Foam Filling and Decommissioning Project

A major commercial M&E contractor needed an effective technical solution for 2 underground tanks requiring environmentally responsible decommissioning.

They didn’t know the challenges, potential costs or practical pros or cons of various approaches. And the tanks were 53,000L and 13,000 litres respectively and contained approximately 3,000 litres of residual diesel oil and sludge.

Once invited onto the project, to analyse and propose alternatives, we began with a site survey to establish what the best options were and created a detailed Risk Assessment and Method Statement that would be needed once appointed to undertake the project.

The site survey and RAMS analysis led to our proposing two options. A concrete filling solution and a foam filling alternative. So we explained the pros and cons of each approach to the contractor. For example, foam can be removed and a concrete filling cannot. The client finally chose the foam filling alternative based on convenience, potential reversibility and cost.

As is often the case with legacy steel tanks, the access points were so corroded they required specialist equipment to gain access to the internals and once the water was drained we needed to remove all the rusty, corroded bolts to open the hatch. We drained the tank as much as possible and then used vacuum equipment to extract the final amount of diesel and sludge to prepare the tank for final foam filling. A process that takes approximately 24 hours to set.

The project required our OFTEC registered engineers to prepare themselves with 5 point PPE and additional breathing equipment for works undertaken inside the tank.

On projects of this scale it is vital to pay close attention to the protocols and highest standards of health and safety for both our engineers and the other contractors working on the site at the same time. Additionally, for such large projects every care must be taken to have no negative impact on the local environment. This requires detailed planning and close coordination with the other contractors.

The client was very satisfied with the final result and the smooth and professional way we executed the project.

Our OTFEC registered engineers celebrated another successful commercial fuel oil tank project delivered to everybody’s satisfaction.

When it comes to fuel oil tank decommissioning projects, Britteco is the best choice. With our long experience in the industry, we have the knowledge and expertise to safely and efficiently remove and dispose of any fuel oil tanks, no matter their size or location. 

Additionally, Britteco is environmentally conscious and takes great care to ensure that all tanks are cleaned and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner, protecting both the property and the surrounding environment. With this  combination of experience and environmentally conscious practices, Britteco is the clear choice for anyone in need of fuel oil tank decommissioning services.