Oil

Oil

Oil Oil

The Problem: Crude oil tank bottoms contain settled inorganic particles which create a very tacky sludge at the bottom of storage tanks. The inorganics and crude are tightly bound by the balance of negative and positive charges in this non-polar

environment throughout the sludge.

This makes for a very unpumpable waste that is difficult to remove from the tank. In addition, conventional methods for removal, recovery, and disposal are expensive when all costs are taken into consideration.

Sand

Petromax Sludge Conditioning - Mechanism of Action

Tightly Bound Inorganics in Crude Waste

Clay Clay

Sand Catalyst

Oil

Sand

Petromax Technologies, LLC 501 South Isis AvenueInglewood, CA 90301Office: 310.202.6647 BRosengrant@gmail.com

Crude Coating on Sand, Clay, or Catalyst

Negatively charged (-) Petromax solution is

hydro blasted through the Application Wand

Spray tip

The Solution: The solution is to break the bond between the inorganic particle and the oil. Once the balance of “charges” have shifted to a negative state, the inorganic particles, the waste oil, and the Petromax solution instantly begin to repel from each other.

The Application: This diagram depicts our Petromax Conditioning Process hydro-blasting Petromax product into a crude sludge at 3000 psi. This physical application requires close proximity of a spray tip/wand to the inorganics (sand, clay, catalyst fines, etc.) in order to shear off the attached hydrocarbon and apply the negative charge to sand, clay, catalyst, etc.

The Effect: The diagram shows a partial cleaning or releasing of the hydrocarbon from the inorganic particulate. This application is designed to create a solids suspended slurry or a very pumpable sludge that will not stick to the interior of hoses or downstream containment once it is removed from a tank.

Negative Charge Applied with

Hydro Pressure

Clay

Clay

Sand

Sand

Catalyst

Sand

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-

-

Magnet

Magnet

Negative

Negative

(+)

(-)

(-)

(+)

The Physical Phenomena: The effect of this repelling/cleaning application would be like two magnets that are brought close to one another and are immediately repelled by like polarities.

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-

-

Crude Coating on Sand, Clay, or

Catalyst

Negatively Charged Petromax

throughout the Crude Sludge

The Conditioning Process: The water-based Petromax solution that has been hydro blasted throughout the crude sludge has created a pumpable slurry.

The uncharged portion of the heavy crude is essential to suspend the solids within the “conditioned sludge”.

This suspension / conditioning process enables the waste stream to be transferred easily from point A to point B.

Negatively charged portion

of the sand

Sand-

Catalyst

Clay

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-

-

--

-

--

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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The Result: The conditioning process carries an excess of negative charges throughout the sludge.

Although we cannot see this activity with the naked eye, the sludge molecules are actively repelling. At this point, the sludge will very quickly take the path of least resistance as it begins to flow.

Visibly we see a very homogeneous pumpable mix much like a thick dark colored milk shake.

FLOW

FLOW

FLOW

Pipeline, hose, or downstream containment walls

Excess Negative charges

throughout the sludge

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-

-

-

-

-

Excess negative charges

attaching to containment

Production Crude Tank Sludge Conditioning Process

Sludge Conditioning in Action

Notice the spray tip buried into the sludge during the conditioning process. Shearing the crude from the inorganics must occur as part of the mechanism of action. Because our process occurs rapidly, on average our Petromax Process adds only 15 - 20 % to the waste stream.

The hand held hydro blasting

wand is buried in the sludge as an important part of

the Petromax Process

Recovered oil

Petromax Solution

Cleaned Solids

Downstream Alternatives: Once the conditioned sludge has been removed from its containment, the suspended solids can be further cleaned for oil recovery and/or solids remediation.

If this is the desired result, the Petromax application is repeated to shear the balance of hydrocarbons from the inorganics leaving a visible separation.

Floating oil does not mix with our water-based product and the solids drop to the bottom.

Production Crude Sludge Sample Tested for Oil Recovery

Oil / Water / Solid separation