UNIT CLEARING SERVICES

 

USA DeBusk is committed to being the best and most complete turnaround (TAR) service provider in the industry. Unit Clearing is a specialty service that is a critical component of a successful TAR.

 

USA DeBusk Provides The Right Stuff

USA DeBusk provides “the right stuff” for every TAR:

  • The Right Personnel: Experience Matters.  USA DeBusk offers an excellent team of experienced engineers and refinery and chemical plant operations supervisors with 10+ years in a plant or refinery at a supervisor level, as well as chemical cleaning supervisors with 10+ years of experience.
  • The Right Plan. Project managers and engineers with decades of experience prepare detailed plans that won’t overlook the smallest of details.
  • The Right Purpose-Built Equipment. A complete package of equipment designed for whole-unit cleaning at TAR time includes all of the necessary decon header equipment, thousands of feet of flanged piping in a variety of sizes, thousands of feet of SS flanged hoses in many sizes, a huge inventory of exchangers in a variety of sizes, knockout drums, mix tanks, reverse flow manifolds and much more.
  • The Right Chemistry. Safe, effective, well-tested products that deliver proven results are critical to meeting client expectations. Products are designed to remove H2S, LEL, benzene and pyrophoric concerns.
  • The Right Package of Services. USA DeBusk offers a complete line of services to complement every TAR, including a very experienced team of mechanical personnel that can handle any size TAR from start to finish, pull all of the bundles with the largest and best bundle pulling equipment in the USA, install the entire drain header system, and do it on time or ahead of schedule.
  • The Right Price. USA DeBusk provides competitive pricing, as well as excellent service, making USA DeBusk the THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR NEXT TAR.
 

The Right Plan

USA DeBusk knows the importance of a good plan that pays close attention to the smallest details. No TAR can be successful without a well-thought-out plan that includes all of the lessons learned from prior TARs, detailed discussions between USA DeBusk subject matter experts, and the plant’s best operations personnel, and a thorough understanding of all safety and environmental concerns with a detailed plan to abate those concerns. The USA DeBusk team includes operations experts, experienced operations personnel, and a project management team that is second to none.

Steps to take to ensure proper planning:

  1. USA DeBusk sends the right team to the plant/refinery to meet with the appropriate personnel. Experience absolutely matters.
  2. Thorough, candid discussions that involve a complete review of lessons learned from previous TAR’s provide excellent insight into what challenges must be addressed so they can be avoided. USA DeBusk provides experienced operations supervisors to participate in these discussions so that everyone speaks the same language when it comes to operational details.  A clear understanding of all of the potential challenges, safety and environmental concerns and operational issues is critical.
  3. The USA DeBusk team of experts will create excellent P&ID drawings as well as SFD drawings to highlight the entire system to be cleaned and flow paths.
  4. Once the drawings are reviewed and approved by the client, the USA DeBusk team will prepare detailed procedures in the client’s format that addresses every detail necessary to successfully guide the TAR to a safe, successful completion.
  5. The USA DeBusk team will then train the plant operation’s personnel on the tasks and assignment of responsibilities for executing those tasks. It is very important that the plant operation’s personnel buy into the plan and have a thorough understanding of each person’s role in making it successful.
  6. The USA DeBusk team will arrive to assist with the management of the set up so that all equipment is placed per the drawings and plot plan prepared by USA DeBusk.
  7. The USA DeBusk execution team will arrive to follow the plan and the procedures that will meet or exceed the client’s expectations.
 

The Right Chemistry

USA DeBusk offers proven products formulated for optimal results. These state-of-the-art, proprietary chemistries are unavailable anywhere else in the industry. Our products cost-effectively remove H2S, LEL, benzene, hydrocarbons, and pyrophoric concerns from a long list of process equipment at refineries and petrochemical plants.

We offer proprietary products designed for neutral pH cleaning of HF Alkylation units and other process equipment with polymers, scales, or other foulants that negatively affect production. These options provide a long list of benefits over mineral acids or other less-effective commodity methods. Our treatment methods and designs always provide significant safety protection and cost reduction.

  • Kix Solv® Decontamination Cleaning Chemical

    Patented KixSolv® is a concentrated chemical cleaner designed to remove hydrocarbon-based contaminants and noxious gases from process equipment internals. It is a proprietary blend of hydrocarbon solvents and specialty additives.

    The primary application for KixSolv® is in a steam vapor phase process to clean equipment and allow opening to the atmosphere. When equipment is shut down and entry is needed, this product is injected to remove hydrocarbon liquids and solids from equipment and to clear LEL, H2S, benzene and other noxious gases. KixSolv® is also applied to remove hydrocarbon foulants, improving heat transfer in exchangers and decreasing equipment pressure drop.

