Cape DBI provide a complete package of chemical cleaning and decontamination services. Drawing on the expertise of a dedicated, highly experienced and qualified Chemical Engineers and Operations crews, the Company delivers an exceptional cost effective, highly efficient service that has made Cape DBI the UK leader in this field.

Chemical cleaning and decontamination

Decontamination

The Company has worked widely in the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical industries providing a range of decontamination services that deliver quick, efficient ‘gas freeing’ of tanks, vessels and other plant prior to inspection, cleaning or decommissioning.

Rendering hazardous environments SAFE is the essential precursor to any man-entry of columns, tanks or vessels. With the highly flammable nature of all materials involved, decontamination is also essential in any activity involving cutting of oil or gas pipework and vessels, or where pyrophoric material must be removed prior to inspection or other activities.

The cleaning process Prior to any cleaning programme, the first stage is a technical visit by Cape DBI experts. During this meeting full client requirements; level of clean, timescales, substrates and so-on; are established, allowing the development detailed project documents are prepared including the all-important risk and COSHH assessments and the identification of manpower and equipment requirements.

Once these key elements are in place, the project is passed to the Operations Team who allocate the equipment, personnel and resources required for the project. The works now become the responsibility of a dedicated ‘Operations Supervisor’ who will ensure the project is carried out safely and in accordance with the programme of works, with any deviations being referred to the technical team for approval before proceeding.

Cape DBI provides a full chemical cleaning package. Chemical cleaning delivers a more visible result than simple decontamination, leaving metal surfaces clean, passive and free from grease and scale.

Initially a range of alkaline solutions can be used to deliver effective degreasing and primary cleaning functions, which can be augmented by the use of a variety of acidic chemistries, used in alone or in combination to produce specific results.

• EDTA is the key pre-commission solvent used for single-stage cleaning.
• Where stainless and austenitic steels are to be cleaned, Citric acid is utilised, this may be further fortified with Formic acid.
• Hydrofluoric is combined with Nitric acid to provide an alternative means for cleaning and brightening stainless steels, whilst Nitric acid is used in isolation to passivate stainless.
• Where heavy deposits have built up on Carbon Steel, Hydrochloric acid is used to deliver effective removal.
• Hydrofluoric acid is used for dissolving silica deposits prior to recommissioning.

Related cleaning services

• High velocity flushing forms a key element of a effective chemical clean and is sometimes all that is required. Cape DBI can install both standard and recirculating flushing rigs of up to 12 inches in diameter and capable of delivering as much as 1400 m3 per hour.
• Though comparable to high velocity flushing, Air and Water Flushing uses high velocity air as a carrier for the flushing water - substantially reducing the water requirement and water liquid produced.
• Cape DBI provides a range of temporary bulk fluid storage tanks to hold clean flushing water, chemical effluents and waste water.
• Pipeline pigging is frequently the best solution to cleaning long single pipelines. In pigging a series of foam and abrasive ‘pigs’ are driven down the line, removing deposits as they go. Pigging using foam is also widely used to dry long pipelines following chemical cleaning or hydraulic testing.
• Hydraulic pressure testing under the supervision of an insurance inspector is normally used in the power generation and process industries to prove the integrity of new or rebuilt systems. Cape DBI offers pressure testing for a wide range of applications either alone or with additional parameters including elevated temperatures, using mediums containing preservatives, or at extra high pressures.
• The Company provides a range of drying and dehumidifying services using vacuum drying, dry air, electric dehumidifiers and nitrogen gas. Forced drying of a system can play a key role in reducing the risk of deterioration of metal surfaces prior to commissioning.