Emulsion breaking
The bacterial cell acts as a wetting bridge. A droplet that touches its surface spreads across it and merges with the next, so the emulsion collapses into free oil.
Technical specifications
How the technology works.
Paraffinic tank sludge is largely crude oil. Living cultures release it inside a closed loop, while people stay outside the tank.
01 · The science
Microbial solubilisation of a tank bottom
Paraffinic tank sludge is largely crude oil, held in place by long-chain paraffin and stable water emulsion. Para-Bac™ microorganisms act on both. They break the carbon chains of the paraffin and they split the emulsion, so oil, water and solids separate under gravity.
Before treatment
A dense, unpumpable bottom layer (BS&W).
1 · Release
Biosurfactants free oil from sand and sediment.
2 · Breakout
Biosolvents cut viscosity. Oil coalesces and rises.
3 · Separation
Paraffin is metabolised. Three phases settle.
Three mechanisms of action
- 1
Solubilisation of paraffin by direct metabolic chain breaking.
- 2
Fatty acids produced in place act as paraffin solvents and dispersants.
- 3
Biosurfactants disperse paraffin and release oil from solids.
Measured effect on the oil
Lower pour point and cloud pointLower viscosityHigher API gravityMore volatile contentLower interfacial tension
Gas chromatography of treated tank samples shows the C15 to C25 fractions rising while C25 to C30+ fall: heavy wax becoming lighter, liquid oil.
Chemical treatment
Solvents, dispersants and surfactants move the deposit without changing it. Paraffin can solidify again once the chemical dissipates.
Microbial treatment
Living cultures shorten the paraffin chains themselves and keep producing solvents and surfactants while they are active.
02 · Work stages
Six stages, every project
Every project follows the same six stages. Nothing is dosed until the sludge has been sampled and tested, and nothing is declared finished until the agreed criteria have been measured.
Typical closed-loop circulation systemSchematic, not to scale
Survey and sampling
Micro-Bac cultures dosed directly into the tank · Multiple connections may be used on large tanks. Reference projects used 6 to 8 inch pumps.
12 h on · 12 h off
typical circulation and rest cycle
10 to 14 days
typical programme; about three weeks on large crude tanks
1 in to 1 ft
carrier oil over the sludge, or about 1 inch of carrier water
Oil as carrier
preferred when the goal is to recover oil from the sludge
03 · Product data
Product data and handling
Paraffin treatment culture ER-P200
Extract from the product safety data sheet- Use
- Paraffin in oil wells and surface equipment: flowlines, tanks, separators
- Composition
- Naturally occurring, non-pathogenic microorganisms in a saline nutrient liquid
- Hazards
- No hazardous components (TSCA 40 CFR 710.4b)
- Appearance
- Turbid tan-grey liquid, organic odour
- Flammability
- Not flammable or explosive
- Stability
- Stable; no hazardous by-products
- Protection
- Gloves and safety glasses advised
- pH
- 6 to 8
- Relative density
- 1.04
- Viscosity
- 0.982 cP at 70°F (21°C)
- Solubility
- Freely soluble in water
- Boiling point
- 100°C (212°F)
- Melting point
- 0°C (32°F)
- Storage
- Closed original container, 4°C to 32°C
Product families
Para-Bac™
Paraffin control, tank bottom cleaning and emulsion breaking. In field use since 1986.
Para-Bac/S™
Combined with M-1000H™ on oil and water emulsions when laboratory testing indicates it.
M-1000H™
Sludge reduction, waste minimisation, pits, lagoons and bioremediation, with Micro-Bac nutrients.
Corroso-Bac™
Scale and corrosion control by chelation, dispersion and surface filming.
Storage temperature window
Short term, one week or less: 4°C to 40°C
0°C: do not freezeGulf summer temperatures exceed the upper limit, so shaded, temperature-controlled storage and transport are essential.
Always
- Keep containers closed, clean and out of direct sunlight.
- Pump with a peristaltic pump first, a piston, diaphragm or screw pump second.
- Add the cultures first and any nutrients after them.
- Use any blend of products within 24 hours.
Never
- Freeze the product or dilute it before the point of application.
- Mix with diesel, kerosene, gasoline, other light refined products or oilfield chemicals.
- Expose to biocides. Biocide dosing is suspended during treatment.
- Use high-speed impeller pumps, whose shear and cavitation damage the cells.
Live, ready-to-use bacterial cultures: water-based and non-flammable. Keep away from direct sun, freezing, biocides and light petroleum products.
04 · Why biological cleaning
Advantages
Zero tank entry
No confined-space entry during treatment and oil recovery.
Saleable oil recovered
Oil locked in sludge returns as product.
Waste minimised
Far less sludge to haul and dispose of.
Lower VOCs and LEL
Vapour and explosive-limit readings fall during treatment.
Shorter outage
Treatment runs in weeks, so tanks return to service sooner.