    Advantages:

    • Fast reduction of LEL, H2S, benzene and other noxious gases
    • Excellent internal surface cleaning of organic material
    • Better cleaning at lower cost than terpene-based products
    • Reduced shutdown timeline
    • Worry-free effluent processing
    • Superb metallurgical compatibility

    Key Features:

    • Strong solvency for hydrocarbon contaminants, including heavy hydrocarbons and tars
    • Excellent penetration and removal of hydrocarbon foulants
    • Significantly more powerful than terpene-based products
    • Short chemical injection time when used with a steam vapor phase process
    • Cleaning effluent can easily be reprocessed with no product quality issues

     

  • KixClear® Reactor Clearing Chemical

    KixClear® improves reactor clearing processes by eliminating hydrocarbon-based contaminants and noxious gases. This application, which is integrated into the shutdown procedure, results in faster shutdown timelines from oil-out until blinding and provides more certainty with planning schedules. The product does not contain any substances such as water or metals that are potentially harmful to catalysts.

    KixClear® application improves the timeline, certainty, and quality of clearing reactors during shutdowns. During the reactor shutdown procedure, KixClear® is injected to remove hydrocarbon contaminants and clear LEL, H2S, benzene, and other noxious gases. KixClear® is also applied to remove hydrocarbon foulants to decrease reactor bed pressure drop and in other types of packed bed vessels where steam/water is not preferred.

    Advantages:

    • Faster reactor shutdown timeline
    • Decreased nitrogen usage and flaring
    • Increased scheduling certainty
    • Cleaner high-pressure equipment
    • No harmful effects on catalyst
    • Elimination of hot hydrogen stripping

    Key Features:

    • Clears LEL, H2S, and other contaminants from reactor catalysts and the entire high pressure system
    • Excellent at penetrating and removing hydrocarbon foulants
    • Short chemical injection time
    • Non-toxic and biodegradable
    • Exceptional metallurgy and catalyst compatibility
    • Cleaning effluent easily reprocessed with no product quality issues

     

  • Remedi® Vapor Pyrophoric Treatment Cleaning Chemical

    Remedi® is used to treat pyrophoric material in process equipment. It is a proprietary blend of nonhazardous and biodegradable ingredients designed to eliminate all pyrophorics within a steam environment. This vapor phase application approach decreases treatment timelines and effluent volumes.

    The primary application for Remedi® is in a steam carrier immediately after cleaning for LEL, H2S, and benzene is completed. Most frequently this is utilized for drums, exchangers, demister pads, and piping, where liquid treatment would be impractical. After hydrocarbons are removed, the chemical treats equipment for pyrophorics before opening to the atmosphere. This product can also be applied with other gas carriers such as nitrogen or in liquid form.

    Advantages:

    • Application during steaming decreases timeline and effluent volumes
    • Large drums, overhead systems, and demister pads can be treated without water filling
    • Positive verification of completion
    • Easy effluent processing
    • Excellent metallurgical compatibility

    Key Features:

    • Can be applied with steam
    • Compatible with hydrocarbon material
    • Non-reversible treatment of iron sulfide and other pyrophoric materials in the equipment
    • Cleaning effluent can easily be processed with no product quality issues
    • Simple test for completion

     

  • PlastEx Polymer (PEP) Removal

    Fast-acting, Effective
    The unique chemistry dissolves polymer deposits uniformly, without dislodging large pieces that can plug flow paths downstream. PlastEx has a high boiling point and low vapor pressure to react quickly and thoroughly with polymer deposits.

    Non-toxic
    PlastEx is extraordinarily safe and is classified by OSHA as non-hazardous and non-carcinogenic. PlastEx is also FDA compliant for food packaging. It is not regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for air, land, or water, and no special personal protective equipment is required at ambient conditions. As a result, it is a safer option for personnel, as well as simpler and cheaper to transport, prepare, and apply.

    Worry-free Disposal
    Material from the PEP process is recovered and, depending on customer objectives, typically separated into liquid chemical and solid polymer components. Recovered chemical is available for reuse. Any liquid effluent from the process is minimal, requires no special handling and is considered non-hazardous material suitable for disposal in plant wastewater treatment systems. Solid polymer recovered from the process is ready for recycling or for disposal as nonhazardous waste.

    Environmentally Responsible
    PlastEx is readily biodegradable and non-toxic to aquatic organisms. Under normal conditions, no special breathing protection is required for those working with or near a PEP project. The PEP process generates minimal odors, benefitting both plant personnel and the surrounding community.

    Higher Flash Point
    PlastEx is safer to use, with a flash point of 210 F (99 C). It is classified as a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Class IIIB combustible liquid with a hazard rating of 1 for flammability.

 

USA DeBusk chemistries… safe, environmentally friendly solutions that clean and clear units with minimal time and expense.

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