Environment

Documentation of concrete slabs at processing field and loading area after a very long period of refinery operation

On the occasion of the closure of a refinery there was the opportunity to document the state of the concrete slabs at the processing field and at the loading area. The refinery had been built during 1968 to 1970 and had been operating until 1995.

To examine the tightness of the concrete slabs 33 bore cores were taken from the apparently mostly penetrated areas. There were bore cores taken from the joints, from the cracked concrete and from the solid concrete. The depth of penetration was determinated on each of these bore cores.

At the loading area no bore core was entirely penetrated. At the processing field (in the area of pumps, heat exchangers and vessels) 70% of the investigated concrete surface fulfilled its tightning purpose.
The observed full penetration of the remaining concrete slabs was caused by lack in planning, execution and maintenance of the structure.