TANK CLEANUP WITH POM-POMS

[yamoffathoo]

I am looking for an oil absorbent rope that can be compressed into a 2" tube, which would be inserted into a 24" dia by 18 foot long horizontal tank half filled with water that has a layer of oil on its surface. The only access to this tank is through a 2" dia nozzle.
30 pom-poms on a 50 foot rope appear to meet my requirements.
Has anyone had experience with POM-POMS and vessels?
Could the POM-POMS be stuffed into a 2"dia tube and what length of 2"dia tube would 30 pom-poms require?
Could the pom-poms be pushed out with a broom handle and jettissoned deep into the tank ?
How long would it take for complete oil absorption ?

 

[yamoffathoo]

Ha ha, that's a good one.
The literature indicates that each pom-pom can absorb 1/2 lb of oil...you do the math.
The problem is, I can't get dimensions or compressibility.

 

[bimr]

Sponge balls are used for cleaning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_cleaning

http://www.beaudrey.com/p/English/products-condenser-tubes-cleaning-system.html

Not sure that you can cost effectively clean such a small tank.

Spray nozzles may be more cost effective.

 

[yamoffathoo]

This is a 'head' tank, ie. it provides static pressure for the process. I need to remove the oil floating on the surface or it will coat the process piping when the system is drained.

Ball and spray cleaning options are not possible due to access and time constraints. Throwing in pom-poms or socks on a rope seems to be the best option - if I can find a product that fits.