Vecta Environmental Services uses high-pressure water (40,000 psi) paired with a garnet abrasive to offer our clients a safe alternative to traditional torch cutting on metal and other hard surfaces. Our specialized equipment eliminates the hazards of heat and sparks that can lead to disaster in industrial settings, where the ignition of petrochemical residues or gas fumes can have catastrophic consequences.
While dramatically increasing employee safety, the use of Vecta’s waterjet technology also decreases the costs normally associated with traditional welding and cutting operations. Our technology allows us to reduce both the size of the crew and the time spent performing cutting operations. Our clients have commented that projects that used to take 2 days using traditional cutting methods are now being performed by our highly-trained team of professionals in a standard eight-hour shift.
Hydro Cutting Applications and Experience
Accessing Damaged Tank – New Orleans, LA
Vecta Environmental Services was contracted to perform tank cleaning operations on a damaged tank in a used-oil recycling facility. The tank, which had not been cleaned in a decade, was damaged during a tornado when it was struck by a flying office trailer. Vecta began removal of liquids from the tank, but the tank bottoms were un-pumpable, and we quickly determined the valves on the tank would not allow for effective removal of the heel of residual product.
Vecta’s management team determined the most effective method of tank bottom removal would be to gain access to the tank above the product line and remove the product using an air mover. Due to the volatility associated with the tank bottoms, the use of a traditional oxygen-acetylene cutting torch was not an option. Vecta erected scaffolding to provide a safe working surface and then used our hydro cutting technology to cut a 3′ x 3′ access window on the side of the tank.
Product removal operations resumed the following day, allowing our client to stay on schedule and budget.
Door Sheet Cutting on Lead-Based Paint – Harvey, LA
A midstream storage tank terminal was attempting to cut an 8′ x 12′ door sheet in a large storage tank which had been painted with lead-based paint. Due to the hazards associated with cutting and welding lead-based paint, the client was reluctant to cut the door sheet using traditional methods, and Vecta was called in to consult.
Our team developed a detailed health and safety plan for the cutting of the door sheet, including an environmental management plan for the handling of any run-off water which may contain lead. Upon review and acceptance of our plan, Vecta mobilized the following day and completed the hydro cutting of the door sheet in one day. The run-off water was contained and placed into drums for management by the client’s EH&S department.
Tank Floor Removal – Fort Worth, TX
A chemical manufacturer contacted Vecta to clean an aboveground storage tank for inspection. The tank previously contained a highly volatile compound, and they suspected the tank was leaking. Following the tank cleaning operations, the inspection revealed that the tank floor had been compromised, and the product had indeed leaked into the tank bed.
The only way to access the contaminated soil was to remove the tank floor, and due to the flammability of the residual product oxygen-acetylene cutting was not an option. Vecta proposed to remove the floor using our hydro cutting technology, including a plan to cut a door sheet.
Vecta safely removed the door sheet and tank floor in six days and was then contracted to perform the removal of contaminated soil from the tank bed.