Locus Bio-Energy Solutions® launches AssurClean™, a line of biosurfactant-based cleaners to:
- Reduce cleaning times by 50% in tanks, rail cars, pipelines, barges and more
- Provide better safety and performance in and mobilizing oily sludge, paraffin, friction reducers and other build up from surfaces
- Maximize cleaning profitability through lowers costs and recovery of more sellable oil
HOUSTON (October 6, 2022) To help midstream oil & gas companies reduce sludge cleaning time and turn that residue into revenue, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions® is releasing AssurClean™, a line of high-performing, biosurfactant-based products. These treatments cut cleaning time for sludge, mud, friction reducers and other substances by 50%. AssurClean features biodegradable biosurfactants that maximize cleaning profitability through lower costs and by breaking down sludge into sellable oil.
Why a New Approach Is Needed for Oily Sludge and Friction Reducer Removal
Daily almost 100 million barrels of oil flow into pipelines, tankers, trucks and rail cars, leaving viscous layers of sludge—heavy hydrocarbon-based substances such as asphaltenes, paraffin and other organic deposits.
Cleaning the massive amounts of waste from these substances has four main challenges:
- Many standard midstream cleaning solvents contain xylene and / or heavy aromatic naphtha, which can be toxic to workers exposed in the confined spaces.
- The methods often involve costly specialized equipment and manual cleaning efforts, resulting in higher maintenance costs.
- The solvents also work slowly, requiring shutdowns of days or weeks; during which the vessels are out of service and unprofitable.
- Removed sludge must be disposed of at further expense, often due to contamination with cleaning solvents.
“The midstream sector has long needed a faster, more effective and safer cleaning solution,” said Jonathan Rogers, CEO at Locus Bio-Energy Solutions. “AssurClean not only solves each of those issues, but the products also turn routine cleaning procedures into a profit opportunity.”
Biosurfactants Cut Cleaning Time by 50% Without Specialized Equipment
AssurClean’s cleaning success is due to the unique properties of the biosurfactants which disperse and enhance flowability of oily wax, asphaltenes, friction reducers and solids. The biosurfactants also have higher potency, meaning smaller, low-cost doses are much more effective than existing solvents and treatments.
As a result, AssurClean requires no special equipment or manual cleaning, and turns sludge into a sellable product—all in a fraction of the time. Each of these features minimizes cost and boosts cleaning profitability. “AssurClean is an extension of our proven, cutting-edge biosurfactant technology,” Locus Bio-Energy Solutions’ director of technology, Dr. Megan Pearl, said. “Its industry-leading cost effectiveness combined with its environmental friendliness in both production and application will revolutionize midstream cleaning, much as its predecessors are doing in upstream applications.”
Proven Reductions in Cleaning Time and Down Time
AssurClean has already seen rapid success in field applications. In one case, the biosurfactant-based cleaning product removed four feet of sludge from a 40,000-barrel storage tank without requiring hydrovac trucks. It significantly reduced downtime and recovered almost 2,000 barrels of sellable oil.
AssurClean is based on the environmentally friendly dispersion and stimulation functionalities of the recent successful launch of the company’s AVERT™ line of biosurfactant dispersants and solvents. AssurClean can be used as a standalone treatment or added in small amounts to acid and steam, exponentially boosting these treatments’ power and reducing their dosage. The midstream cleaners are available for use immediately. To learn more, visit locusfs.com/.