2 replies to this topic

[qasimali_13]

Hi All,

 

I am currently supervising a Decanting Facility at an Oil Refinery. Tank Lorries (filled with crude oil from oilfield) are decanted here at our facility. On our laboratory testing, normally, salt content of this crude oil ranges between 1 to 10 PTB. But there are some Tank Lorries that decant crude oil with high salt content (upto 42 PTB). We have contacted the oilfield but they replied that according to their testing, salt content of their crude oil is below 10 PTB. We are thinking that the drivers of these Tank Lorries are mixing some material in crude oil and withdraw the same amount of crude oil from it due to which the salt content are exceeding our limits. 

 

Therefore, I need to know that what could be mixed with crude oil so that its salt content increased to such a high value. To overcome this theft, I need to investigate it technically.

 

Thank you all.

[Chemitofreak]

@ Qasimali_13:

 

I have worked in a manufacturing facility and have came across many such instances wherein there is something fishy during the transportation of raw material/products.

 

E.g: The tanker driver use to remove 'X' amount of Acetone from the tanker and use to place same 'X' amount of water (in bottles) in the drivers cabin. When the tanker is weighed in the weigh bridge the mass remains same as dispatched. After the tanker was emptied in our facility he use to empty the water bottles in the sewer. Then he use to take the tanker for its empty weight. The mass of the shipment (Mass of Shipment = Filled Tanker - Empty Tanker) used to remain. This way he use to fool people.

 

Such cheating is generally seen in intermediate products like Acetone, Benzene etc.

 

Coming to your point. Do the following:

 

1. Ask for the laboratory test reports form the seller (oil field). You can also visit his site and take a check sample of the consignment to ensure that his quality is same as yours.

 

2. Spy on the tanker, this will ensure that there is no wrong doing while the tanker is in-transit. There are chances that the transporter might be replacing oil with sea water (my guess) this in turn is adding to the salt content.

 

Since, you have not provided any technical details I am adjudging the case solely on non-technical background.  

[P.K.Rao]

If Salt increases, water content should also increase. Check water content in the load port certificate, water content in the sealed load port which generally comes with sample.(if not ask the supplier to provide a sealed bottle of sample) and the water content of  consignment. If there is any difference, take up with the suppler and transporter.