January 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

New Waste Oil Dehydrator Operating On Houston Channel

A revolutionary new commercial waste oil dehydrator is presently beginning "on stream" operations after its recent installation on the Houston Ship Channel. The new, multi-effect dehydrator will be operated by Oil Processors of Texas under a franchised lease agreement covering virtually all of the Gulf Coast. F.T. Levens, president of The Levens Corporation, the exclusive operator of Oil Processors of Texas, announced the commencement of operations.

The new, multi-effect waste oil dehydrator incorporates a new patented process developed by the Andrew Spence Manufacturing firm of Terre Haute, Ind., at an expense of more than $800,000.

The equipment will be used to recover marketable products from discarded water wet and contaminated waste oils. This will be a contribution to the energy crisis and the ecology problem, and the new equipment meets all environmental requirements.

According to Mr. Levens, the dehydrator will process approximately 5,000 barrels of waste oil per day. Most of this waste will come from industries which previously used or stored the contaminated refined products.

This type of waste oil will be dehydrated and marketed as fuel oil in most cases. Contaminated crude oil from oil field leases and crude oil storage tanks will be segregated and processed according to Texas Railroad Commission rules and regulations.

Jack Patchell, formerly of Midland, Texas, and a vice president of The Levens Corporation, is the director of the Houston plant and the dehydration operation. Mr. Patchell has several years of experience in the oil industry and worked for Halliburton for 16 years.

The Oil Processors of Texas plant is located on the Houston Ship Channel at 9702 Clinton Drive. According to Mr. Levens, the plant will be receiving waste oils by barge, motor truck transport, and by railway tank cars. The Levens Corporation, formerly of Houston, maintains corporate offices in Midland, Texas. Oil Processors of Texas also has offices at 777 South Post Oak Road, Houston, Texas 77056.

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