📍 HOUSTON, TX
Completed: Summer 2026
Petrochemical Refining Facility

Petrochemical Fractionation Column De-Rusting & Coating Removal

Turnaround laser cleaning of 6,500 sq ft heavy steel fractionation column during 96-hour refinery maintenance in Houston, TX.

Project Scale 6,500 sq ft
Primary Substrate ASTM A516 Grade 70 Pressure Vessel Carbon Steel
Laser Hardware Dual 2000W High-Pulse Mobile Units â€Ē Zone 2 Non-Sparking Heads
Key Result 48 Hours Turnaround Time Saved
The Operational Problem

The Engineering Challenge

Severe multi-layer epoxy degradation and heavy coastal atmospheric pitting on an active fractionation column during a strict 96-hour turnaround window.

Why Conventional Methods Failed:

Abrasive grit blasting presented unacceptable risks of substrate thinning, environmental contamination, or facility shutdown.

The Photonic Solution

Laser Ablation Execution

Deployed dual mobile rigs operating continuously. Non-abrasive ablation instantly vaporized epoxy topcoats and rust scale without base metal thickness reduction.

Verified Field Results:

✓ Clean bare metal finish achieved across 6,500 sq ft. Saved 48 hours compared to abrasive blast containment setup. Passed ultrasonic wall-thickness inspection immediately.

Third-Party Compliance: Passed Ultrasonic Wall-Thickness Testing & Quality Inspection

Technical Parameters & Safety Protocols

Laser Hardware

Dual 2000W High-Pulse Mobile Units â€Ē Zone 2 Non-Sparking Heads with precision optic delivery.

Air Quality Containment

Integrated 3-stage HEPA containment capturing 99.97% of particulates down to 0.3Ξm.

Environmental Waste

Waste Generated: 0 lbs Secondary Waste. Zero abrasive runoff.

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