PORT HEADLAND BITUMEN PLANT HYDROCARBON REMEDIATION.Locat ionP o r t H e a d l a n d , WA

Cl ientVi v a E n e r g y

Durat ion1 m o n t h

Project overviewLiberty Industrial was engaged by Viva energy to demolish a bitumen plant in Port

Hedland, Western Australia. The facility consisted of a 14m tall bitumen tank and

associated administration buildings, tanks and pipelines. Two major challenges

were overcome by Liberty Industrial during the project. These challenges were

disposing of bitumen and working around Aboriginal heritage areas.

The bitumen was in highly viscous, tar-like liquid state. Due to liquid state of the

bitumen, no landfill site would accept the waste. Also, the high viscosity and the

adhesive nature of the bitumen made it difficult handle. Firstly an opening was cut

in the side of the bitumen tank so that the excavator could reach in and dig out the

bitumen using a bucket attachment. The bitumen was then placed into lined skip

bins. To prevent the bitumen from sticking to the bucket, various solvents were

sprayed onto the buckets before making contact with the bitumen. This ensured

that the bitumen smoothly slid out of the excavator bucket into the skip bins.

The bins of bitumen were then transported off-site for treatment and disposal.

Another key challenge of the project was that one of the diesel pipelines traversed

through a Aboriginal Heritage area. There were many rock carvings within the area

and a significant rock carving was positioned directly underneath a pipeline. Due

to the significance of the heritage values, Liberty devised methods that did not

impact the area. Firstly, the Liberty team attended a cultural awareness session

run by a local Aboriginal Elder, helping the team to understand the significance

of the site. Liberty then engaged the traditional owners of the site and a heritage

specialist from Pilbara Port Authority to oversee the work. Liberty did not use any

heavy machinery into the area. Instead, Liberty used a franna crane to secure

the pipes. The pipes were then manually oxy-cut and lifted out with the franna

crane. Machinery only moved around site under the supervision of the traditional

owners. Additionally Liberty placed rubber matting over the rock carving that was

positioned directly underneath the pipeline. This ensured that in the unlikely event

that the pipe was to drop down, the rock carving would still be protected. After

the successful completion of the scope of works, the traditional owners expressed

their satisfaction at how Liberty conducted work around the site.

C L I C K T O WAT C Ho r v i s i t v i m e o . c o m / l i b e r t y i n d u s t r i a l