oil refinery

Used in Upstream, Midstream and Downstream applications, dry ice blasting offers immeasurable benefits throughout the oil and gas production process. A non-destructive cleaning method, dry ice blasting for production equipment can be used to remove buildup, rust, and other contaminants with minimal secondary waste. Since this cleaning method is waterless and produces no secondary waste, it is possible to increase the frequency of equipment cleaning without any adverse side effects.

CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING SYSTEM

While many oil and gas production processes necessitate the inclusion of various chemicals to optimize the process of drilling and extracting crude oil, it is often necessary to implement cleaning procedures to remove secondary buildup generated regardless of the use of preventative chemicals. Sandblasting, pressure washing, or the use of potentially damaging chemical strippers can all be avoided with the use of dry ice for the cleaning of oilfield production equipment and storage tanks.

APPLICATIONS

Dry ice blasting, in addition to being a non-abrasive and non-destructive cleaning method, is also a faster and more cost-effective alternative to traditional cleaning methods. When downtime means reduced profits, maintaining effective procedures for all aspects of the production process is especially important. Useful for regular cleaning applications as well as specialized remediation and heavy-duty cleaning, dry ice blasting offers solutions for Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream applications. Dry ice blasting is also effective in removing  buildup and other contaminants from small spaces and maneuvering tight angles, thanks to the concentrated stream that makes it easy to access and clean hard to reach areas.

  • Oil, bitumen and corroding agent removal
  • Failed coating, corrosion, soluble salts and chloride removal 
  • Wellhead equipment
  • Pipes and Pipelines
  • Valves and gauges
  • Non-destructive testing

BENEFITS OF DRY ICE BLASTING OIL AND GAS EQUIPMENT

Dry ice blasting uses a pressurized stream of dry ice pellets to forcibly blow contaminants off of the surface they are attached to, leaving a clean and dry substrate. The benefits of using specially designed dry ice blasting equipment for oil and gas industries includes increasing production time by reducing time spent cleaning. 

  • Non-abrasive, non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-conductive 
  • Environmentally Friendly, with no run-off or other contaminants
  • Allows for items to be cleaned in place without the need for disassembly
  • Variable PSI blast stream to adapt to a variety of substrates
  • Immediate repainting or recoating after cleaning
  • No remaining blast media left behind
  • No moisture left behind 
  • No secondary waste generated
  • Extends equipment life

Without the use of abrasives to remove an array of contaminants, dry ice blasting allows you to clean many surfaces without profiling or altering the appearance and texture of the product, which is especially important for cooling fins which can be damaged by pressure as low as a water hose. Because the system does not introduce water or chemicals, dry ice blasting can also be used indoors and since it is non-conductive, electrical parts and other equipment do not have to be powered down nor do you have to wait for the operating temperature to lower before it is safe to clean.

IMPLEMENTING MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS

Reducing unplanned maintenance and breakdowns by providing regular equipment cleaning, maintenance programs are designed to keep your rig operating properly by removing heavy oil, carbon and paraffin buildup. In addition to using state of the art dry ice blasting equipment, 

General Abrasives Co. Inc also provides a variety of maintenance contracts for routine equipment cleaning. Reducing unplanned maintenance and breakdowns, our maintenance programs are designed to keep your equipment operating properly. With a cumulative 30 years of experience and knowledge, trust General Abrasives Co. for all your dry ice blasting needs.