NEWS

GN Solids Control is pleased to announce the successful shipment of a containerized oil sludge treatment plant to a valued client in Africa. This compact, integrated solution is designed to efficiently process oil sludge from sources such as crude oil tank cleaning, refinery waste, and drilling operations, helping the client recover valuable oil, recycle water, and reduce solid waste for environmentally responsible disposal.

The delivered system is based on GN’s proven GNOST series technology and is configured as a modular, containerized package for easy transport, rapid deployment, and reliable operation in remote field locations.

System Components

The containerized plant integrates four core modules, each engineered to perform a specific function in the oil sludge treatment process:

1. Pre-Mixing & Heating Module
This module prepares the raw oil sludge for downstream separation. It heats the sludge to approximately 60–70°C and mixes it with dilution water and chemicals to reduce viscosity and improve flowability. The pre-mixing process ensures that solid content is reduced to below 20% and particle size is controlled, creating a homogeneous slurry suitable for subsequent treatment stages.

2. Shale Shaker Module (Screening Module)
The slurry from the pre-mixing tank is fed to a linear motion shale shaker equipped with appropriate mesh screens. This module removes coarse solids larger than the screen opening (typically down to 100–200 microns), protecting downstream centrifuges from abrasive wear. The screened material then proceeds to the next stage, while the separated coarse solids can be collected for further processing or disposal.

3. Three-Phase Decanter Centrifuge Module
This is the core separation unit of the plant. The three-phase decanter centrifuge simultaneously separates the incoming slurry into three distinct streams: oil, water, and solids. Operating at high G-force (up to 3000+ G for the three-phase decanter models), the centrifuge continuously discharges dry solids with an oil content of approximately 1–3%. The recovered oil typically contains 3–5% BS&W (basic sediment and water), making it suitable for sale to refineries or for fuel blending. The recovered water contains approximately 1% oil and can be reused in the pre‑mixing stage, significantly reducing fresh water consumption.

4. Chemical Dosing Module
To optimize separation efficiency, the system includes a chemical dosing unit. This module precisely injects demulsifiers, flocculants, and other treatment chemicals into the process stream. The standard dosing system is designed for liquid-type chemicals and can be customized based on client requirements. Effective chemical treatment enhances oil-water separation and improves overall recovery rates.

Performance Overview

Based on GN’s documented project references, the system can achieve:

Oil on solids (discharged from centrifuge): 1–3%

Recovered oil quality (BS&W): 3–5% (depending on feed characteristics and chemical treatment)

Recovered water oil content: Approximately 1% (suitable for reuse in pre‑mixing)

These results are for reference and may vary depending on the specific oil sludge composition and chemical formulation used by the client.

Proven Technology for Africa

GN Solids Control has extensive experience in oil sludge treatment projects worldwide, including successful installations in Kuwait, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Canada, Oman, and China. This shipment to Africa represents another step in our commitment to providing sustainable, cost-effective solutions for the region’s energy and environmental sectors.