Fuel Tank Cleaning

Technical considerations for fuel tank cleaning

A tank of this type should be assessed by looking at the stored medium, the consistency of the residue, the condition of internal fittings and the route by which solids, sludge or washwater can be removed. Where the residue has compacted or contaminated adjacent pipework, the clean may need to be split into several stages so the asset can be recovered progressively without creating a blockage or secondary contamination issue.

Mantank plans that sequence around the actual condition of the asset rather than a generic tank-cleaning model. If entry is restricted, non-entry or staged access methods may be more appropriate. If the residue is dense or heavily contaminated, vacuum transfer and sludge reduction may need to take place before the final clean-down. The cleaning phase therefore supports the wider technical objective, whether that is inspection, process reinstatement, repair or controlled decommissioning.

Where the removed residues fall under hazardous controls, the waste route still has to be managed in line with GOV.UK hazardous waste guidance. That includes sludge, contaminated washwater and any associated absorbent or cleaning materials generated during the work.