ABOUT THE PROJECT
In June 2023, Merkland Tank successfully carried out decommissioning of four fuel tanks and the heating system at the L.S. Starrett company manufacturing facility in Jedburgh, Scotland, in preparation for demolition of the site.
THE SOLUTION
Over the 4-week project, our experienced engineers and confined space and rescue operatives safely drained and cleaned one 55,000 litre HFO Tank (containing 38,000 litres residual oil), one 20,000 litre Methanol Tank, and two LPG tanks, alongside a full drain down of the plant’s heating system.
CHALLENGES
The complex project presented a number of engineering and health and safety challenges. One of the main challenges was the HFO had to remain at a heated temperature of 55°C to be pumpable for onward disposal. This required the partial removal of the tank roof to allow temporary oil to be installed and heated to the required temperature, and the use of a mobile boiler to run 24 hours a day for 7 days. The tank was then diesel washed and pressure washed to remove all traces of residual oil.
The Methanal Tank required to be drained down, the manway (complete with flame arrester) removed and the tank pressure washed and force vented until in a gas free condition.
In order to decommission the heating system, our team needed to drain all 250 roof panel heaters. This process required safe working at height using powered access equipment and the use of our vacuum tanker to draw down the system.
Finally, the LPG Tanks were required to be decommissioned by a combination of controlled flaring and venting to gas free standard.
Merkland Tank managed all aspects of the project end-to-end, with additional support from our trusted heating and pipework partners, James Ramsay, to deliver a seamless solution for our client – on time and within budget.
ABOUT L.S. STARRETT
Founded in the US in 1880 by Laroy Sunderland Starrett, and with headquarters in Massachusetts, the company opened its UK factory in Jedburgh, Scotland, in 1958 which grew to become one of the global business’s main manufacturing sites.
The site produced in excess of two million hole saws per year, as well as manufacturing a range of other saws and machines, with a focus on quality, service and safety.
