Refining facilities take crude oil and process it into various petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and kerosene. Contamination of the soil and groundwater surrounding refineries is possible for numerous reasons, including:
- leaking storage facilities
- disposal of process-water and wastewater
- leaks in piping and pumping equipment
Large volumes of crude oil and finished petroleum products are present at refineries, vastly increasing the potential for contamination.
When petroleum products are released into the subsurface, contamination can take on different forms. The free-phase petroleum can volatilize in the subsurface, releasing contaminated vapors. The contaminants may also attach themselves to the soil constituents, a process known as sorption. Finally, contaminants may dissolve in the groundwater, making the compounds more mobile.
MLE Equipment has an industry-leading track record in engineering, manufacturing, and supporting environmental equipment solutions for LNAPL sites such as refineries. Follow the links on the right-hand menu to access equipment solutions specifically for LNAPL contamination at refineries.
