Robotic Pit Cleaning at IOCL Panipat
Mechanical Removal of Highly Viscous Petroleum Sludge
PROJECT BACKGROUND
IOCL required a robotic solution to clean OWS and SWS pits filled with highly viscous sludge, a byproduct of petroleum refining. Traditional suction failed due to the thickness and weight of the material.
DEPLOYMENT DETAILS
- 130 problematic manholes cleaned.
- No preventive cleaning had been done; all were critical obstructions.
- Bandicoot’s mechanical arms broke and removed sludge directly.
CHALLENGES ADDRESSED
- Petroleum sludge too thick for suction to extract.
- Safety concerns for human entry.
- Waste hardened over time due to lack of cleaning.
TECHNOLOGY IMPACT
- Bandicoot’s mechanical scooping arms proved critical.
- Succeeded where high-powered suction failed.
- Remote operation ensured safety during high-toxicity exposure.
OUTCOME
- Restored flow in 130+ critical manholes.
- Proved that robotic arms outperform suction in sludge-heavy environments.
- Positioning Bandicoot as a go-to for high-viscosity waste pits.