In summer 2025, a gas plant in Wyoming faced a critical problem. Operators sprayed hard water onto the Air Cooler Heat Exchanger (ACHE) to boost cooling capacity during high temperatures, a typical move that yielded an unusual result. The high calcium content in the water caused rapid limescale buildup on tube bundles, threatening cooling operations. The client turned to CTP Environment to provide an immediate and effective solution. 

The Challenge

The calcium deposits accumulated rapidly and aggressively in the heat exchangers, reducing cooling efficiency and risking operational disruption.

The client needed a fast, effective solution that could remove hardened scale without damaging sensitive heat-exchange surfaces or causing the extended downtime the operation couldn't afford.

The Solution

CTP mobilized its expert team to the Wyoming site on short notice and executed the DECAMEX® process, engineered to remove mineral- and calcium-based deposits.

CTP applied DECAMEX®'s precision chemical cleaning to remove the calcium deposits on tube bundles. The team protected heat exchange surfaces and avoided any plant disruption throughout the intervention. 

The Results

Despite the severity of the fouling, CTP eliminated all limescale from the affected tube bundles, restoring cooling efficiency to optimal levels without damaging the fins or the equipment. Before-and-after documentation verifies the thoroughness of the cleaning. The plant stabilized operations and averted prolonged downtime that traditional methods would have caused.

Impressed by CTP’s emergency response and execution, the client expanded CTP's role to sitewide cleaning operations.