Sierra Chemicals

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Midstream Industrial Cleaning

Automated
Hydroblasting
Services

When chemical cleaning reaches its limits, high-pressure automated hydroblasting restores your heat exchangers, piping, and tanks — faster, safer, and without confined space entry.

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Key Facts
10,000–40,000
PSI Pressure Range
No Entry
Required — fully outside control
Multi-Lane
Simultaneous hoses for faster TAR
Water Only
No toxic chemicals — minimal waste

How Does Automated Hydroblasting Work?

With automation, our highly trained operators and technicians can run several high-pressure water pumps and hydroblasting hoses simultaneously, from a safe distance. It's different from autonomous cleaning, which involves robots (and which is also a service we offer). With automated hydroblasting, our technicians are making cleaning decisions and performing the cleaning using highly specialized equipment. The result is that your equipment is optimized for heat exchange and pressure, and downtime is kept to a minimum.

Hydroblasting in action
Why It Matters

Fouled Equipment Doesn't Wait for a Scheduled Outage

Scale buildup, hydrocarbon fouling, and debris accumulation inside your heat exchangers and piping doesn't just reduce efficiency — it accelerates wear and can force an unplanned shutdown at the worst possible time.

When injection treatment and chemical cleaning can't restore your assets, hydroblasting is often the last option before a costly replacement. Sierra mobilizes quickly and gets your equipment back online.

10,000–40,000 PSI
Removes even the toughest scale & fouling
No Entry Required
Controlled from outside — no confined space
Multi-Lane
Simultaneous hoses for faster turnaround
Water Only
No toxic chemicals — minimal waste
When to Use Hydroblasting

Know When It's the Right Call

Hydroblasting isn't always the first solution — but when these situations arise, it's typically the fastest and most effective path back to normal operations.

Chemical Cleaning Isn't Enough
When injection treatment or foam cleaning can't break through heavy scale, coke, or compacted hydrocarbon deposits — hydroblasting cuts through what chemistry can't.
Emergency or Unplanned Shutdown
Unexpected plugging or fouling that threatens throughput. Sierra mobilizes quickly to assess, set up, and clean — minimizing downtime on critical assets.
Turnaround / Planned Maintenance
Build hydroblasting into your turnaround plan for heat exchangers, slug catchers, and storage tanks. Faster than replacement and extends asset life significantly.
Pre-Inspection Cleaning
Clean tanks and vessels before inspection so inspectors can assess the true surface condition — reducing re-work and costly inspection delays.
Why Automated Over Manual

5 Core Benefits of Sierra's Automated Hydroblasting

Sierra's automated hydroblasting equipment is a step beyond traditional hand lancing — here's how it changes the job.

Precision Cleaning
High-pressure water removes the toughest deposits with accuracy and uniformity across every tube and surface.
Safer Operations
Reduces confined space entry and minimizes operator exposure to hazards — all controlled from a safe standoff distance.
Faster Turnaround
Multiple simultaneous lanes — symmetrical, not manpower-dependent. Cover more surface in less time than manual methods.
Cost Effective
Lower overall cleaning costs compared to replacement or manual methods — and a fraction of the cost of an unplanned shutdown.
No Toxic Chemicals
Water-based only — minimal waste, minimal environmental impact. Meets the most stringent site requirements.
Our Capabilities

Four Specialized Hydroblasting Services

Sierra tailors the approach to your specific equipment and fouling challenge. All services are available as part of a custom cleaning plan.

01
Automated Hydro Lancing
Heat Exchanger Tubes — StoneAge AutoBox ABX-2L

The StoneAge AutoBox ABX-2L eliminates hand lancing — one operator runs two lances simultaneously, forward and back, with engineering controls that make the process hands-free and far more consistent. Also available in hand-lancing configuration for interference issues and smaller exchangers.

Heat Exchangers  │  StoneAge AutoBox ABX-2L  │  Multi-Lane Capable
02
Line Mole Pipe Cleaning
1/2" to 40" Diameter — BJV + Badger Tools

Clears pipes fouled with hydrocarbons, scale, or unknown sources. Pipe diameter is not a limitation — Sierra handles 1/2-inch to 40-inch pipe using two specialized tools: the BJV slow-rotating 2D tool on a tracked centralizer, and the 2-inch Badger high-speed swivel for U-tubes and long-radius elbows.

1/2" to 40" Diameter  │  U-Tubes & Process Lines  │  BJV + Badger Tools
03
Shotgun — Exterior Bundles & Channel Heads
40,000 PSI Shroud + TurtleSkin PPE

Two different shotgun heads allow surface-level and tube-bundle-depth cleaning. The rotating two-head tip removes seating surface scale and fouling effectively. All shotgunners are protected by a 40,000 PSI shroud and TurtleSkin PPE — engineered for safety at extreme pressures.

Channel Heads  │  Tube Bundles  │  40,000 PSI Shroud + TurtleSkin PPE
04
2D/3D Head Tank Cleaning
No Confined Space Entry — H₂S Inhibitor Capable

Sierra's 3D-head tank cleaner eliminates the need to enter the tank or vessel entirely — no Permit-Required Confined Space Entry, no standby rescue services required. High-volume, high-pressure jet streams reach all interior surfaces. Unique advantage: H₂S and explosive gas chemical inhibitors can be added to the cleaning process.

No Confined Space Entry  │  H₂S Inhibitor Capable  │  Storage Tanks & Vessels
How the Methods Compare

Automated vs. Manual

Sierra offers all three methods and will recommend the right approach for your equipment and fouling situation.

Criteria Manual Hand Lancing Automated Hydroblasting ★ Recommended
Operator position ✗ Near or inside vessel ✓ Safe standoff distance
Simultaneous lanes ✗ One lane at a time ✓ Multiple simultaneous
Pressure consistency ✗ Inconsistent — fatigue dependent ✓ Consistent pressure & angle
Operator fatigue/risk ✗ Higher fatigue = higher risk ✓ Less exposure & fatigue
Complex fouling flexibility ✓ Good for small areas ✓ Ideal for large exchangers & tanks
Best use case Small, hard-to-reach areas Large exchangers, tanks, piping systems
"

"Our exchanger was completely clogged with mol sieve dust and heavy hydrocarbons. Replacing it meant 7 months of lead time and $500,000 in parts — plus over $4 million in lost revenue from the shutdown. Sierra had it cleaned and returned to us in 12 hours."

Senior Engineer, Major Midstream Facility — Williston, ND
Our Custom Approach

No Two Cleaning Jobs Are the Same

Sierra's hydroblasting team will evaluate your equipment, fouling type, and site conditions to recommend the best combination of methods. We'll discuss all options with you to maximize safety, speed, value, and cleaning effectiveness.

Our capabilities include:

  • All tanks and vessels, including slug catchers
  • Storage tank cleaning for inspections
  • Heat exchangers of all sizes and configurations
  • Piping from 1/2-inch to 40-inch diameter
  • Emergency response and rapid mobilization
Ready to Restore Your Equipment?

Tell us what you're dealing with — we'll put together a custom cleaning plan at no cost. Our team can mobilize quickly when you need it most.

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info@sierrachemicals.com
(970) 764-4114