Cost competitive
Competitive with standard methods.
Asset preserved
No door sheets cut in the tank shell.
Minimal labour
A small crew, circulation pumps and temporary piping.
Natural and safe
Water-based, non-flammable cultures.
Conventional cleaning compared with the Tam method
AspectConventional manual or mechanicalTam biological method
PersonnelConventional manual or mechanicalCrews work inside a confined spaceTam biological methodNo entry during treatment and recovery
Tank shellConventional manual or mechanicalDoor sheets may be cut, then repairedTam biological methodExisting nozzles and manways are used
SludgeConventional manual or mechanicalHauled and disposed of as waste; oil value lostTam biological methodConverted to recoverable oil; small solid residue
Tank atmosphereConventional manual or mechanicalVapours released as sludge is disturbedTam biological methodVOCs and LEL reduced during treatment
Time out of serviceConventional manual or mechanicalMonths for large tanksTam biological methodTypically a treatment cycle of weeks
Biological treatment turns tank cleaning from a cost and a risk into an opportunity to recover value: no personnel entry, sludge converted into saleable oil, less waste and a shorter outage.
05 · Micro-Bac project record
Field-proven results
94,000 bbl
of oil recovered from about 95,000 bbl of crude sludge
68%
of emulsified oil recovered, with under 1% water
65 days
instead of more than seven months for one tank programme
0% LEL
vapour reading on day 13 in a 220 ft naphtha tank
LEL during treatment
Vapour reading as % of LEL, naphtha tank, Canada
65%
30%
0%
Day 5Day 10Day 13
What remained after treatment
Residue as a share of the starting volume or level
Crude tank: 44,000 bbl sludge to 80 bbl solids
0.2% left
Waxy sludge: 750 bbl to 30 bbl residue
4% left
Condensate tank wax: 12 ft to 2 ft 6 in
21% left
Tank and contentsTreatmentDocumented outcome
Two floating-roof crude tanksabout 95,000 bbl paraffinic sludgePara-Bac™, 21 days, 8 h/day circulation94,000 bbl of oil recovered. No man entry.
Floating-roof crude tank, 250 ft dia.about 44,000 bbl, pour point 160°FPara-Bac™, three weeks circulationPour point lowered below 60°F. Only 80 bbl of solids left for disposal.
Two pipeline company crude tanksabout 22,000 bbl paraffinic sludgePara-Bac™, 21 days, 8 h/day circulationBS&W requirement met. Oil delivered to the refinery with no losses or penalties.
European refinery emulsion22,800 bbl: 60% oil, 32% water, 8% solidsPara-Bac/S™ with M-1000H™, 24 days10,645 bbl of net oil recovered, with under 1% water.
Naphtha tank, 220 ft dia., Canadairon oxide scale and residual productM-1000H™, 13 days, 10 h/dayLEL fell to 0%.
Condensate tank, Alberta96,000 bbl capacity, 12 ft of waxPara-Bac™ blend, three injectionsWax at 2 ft 6 in after 49 days; 19,000 bbl of bottoms recovered and sold.
Source: Micro-Bac International case studies. Results vary with tank and sludge, so every Tam project begins with sampling and a treatability test.
06 · A technology trusted worldwide
Global operators
For more than 26 years, the company behind this technology has served national and international oil companies across the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The operators below are among them.
Middle East
Kuwait Oil Company
North America
ExxonMobilChevronConocoPhillipsTexacoMarathon OilDevonPioneerConcho
Latin America
PDVSAPemexPetrobras
Europe and Russia
BP (British Petroleum)RepsolLukoil
Asia
PetronasChina’s national oil company
Company names are listed for reference only and remain the property of their owners. The list reflects past client relationships of the company that developed the technology and does not imply endorsement of Tam Oil & Gas Services.
How we work on your site
Client rules first
We work under your permit-to-work system and site HSE requirements.
Risk assessed in advance
A job safety analysis and method statement precede mobilisation.
Atmosphere monitored
LEL and vapour readings are logged throughout treatment.
Agreed treatment plan
Dosage, circulation and acceptance criteria are approved before work starts.
Measured reporting
Daily logs and a final report state volumes recovered and residue removed.
Responsible disposal
Remaining solids leave site only through approved, licensed routes.
The next step
Let us assess your tank.
Send us the tank data and a sludge sample. We will return a treatability result, a treatment plan and a clear estimate of what can be recovered.
- 1
Sample
We survey the tank and take representative sludge samples.
- 2
Test
The sludge is characterised and its treatability confirmed.
- 3
Propose
You receive a treatment plan, schedule and recovery estimate.
Technology partner: Micro-Bac International, Inc., Round Rock, Texas, USA. Para-Bac™, M-1000H™ and Corroso-Bac™ are trademarks of Micro-Bac International, Inc. Technical data and case results are drawn from Micro-Bac International documentation.