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The Oudalle plant, hydrocarbon solvents "made in France"

Oudalle has been the European production site for Special Fluids for TotalEnergies since 1970. This plant is located in Seine-Maritime (76), near Le Havre, in France.

oudalle plant

 

The HDA unit at Oudalle is a "specialty refinery": it produces a wide range of high value-added hydrocarbon fluids. It uses unique state-of-the-art technology. 

The production process consists of two major steps:

  • High pressure hydrogenation which completely saturates the aromatic molecules and leads to very high purity products
  • Narrow-cut distillation which provides fluids tailored to customer requirements in terms of flash point, viscosity, pour point and solvency

This plant is classified as Seveso III (high threshold). It operates under continuous fire (24 hours a day).  Its operation is subject to the same constraints and regulations as a conventional refinery. 

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HDA Production Process

 

Efficient logistics from procurement to shipping

The facility mainly produces petroleum cuts and bases using products supplied by TotalEnergies refineries and other companies. Raw materials are supplied to the site by pipelines, sea carriage (barges and ships) and road (tankers).

The transformed products are then dispatched to our customers’ sites:

  • By road, in tankers or ISO tank containers
  • By sea (the plant has a docking facility for barges and ships)
  • By pipeline
  • By rail

The Oudalle Plant: over 150 products resulting from the transformation of hydrocarbons

Some products are packed in barrels and 1,000-litre containers at the plant.

 

The Oudalle plant’s commitment to safety, quality, environment and society

Safety: Safety of operations and health are priority focuses for TotalEnergies. The health and safety aspects of products are given consideration from the design and development of our products.

The plant has been ISO 45001 certified, and is audited according to the TotalEnergies (: MAESTRO) certified reference system.

An integrated HSEQ Management System, which covers the requirements of ISO standards and TotalEnergies' internal requirements, is in place.

Inspection: in 1998, the Inspection department was recognized by the regional directorate for industry, research and the environment (now the DREAL).

Quality: TotalEnergies Fluids has had a formal quality procedure since 1990 and the plant obtained ISO 9001 certification in 2003. In 2018, the plant transitioned to the 2015 versions of standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. 

Environment: TotalEnergies Fluids implements an environmental management policy to reduce the impact of operations in terms of:

  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Waste water
  • Soil and groundwater quality
  • Generated waste
  • Sound and odour nuisance, visual integration of the site into the surroundings, and energy consumption

Regard is had for the environmental aspect of products and potential risks right from the design stages.
The environmental aspects of the plant’s operations are identified. Any significant impacts on the environment are defined and measured to determine those that can be controlled.
Regulatory provisions and legal or other requirements are identified and managed. Compliance with such requirements by the Oudalle plant is checked on a regular basis.
This policy led to ISO 14001 certification obtained in 1997, which has been regularly renewed ever since.

In 2018, the Oudalle plant got the “Together for Sustainability” certification assessing sustainability practices within the supply chains of the chemical industry. This certification is valid during 3 years.

Society: The Oudalle plant engages in constructive, open dialogue with stakeholders and third parties.

 

 

Getting to the Oudalle Plant

  • GPS : 0° 16’ 43,131’’E / 49°29’ 12,345’’N
  • Port number : 5171

Total Fluides: plan for the Oudalle Plant

From Le Havre (approx. 16 km) :

  • Take the N282 towards Rouen / Paris / Caen / Amiens / Zone Industrielle Portuaire / Pont de Normandie
  • Join the A131/E05 motorway
  • Join the A29/E44 motorway towards Caen / Zone Industrielle Portuaire / Pont de Normandie
  • Take exit no. 5 (Zone Industrielle Portuaire, Ports Est et Ouest / Centre Routier)
  • Follow the signs for TotalEnergies Fluids

From Paris (approx. 190 km) :

  • Take the A13 then the A131 / E05 motorway to the Pont de Tancarville, then towards Le Havre
  • Join the A29 / E44 motorway towards Caen / Zone Industrielle Portuaire / Pont de Normandie
  • Take exit no. 5 (Zone Industrielle Portuaire, Ports Est et Ouest / Centre Routier)
  • Follow the signs for TotalEnergies Fluids