being disturbed. In addition, site boundary sampling was performed to determine background air concentrations prior to any excavation or consolidation activities being undertaken. The project was completed in the required 4 months utilizing 50,000 tons of solidification/stabilization reagent and specially designed reagent slurry mixing and pumping equipment.

Representative Client List – Oil and Gas Production and Refining

• ChevronTexaco
• Marathon
• Exxon
• Ashland
• BP Amoco
• ConocoPhillips
• Kerr McGee
• Motiva
• TOTAL
• Ashland Chemical
• TOTAL Pertochemical
• Shell Oil
• Valero