Methods & Equipment

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CLEANING TECHNOLOGIES

Methods

PetroDecon applies engineered chemical cleaning and decontamination methods selected to match equipment configuration, metallurgy, deposit composition, safety requirements, and project objectives. Method selection is guided by sampling, operating history, metallurgy, and operational constraints to ensure effective deposit removal while controlling corrosion, vapor risk, and waste generation.

Reactive Chemical Cleaning

Reactive chemical cleaning uses inhibited mineral acids, organic acids, chelants, detergents, or specialty formulations to dissolve, loosen, suspend, or chemically convert deposits so they can be removed from the system. Chemistry selection is aligned with metallurgy and deposit type to control corrosion and achieve predictable results.

Typical applications include inorganic scale, corrosion products, and mixed deposits that require chemical conversion to soluble forms or mechanical mobilization.

Solvent & Detergent Cleaning

Solvent-based and detergent-based cleaning methods are used to remove hydrocarbons, polymerized materials, oils, greases, and organic binders that restrict access to underlying inorganic deposits. These methods are commonly applied as stand-alone treatments or as preparatory stages ahead of reactive chemical cleaning.

Chelant Cleaning

Chelant-based cleaning programs are applied where controlled pH operation, reduced corrosion risk, or single-stage cleaning and passivation are required. Chelants are selected based on deposit chemistry, metallurgy compatibility, and required operating conditions, allowing deposits to be held in solution and removed without aggressive mineral acids.

Alkaline Cleaning & Pretreatment

Alkaline cleaning methods are used for the removal of organic residues, polymeric materials, oils, and certain corrosion products. Alkaline stages may also be used as pretreatment steps to condition deposits or neutralize acidic residues prior to follow-on processes.

Passivation

Passivation methods are applied following chemical cleaning to protect freshly exposed metal surfaces and reduce post-cleaning corrosion. Treatments are selected based on metallurgy, prior chemistry, and operating conditions to form a stable protective oxide layer before return to service.

Application Techniques

Fill & Soak

Equipment is filled with a chemical solution and held static for a defined contact period. This method is typically applied to smaller systems or where deposits are highly soluble. Agitation and fouling removal occur primarily during draining and flushing.

Circulation

Chemical solutions are circulated through equipment using pumps to maintain defined temperature, concentration, and velocity. Circulation allows representative sampling, controlled chemistry replenishment, and improved removal of loose insoluble material.

Cascade

Cascade methods are applied primarily to towers and vertical equipment. Solutions are continuously pumped to the top of the equipment and allowed to flow downward across internal surfaces. This approach reduces total chemical volume while providing surface contact over large internal areas.

Online Cleaning

Online cleaning is performed by injecting controlled quantities of chemicals into operating systems. This method can reduce or eliminate the need for shutdowns, helping facilities maintain production while restoring system performance.

Foam Cleaning

Foam cleaning introduces inhibited chemical formulations in a foamed state using air or inert gas. Foam methods are used where equipment cannot support a full liquid fill or where reduced liquid inventory is required while maintaining effective surface contact.

Vapor Phase Cleaning

Vapor phase cleaning introduces formulated solvents or chemistries into steam or carrier vapor streams to contact areas inaccessible to liquids. This method is used to treat complex internals, neutralize residues, or support degassing and passivation objectives.

Equipment

PetroDecon maintains a fleet of dedicated, purpose-built equipment to support safe, flexible, and site-optimized execution of chemical cleaning and decontamination programs across a wide range of facility types.

Chemical Injection & Circulation Systems

  • Injection skids and metering systems
  • Skid-mounted centrifugal and positive displacement pumps
  • High-capacity circulation pumps for large volume systems
  • Temporary piping and hard-pipe manifolds

Containment & Recovery

  • Frac tanks and mobile containment units

  • Dedicated circulation tanks

  • Header systems for large-scale turnaround applications

  • Condensing systems for vapor recovery

Vapor Phase & Degassing Equipment

  • Portable vapor-phase injection skids
  • Condensers and recovery exchangers
  • Portable scrubbers
  • Activated carbon beds for vapor polishing

Thermal Support Equipment

  • Portable heat exchangers

  • Steam injection systems

  • Temperature control systems for chemistry activation

Analytical & Field Support

  • Mobile field laboratories
  • Gas chromatography testing units
  • Sampling equipment for liquids and vapor spaces
  • Real-time monitoring, data collection, and project documentation tools

Execution Support Assets

  • Hoses, hard-pipe, and specialty fittings
  • Isolation hardware for safe system segregation

  • Dedicated chemical handling and transfer equipment

Engineered Approach & Technology

Engineering & Integration

All methods and equipment are deployed through engineered work plans developed in coordination with client operations, engineering, safety, and environmental teams. Execution is integrated with sampling, verification, waste management, and post-cleaning protection to support predictable outcomes, reduced operational risk, and schedule reliability.