Extraction of heavy oils from submerged tanks - employing heated heavy oil as heat transfer medium

摘要

Recovery of heavy hydrocarbon oils from submerged tanks, vessels etc. is suitable for oils which need to be heated to reduce their viscosity to a level at which they can be pumped. Hot heavy oil is used for the heating medium, being circulated for several hours between a steam heat exchanger on the recovery vessel and the submerged tank. A remote hydraulically controlled extrusion to the hot oil delivery pipe enables the submerged pump and connecting pipes to be fully warmed through before lowering the extension into the oil mass to be recovered. Used for the recovery of heavy fuel oil from submerged tanks, wrecked vessels etc. the process enables oils to be recovered without contamination by steam and condensate.