Method and device for liquefying thickened crude oil sediments

摘要

Liquefaction of sludgy to compact sediments (3) in vessels (1) in which crude oil (2) is stored and/or transported uses injecting a liquid above the sediment surface with nozzles (11) so that the sediment is at least partly liquified or dissolved in the liquid such that it can be removed from the vessel (1) together with the liquid. A substantially horizontally flowing liquid current which can be closed on itself is created above the sediment surface by directing the injection through all nozzles (11) such that the injection direction has a horizontal component which is oriented tangentially to a current line of the liquid current being created and is oriented in the flowing direction. The injected liquid is crude oil or a refinery product and differs from the lowest levels above the sediment in that it comprises a smaller share of heavy components.