Industrial tank cleaning prior to dismantling
In Canada, Ortec Environnement Services carried out operations on an industrial site that had been disused for several years. This large-scale project served as a springboard for the newly created Port-Cartier branch.
For six months, Ortec Environnement Services has been active in Quebec on a former depot of the Société Ferroviaire et Portuaire de Pointe-Noire (SFP), a transshipment and supply zone for materials between the port and a mine located near Fairmont. In accordance with provincial regulations, the site, abandoned for nearly a decade, had to be secured to avoid any risk of environmental contamination.
Optimal safety conditions
The Ortec Environnement Services teams performed the cleaning of two tanks, pumping stations, and petroleum product distribution networks. “Entry into the tanks was made possible by cold-cutting the walls. The work was carried out in groups of six, in strict compliance with safety standards,” explained Bernard St-Charles, Technical Director at Ortec Environnement Services.
The residues from the tanks were heated and filtered to facilitate extraction and transfer. A large portion was recovered for reuse, while the remainder sent to a specialized treatment center.
This project reinforced Ortec Environnement Services’ proven expertise in hydrocarbon tank cleaning, an area where the company is regularly involved at oil facilities and refineries. It was a milestone for the new Port-Cartier entity, established in 2023. “Our knowledge of waste and recovery processes allowed us to stand out from the competition by providing an effective solution with minimal environmental impact,” emphasized Mélanie Blouin, Major Account Manager at Ortec Environnement Services Canada.
Key Figures
40
meter-diameter tanks
1400
tons of extracted residual products
800 000
liters of fuel oil transferred for recovery