ConocoPhillips uses cellular glass for VOC recovery

Reading, UK -- ConocoPhillips is employing a special cellular glass insulation for a £36-million upgrade of its 30-year-old Teesside plant in the North East of England. The Foamglas product from Reading-based Pittsburgh Corning Ltd is being used to reduce vapour emissions that occur when crude oil is loaded into oil tankers from site storage tanks at the company’s Seal Sands terminal.

Once commissioned, the upgraded plant will be able to collect 100% of the vapour displaced during ship loading, at a rate of 8000M3/h, with a minimum of 85% of all non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) recovered, reducing the discharge of hydrocarbons including benzene and substantially improving the site’s environmental standing.

Deliveries of the insulation has already commenced for the new VOC Recovery Project. FEED and EPC contractor Costain specified the Pittsburgh Corning product as it can be rapidly installed and adds strength and fire protection to GRP pipework. Trace heating is also used throughout the process and the cellular glass material accommodates this requirement without the risk of scorching.