Location: Tüpraş Refinery, Kocaeli, Türkiye, 2026
Simple, powerful, and immediately demonstrate the result.
When a 135,730 m³ crude oil storage tank at the Tüpraş refinery accumulated more than 13,000 m³ of high-paraffin sludge, an efficient desludging solution was required to restore tank capacity and prepare the tank for maintenance.
Using the BLABO automated tank cleaning system, KSI PetroGasServices carried out a large-scale sludge recovery project focused on maximizing hydrocarbon recovery while minimizing residual waste.
Tackling a challenging sludge build up
Initial inspections revealed a sludge layer reaching up to 1.9 meters near the tank shell. The sludge consisted of a highly viscous paraffin-rich mixture containing water and sediment, presenting a significant recovery challenge.
To address the conditions, the team implemented a phased desludging strategy using controlled cutter stock recirculation and continuous sludge liquefaction. As the sludge volume decreased, batch sizes were gradually optimized to maintain efficient recovery throughout the project.
Maximizing recovery with the BLABO system
Over the course of the project, the BLABO system successfully reduced the sludge inventory from more than 13,000 m³ to a minimal residual volume. A final skimming phase recovered the remaining hydrocarbons before the operation moved into the water washing stage. Although a generator failure interrupted the final hot-water wash, the desludging operation had already achieved its primary objective
Outstanding results
The project demonstrated the effectiveness of automated tank cleaning on large crude oil storage tanks:
– Tank capacity: 135,730 m³
– Initial sludge volume: More than 13,000 m³
– Maximum sludge depth: 1.9 m
– Automated BLABO desludging completed over a 64-day campaign
– More than 99.9% of bulk sludge removed
– Final residue estimated at only 8-10 m³
A proven solution for large scale tank cleaning
This project highlights how the BLABO system can efficiently recover hydrocarbons and remove even highly viscous, paraffin-rich sludge from large crude oil tanks. By combining automated cleaning technology with a structured recovery strategy, the project achieved exceptional cleaning results while minimizing residual waste and manual intervention.
The result: maximum recovery, minimal residue, and a cleaner tank ready for the next phase of operation