Recover More Hydrocarbons and Reduce Wastewater Costs in Refinery Operations

Refineries produce gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and other fuels—but these complex processes also generate hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater that must be controlled continuously.

Abanaki oil skimmers remove floating hydrocarbons from wastewater 24/7, helping refineries improve recovery rates, reduce disposal costs, and maintain regulatory compliance.

The Hidden Efficiency Gap in Refinery Operations

Hydrocarbon Loss in Wastewater Is an Unseen Cost Stream

In refinery systems, hydrocarbons enter wastewater through:

• Process water discharge streams
• Tank and separator overflow
• Washdown and maintenance operations
• Oil-water separation inefficiencies

When not recovered:

• Valuable hydrocarbons are lost down the drain
• Wastewater treatment loads increase
• Compliance risk rises
• Operating costs escalate

➡️ Result: lost product value, higher treatment costs, and regulatory exposure

Refineries Depend on Continuous Process Optimization

But Wastewater Systems Often Become a Bottleneck

Refinery operations rely on:

• High-capacity processing systems
• Continuous flow treatment networks
• Strict environmental discharge standards
• Advanced process control systems

However, wastewater separation is often less efficient than production systems.

👉 Hydrocarbon recovery from water is one of the simplest ways to improve overall plant efficiency

Why Traditional Oil Removal Methods Fall Short

Secondary Treatment Alone Does Not Recover Valuable Product

Common approaches include:

• Chemical treatment systems
• Filtration units
• Coalescing separators
• Skimming performed only intermittently

These methods:

• Do not continuously recover floating hydrocarbons
• Increase sludge and treatment burden
• Allow recoverable product loss
• Require additional maintenance and energy input

➡️ Result: reduced recovery efficiency and higher lifecycle operating cost

The Abanaki Advantage

Continuous Hydrocarbon Recovery from Refinery Wastewater

Abanaki oil skimmers are engineered to continuously remove hydrocarbons from refinery wastewater using proven oleophilic separation technology.

How It Works

• A belt or tube travels across the wastewater surface
• Hydrocarbons adhere due to surface tension differences
• A wiping system removes collected oil for return or disposal

This allows continuous operation with minimal oversight and no chemical additives.

👉 Outcome: increased hydrocarbon recovery, reduced treatment load, and improved operational efficiency

Purpose-Built Oil Skimmer Solutions for Refineries

Engineered for High-Capacity, Continuous Industrial Environments

Model 8 Oil Skimmer (Primary Refinery System)

• Most widely used Abanaki refinery skimmer
• Removes up to 40 gallons per hour
• Handles light sheens to heavy oil layers
• Operates in applications up to 100 feet deep

👉 Ideal for:

• API separators
• Wastewater treatment basins
• Process water collection systems

👉 Benefit impact: maximizes hydrocarbon recovery and reduces environmental discharge risk

Solar-Powered Model 8 (Remote or Power-Limited Areas)

• Same performance as Model 8
• Operates where electrical power is limited or unavailable
• Removes up to 40 GPH

👉 Ideal for:

• Remote refinery installations
• Temporary or off-grid systems

👉 Benefit impact: enables hydrocarbon recovery in hard-to-power locations without added infrastructure cost

Model MB Oil Skimmer (High-Purity Applications)

• Effective oil removal for water-based solutions
• Can reduce oil content to less than 5 ppm depending on application
• Works as pretreatment before filtration or coalescing systems

👉 Ideal for:

• Final polishing stages
• Pre-treatment for advanced separation systems
• High-purity discharge requirements

👉 Benefit impact: improves discharge quality and reduces downstream treatment load

Model 4 Oil Skimmer (Continuous Mid-Level Systems)

• Continuous belt and wiper system
• Removes up to 20 gallons per hour
• Reliable for steady-state refinery operations

👉 Ideal for:

• Smaller treatment basins
• Auxiliary wastewater streams
• Secondary separation zones

👉 Benefit impact: reduces ongoing contamination buildup and maintenance workload

Oil Viper® Tube Skimmer (Confined or Shallow Systems)

• 3/4-inch oleophilic continuous loop tube
• Designed for confined or shallow systems
• Includes dual wiping system for near oil-free discharge tube
• Removal rates up to 100 gallons per hour

👉 Ideal for:

• Shallow tanks and reservoirs
• Tight or complex separation systems
• Supplemental recovery zones

👉 Benefit impact: increases hydrocarbon capture efficiency in constrained systems

Why Refineries Choose Abanaki

Higher Recovery, Lower Waste, Stronger Compliance

✔ Recovers valuable hydrocarbons before they are lost
✔ Reduces wastewater treatment load and cost
✔ Operates continuously with minimal supervision
✔ Improves environmental compliance performance
✔ Enhances overall process efficiency

👉 Result: improved profitability through resource recovery and reduced treatment burden

Real Impact in Refinery Operations

From Wastewater Loss to Hydrocarbon Recovery

Abanaki oil skimmers help refineries:

• Recover usable hydrocarbons back to crude tanks
• Reduce load on downstream filtration and treatment systems
• Lower sludge handling and disposal costs
• Improve regulatory compliance consistency
• Enhance overall plant efficiency

👉 Transforms wastewater from a cost center into a recovery opportunity

Turn Wastewater Into Hydrocarbon Recovery

Not a Loss Stream

With Abanaki oil skimmers, refineries can:

• Recover valuable hydrocarbons
• Reduce wastewater treatment costs
• Improve environmental compliance
• Increase process efficiency
• Lower maintenance and operating burden

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)