CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SLUDGE DEPOSITS IN CRUDE OIL STORAGE TANKS

Sludge obtained from the crude oil storage tanks is semi solid waste. It is a complex emulsion of numerous petroleum hydrocarbons, water, and solid particles. Petroleum sludge is generated during crude oil transportation, storage, refining and production. It includes many poisonous species, xylene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, heavy metals, toluene, and ethyl benzene. The physiochemical characteristics of the sludge from oil and gas fields were investigated in this research. Basic sediments, water, and oil was determined by centrifuge, pH meter was used to evaluate the alkalinity. Total solid residue was calculated by evaporating the samples in drying oven after setting the temperature up to 105oC .Moisture contents were determined as a percentage of total solid residues (TSR). The fixed residue and volatile solids were analyzed by using electric muffle furnace after ignition on the temperature of 600oC. Moisture in the sludge was in the range of 32.23 to 34.92, Total solid residue was 67.7 to 65.08, Volatile solids 89.29 to 90.45 and fixed residue 10.71 to 9.55.