Case Studies

A complete internal demolition was required at this closed chemical plant near Philadelphia, PA. A 400,000 square foot plant had to be completely decommissioned internally. For many years, this operation served as a large and critical manufacturing operation. Pipes, vessels, tanks, kettles, and other internal manufacturing equipment had to be completed cleaned, decommissioned, demolished, cut for scrap, and recycled. Schedule, sequence, safety, and a detailed work plan was paramount to meeting the strict time requirements to turn over an “empty” building to the client.

EWMI started with a critical planning stage, recording and documenting each and every vessel, tank, and piece of equipment. Each and every item was recorded, tagged with size, dimension, type of construction (carbon steel, stainless, fiberglass, etc.), volume of waste inside and then photographed. The planning stage continued with a work scope for cleaning and then the eventual demolishing, cutting, and rigging out to the staged scrap recycling area.

Asset recovery was maximized for the client by the planning and documenting stage. Carbon steel, stainless steel, and copper was recovered to offset the project costs. The varied wastes from many tanks were properly pre-sampled, characterized and analyzed, profiled, transported, and disposed to a fully-permitted disposal facility.

An obsolete chemical plant owned by a major international chemical company needed to be decommissioned. EWMI’s demolition and decommissioning plan was selected from four (4) bids. EWMI provided a plan with the highest payment for assets (steel/alloys) coupled with a strong technical approach, health and safety record, and schedule. Due to the diversity of chemicals within the bins, vessels, kettles, mixers, drains/sumps, and piping, the technical approach, sequence, and health and safety record were paramount in the selection of EWMI. Ultimately, this was supported in the performance.

All tanks and vessels (42) of various sizes and dimensions were cleaned of all liquids, sludges, and solids. Process piping associated with the tanks and vessels were also cleaned and decontaminated. All of the pipes, vessels, and tanks were then demolished and cut for scrap. Sumps, drains, and pits were also cleaned and pressure washed. All associated wastes from these operations were managed by EWMI.

All asset value of the different grades of steel were documented, recorded, charted, and presented to the client to offset the final project costs. This approach allowed for an open and fair transaction by displaying income of steel assets to the client.

This former Gas Plant and remote Compressor Stations had been idle for many years. To make room for new process and production areas, this Major PetroChemical client contracted EWMI to perform the complete site demolition of these industrial settings, located in the active oil fields of Central California.

Specifically, EWMI demolished the entire above grade properties down to and including the concrete slabs and large, below grade concrete support foundations and footings. EWMI assisted the Client in maximizing revenue from the sale of recyclable scrap metal and use process equipment. Crane subcontractors were used to assist with the removal of heavy process equipment, as well as the safe rigging and lowering of over (7) process towers and large above ground storage tanks. Active underground natural conveyance piping restricted the ability to demolish the process towers from the ground, using traditional demolition methods. All scrap metal was sized for recycling purposes, and EWMI managed the on-going sorting, staging, and loading of thousands of tons of recyclable ferrous steel, stainless steel, aluminum and copper wiring. More surgical demolition techniques (cold methods) were required to separate and remove idle conveyance piping, around active natural gas pipelines. Final site grading using crushed masonry materials, and imported fill, was completed to allow sufficient storm water drainage.

EWMI performed surgical and structural demolition services of this former Hydrochloric Acid plant including associates buildings, pipe racks, vessels, and process equipment. One of he project goals was to maximize the reclamation of building materials, and minimize waste and debris being shipped off site to a landfill. All recyclable metal and concrete materials were segregated from lighter debris (insulation, sheet rock, soft building products). Scrap metal was sold to offset the project costs. Waste masonry materials were stockpiled and later crushed for beneficial fill purposes.

Disassembly and demolition of all contracted items were completed in a timely fashion. Additionally, new demolition items were offered to EWMI, which were subsequently approved and completed. Zero loss time due to health & safety issues.

This massive demolition and decommissioning project in California propelled EWMI to commence a West Coast operations division. A major international chemical and petroleum company needed over 220 above ground storage tanks (5000 gallons—1,000,000 gallons in size) to be demolished and decommissioned. This site , though, was not a straight forward project due to access issues and other tasks involved. Many tanks contained asbestos. Therefore, each and every tank needed to be documented, observed, and verified of asbestos containing material (ACM). If present, the ACM was removed according to all federal and state guidelines. Also, piping, nearby buildings, vessels, and equipment limited access. This complicated the means and methods to the demolition process. Sequential and precise decommissioning and demolition was performed to protect the nearby obstructions that needed to be protected.

After each tank was demolished according to each tank “plan,” the subsequent soils beneath tank floors were then remediated. Petroleum contaminated soils were excavated, stockpiled in an engineered stockpile area, and analyzed for disposal parameters. Upon approval, the soils are properly transported and disposed at a fully permitted disposal facility. Final steel is properly sized by EWMI via excavator(s) with shears. All asset recovery of steel from tanks is provided to owner providing offset of costs to the project. All excavated soils are backfilled and brought to grade with a gentle slope to allow for proper drainage. Critical health and safety requirements were met along with strict schedule goals.

This California project was a second phase to the original project that started EWMI’s West Coast operations. Fifty two (52) above ground storage tanks (AST’s) were decommissioned and demolished by EWMI. All asbestos containing material (ACM) from each tank was identified, isolated, and properly removed according to California state and federal guidelines. Resultant contaminated soils from beneath each tank was excavated, stockpiled, transported, and disposed. Certain areas had concrete pads that were removed and crushed on site. Additional piping was removed, cleaned, cut, and sent for scrap. An additional area known as the “scrap” yard was also managed by EWMI.

Various items including metal, telephone poles, cement, and construction debris were sheared, cut, sized, and disposed/transported by EWMI. EWMI’s complete turnkey approach to this second phase allowed a smooth and seamless project completeness for both the demolition and soil remediation. These two tasks were completed in approximately 5 months on time and on budget.