The Challenge

DOMINION carried out the first hydrocarbon sludge recovery and valorization intervention in Chile, at the ENAP Concón refinery. The project involved cleaning two tanks using our DOMINION Tank Cleaning (DTC) system, a technology that enables safe and sustainable operations without requiring personnel to enter the tanks. This method significantly reduces waste generation and execution times, thereby improving overall operational efficiency.

The tanks contained a substantial residue of hydrocarbon sludge. Using conventional methods, cleaning would have required prolonged shutdowns—since the tanks must remain out of service until cleaning is complete—and would have generated large amounts of waste while exposing personnel to risk.

ENAP needed a solution that drastically shortened timelines, eliminated the need for human entry, and minimized environmental impact without compromising asset integrity.

DOMINION's plus

Thanks to the intervention of the DOMINION Tank Cleaning (DTC) system, it was possible to clean the tanks safely and fully automatically, eliminating the need for personnel to enter confined spaces and preventing emissions into the atmosphere.

Additionally, the system enabled the recovery of hydrocarbons during the process, significantly reducing the volume of final waste and optimizing its disposal, thereby reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.

These advantages allowed DOMINION not only to ensure personnel safety and asset integrity but also to shorten downtime and improve operational efficiency. Moreover, the process generated significant savings for the refinery through the valorization of sludge and its reintegration into the production process.

Results

DOMINION’s intervention made it possible to clean both tanks in just 60 days, compared to the 3–6 months that each would have required using traditional methods. The entire process was completed without entering confined spaces, ensuring maximum personnel safety.

The recovery of hydrocarbons during cleaning significantly reduced the volume of final waste and the associated disposal costs. Moreover, all recovered hydrocarbons were reintegrated into the refinery’s production chain.

This project marked a milestone by implementing automatic tank cleaning for the first time in a Chilean refinery, ensuring a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable process.