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Cleaning and degassing of refinery equipment

The challenge

Product storage tanks and distillation equipment need to be cleaned at regular intervals. They are often contaminated with hazardous ingredients. These are mainly hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide, pyrophoric iron sulphide, mercaptans or other odour-causing materials. Particularly the problematic ingredients have to be removed before inspection and maintenance. Traditional cleaning procedures can require several weeks of downtime.

fig. 1: Fouled heat-exchanger

fig. 1: Fouled heat-exchanger

Often, hazardous gases and iron sulphide scales are observed in distillation columns, vessels, storage tanks and sour gas pipelines. These gases and deposits are a significant hazard when equipment and tanks are opened for cleaning, inspection and maintenance.


Iron sulphide deposits can ignite spontaneously when they are dried and exposed to air. The resulting fires can damage refinery equipment and jeopardize lives.


Safety, Health and Environmental protection (SHE) are of high importance for refineries. In this respect, effective cleaning and degassing methods are absolutely essential to meet the operational reliability and the legal requirements.

The solution

Kurita offers a field-proven technology for the chemical cleaning and degassing. The appropriate programs are a cost efficient and a safe alternative to mechanical cleaning procedures.


Entering a storage tank, vessel or distillation column during cleaning and degassing is no longer necessary. Oil, dirt and sludge are removed from all wetted metal surfaces. Pyrophoric iron species, hydrogen sulphide, benzene vapours and volatile hydrocarbons are eliminated.


The Kurita degassing process provides decontamination in the shortest time possible. Hazardous or toxic gases can be reduced to zero.

Cleaned heat-exchanger

fig. 2: Cleaned heat-exchanger

Your benefits at a glance

  • field-proven technologies
  • strict observance of SHE standards
    (Safety, Health, Environmental protection)
  • reduced downtime of the plant
  • reduced cleaning and maintenance costs
  • improved profitability and reliability