Challenge
A Mid-West refinery needed to take a refined product pipeline out of service for planned internal maintenance. However, they required a solution that would allow continued refined product shipments to market without disrupting production or creating regulatory compliance risks.
Because vapor emissions and odor control were significant concerns, the solution needed to comply with USCG (United States Coast Guard) marine vapor recovery regulations. Additionally, maintaining vapor emission compliance was essential to avoid fines or operational restrictions. The refinery also wanted to explore options that would allow barge loading flexibility, improving operational efficiency and market access.
Solution
Envent Corporation proposed a temporary, portable Marine Vapor Control System (MVCS) fully pre-certified by the USCG. Envent’s system enabled the refinery to load refined product into barges from the North Dock. Barges then transported the product downstream to the South Dock for offloading—eliminating the risks associated with operating the pipeline during maintenance.
Envent’s Marine Vapor Control System included:
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A Dock Safety Unit (DSU) equipped with vapor scrubbers for safe vapor handling
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An Envent Mobile Emission Control System (EMECS) designed to meet or exceed EPA BACT and USCG 33 CFR 154 Subpart E requirements
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Rapid deployment and operational testing, allowing the system to be fully functional within days
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Complete removal post-project with zero impact to facility infrastructure
Benefit
Envent’s engineered vapor control solution allowed the refinery to:
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Maintain full regulatory compliance with vapor emissions limits
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Avoid costly operational delays by continuing to load and ship product without interruption
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Eliminate risks associated with the pipeline option
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Reduce overall project costs and minimize resource strain
The success of this project enabled the refinery to retain a 5-year certified Envent DSU and MVCS for future emergency loading operations. The refinery avoided an estimated $3 million in lost opportunity costs through Envent’s expertise in marine vapor recovery systems, turnkey vapor control, and emission compliance strategies.
