Ultrasonic Scale Prevention on Heat Exchangers at Geelong Refinery (Revoked)

Ultrasonic Scale Prevention on Heat Exchangers at Geelong Refinery (Revoked) is an industrial energy efficiency project located at the Viva Energy Refinery in Corio, approximately 7km north of the Geelong CBD in Victoria. Registered in January 2016 and revoked in May 2020, the project aimed to improve operational efficiency within one of Australia's few remaining oil refineries. The project area is situated within a heavy industrial zone adjacent to Corio Bay, while the broader Geelong region is characterized by a mix of urban development, coastal environments, and extensive agricultural land used for grazing and cropping further inland.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits activities that reduce energy consumption by modifying, removing, or replacing existing energy-consuming equipment. In this specific instance, the project utilized ultrasonic technology to prevent "scaling" (mineral buildup) on heat exchangers. In a refinery, heat exchangers are critical for pre-heating crude oil; when scale accumulates, thermal transfer efficiency drops, requiring more fuel to achieve the necessary temperatures. By using ultrasonic pulses to keep tubes clean, the project aimed to maintain high thermal efficiency and reduce the fuel gas consumption of the furnaces.

Geelong is situated on the edge of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, a region typically defined by basalt-derived clay soils and extensive flat to undulating plains. The area experiences a temperate climate with a "rain shadow" effect caused by the Otway Ranges, resulting in a moderate average annual rainfall of approximately 525mm. While the specific project site sits on modified industrial coastal land, the surrounding soil profile is predominantly heavy clay and basalt.

This project was revoked under section 30 of the CFI Rule, which indicates a voluntary revocation requested by the proponent, Viva Energy Refining Pty Ltd. Voluntary revocation often occurs when a project's administrative costs exceed the value of the credits generated, or when the abatement activities are absorbed into broader facility-level reporting mechanisms like the Safeguard Mechanism. The Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency methodology itself has since been revoked and superseded by the Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction (ICER) method.