Boiler rental and steam injection: when your tank, tank farm or well needs it
Heavy crude becomes difficult to pump as it cools. A rented steam generator restores fluidity wherever needed: in a storage tank, tank-farm lines, loading-pump seals or a well.
What is an OTSG and why does automation matter?
An OTSG (once-through steam generator) produces high-capacity steam at the pressure and temperature required for continuous field operation. Fully automated control of pressure, temperature, water flow and combustion maintains consistent steam quality and allows personnel to work more safely with less manual intervention.
Applications in tanks and tank farms
The most common uses at storage facilities:
- Heating heavy and extra-heavy crude in tanks to reduce viscosity before pumping or dispatch
- Maintaining temperature in tank farms, coils and process lines
- Preventing solidification and sludge formation at the tank bottom
- Heating loading-pump mechanical seals and discharge lines at docks and terminals during vessel loading
Well applications
Where required by the project, the same generator supports thermal stimulation of heavy oil reservoirs:
- Huff & Puff (cyclic steam injection)
- Continuous steam injection (steam flooding)
- SAGD, steam-assisted gravity drainage
Water is the critical factor
Feedwater determines generator service life and efficiency. The service therefore includes complete treatment: ion-exchange softening to remove calcium and magnesium, demineralization to reduce dissolved solids, oxygen and CO₂ deaeration, scale and corrosion inhibitor dosing, and periodic field quality testing. Water is stored in flat-bottom frac tanks to avoid particle contamination.
What the rental includes
Alongside the generator, the scope covers water treatment, technical operators, field maintenance personnel and operational documentation. Portable equipment supports remote sites, with shifts and mobilization logistics agreed before dispatch.
Frequently asked questions
How is a crude oil tank heated with steam?
Steam is supplied through tank coils or direct injection lances, depending on the installation. The target temperature is maintained during transfer or dispatch, with temperature, pressure and consumption recorded.
What information do you need to prepare a quote?
The location and type of work (tank, tank farm, dock or well), intended application, estimated duration and, where available, steam flow, pressure and temperature requirements, plus water and fuel availability.
Do you work outside Zulia?
Yes. We support projects across Venezuela from our San Francisco, Zulia base. Mobilization, site access and generator availability are confirmed in the quotation.
