METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LIQUEFYING THICKENED CRUDE OIL SEDIMENTS

摘要

The object of the method and device according to the invention is to liquefy sludgy to compact sediments (3) from containers (1) in which crude oil (2) is stored and/or transported, a liquid being injected over the sediment surface via nozzles (11) and the sediment (3) liquefying at least partially or dissolving in the liquid under the effect thereof such that it can be removed from the container (1) with the liquid. To that end a substantially horizontal, possibly self-contained, flow of liquid is produced over the sediment surface by orienting the injection direction of all the nozzles (11) such that it has a horizontal component aligned tangential to a flow line of the flow of liquid to be produced and in the direction of flow. The injected liquid is crude oil or a refinery product and differs from the lowermost liquid layers lying above the sediment in that it has a lower proportion of heavy components.