Tank Abandonment

aka  (Tank Closure in Place)

 

 

 

tank filled in place

Curren recommends that in all cases where it is feasible, the underground storage tank be removed. While this approach is recommended, we know from experience that removal is not always feasible. Tanks can be located under decks, beneath patios, in basements, crawl spaces and beneath additions. In general, some tanks were buried without regard to having the tank removed in the future. You may also find that utilities were placed on top of or across the tank, which would be expensive to disconnect and reconnect to allow removal of the tank.

The photo on the left is a tank under a floor, yes, we agree it was a bad idea.  Yes, the tank could be removed, but at a significant cost. In lieu of removing the tank, the tank was excavated, cut open, entered, cleaned, soil samples obtained through the bottom of the tank and then filled in place. 

You get the same report as a tank removal.   Meaning Curren acquires soil samples for independent testing to certify the tank did not leak.

 

Petroleum storage tanks once cleaned can be filled with an inert material, such as sand, concrete slurry or foam. Once a tank is cut opened and cleaned it is technically no longer a tank as it can no longer securely store liquid contents. 

Pro Tip

By cleaning the tank, as per 

API standards (American Petroleum Institute) you are removing the possibility of the tank ever leaking. 

Remember the most important question about any tank is if it leaked.  So EVERY abandoned tank needs soil testing and a report explaining the test results and why remediation is not necessary, every tank.  It's what we do for every commercial tank, and residential tanks require the same documentation.

tank under addition to be closed in placeNatural gas lines are very common to run on top of or adjacent to buried tanks.  In certain cases, tank removal is prohibitive (expensive). In these cases, a tank closure in place is the preferred option.

 

Curren is licensed in NJ, PA & DE to remove or close in place petroleum storage tanks.   We have over 26 years' experience, and what might be impossible to some, is just another job we have done.  The photos below, well people said the tank could not be removed, seller would not buy unless the tank was removed, they called Curren and got the job done.   888-301-1050

tank under porch2020-10-15 11.43.03

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slurry fill tanktank under concrete floor closure in place

The same limitations that can prevent a tank from being removed can also physically hinder the ability to fill a tank with an inert material. The standard ratio of up to five (5) cubic yards of material are required per 1,000 gallons of storage tank capacity. If a tank is located in a physically inaccessible location, the ability to fill the tank with either concrete or sand may be logistically not possible or prohibitively expensive. In these instances foam filling the tank is the most practical option.

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The procedures followed to foam fill a tank

 

Step 1: Local Permits

Before any tank closure work can be performed; a permit to abandon the underground tank will be obtained from the local municipality, fire department, health department, or other applicable agency.  This permitting creates a public record of the work and ensures it follows regulations.

Step 2: Excavation to Expose Tank

Most all USTs are buried with no manhole at grade level, so you must dig to expose the top of the tank to allow tank entry and cleaning.

As required by law, Curren will notify the applicable state "ONE CALL SYSTEM" to obtain a utility mark out at the subject site.  Once notified, if there are public utilities in the area of excavation, the utilities will mark their lines. All on-site work will proceed after all utilities have been marked.

Tank removal is always best, but tanks were buried with no thought of future removal, so maybe there is something on top of the tank like a garage or building, then closure in place is a great option.  You will not have to dig up the entire length of the tank, but you will have to excavate a portion of the tank to allow human entry in the tank to clean the tank. 

tank filling in placetank abandonment in placeTank filling in place

Step 3: Liquid Disposal

Upon arrival to the site and prior to excavation all pumpable liquid product will be removed from the tank and lines. After removal of the tank pumpable liquids, overburden soils will be excavated to expose the top portion of the tank

 

Step 4: Tank Cleaning

Uncover the top portion of the tank, cut a hole in the tank. After the tank has been exposed and all the liquids removed, the tank will be purged of petroleum vapors. Continuous atmosphere monitoring of the tank will be performed for flammable vapors and Oxygen content. If no flammable vapors are present and the tank contains sufficient Oxygen, the tank will be entered and cleaned. American Petroleum Institute Publication 2015, "Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks," procedures will be followed throughout this phase of the project. Tank cleaning will consist of wiping, squeegeeing, and removing all liquids and sludge from the tank. All liquids and sludge generated as a result of the tank cleaning process will be placed into a vacuum truck and transported off the site under a bill of lading.

 

tank closure in place

cleaned oil tank under concreteabandoning a tank in place

 

 

 

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Step 5  Soil Sampling

What does everyone want to know about an oil tank?  People want to know if they tank leaked.  Leaking tanks cost money to cleanup.  The way you know a tank did not leak is by obtaining soil samples.  When a tank is being abandoned in place, how do you obtain soil samples from below a steel tank?  

You can cut holes, or the industry term cut coupons in the bottom of the tank so you can access soils below the tank and obtain your samples.  This practice has been followed for over 30 years, the problem is many tanks never had the testing performed when the tank was filled in place.  These cases dictate that you reverse engineer the prior tank removal by removing all the prior fill installed, you reclean the tank, cut coupons and obtain soil samples.   The smart bullet proof approach is to obtain samples at time of tank closure in place.

soil sampling coupon cut in bottom of tank

Step 5: Tank Filling

foam filling oil tanks

 After the tank has been cleaned and inspected by the local official; the tank can be filled with an inert clean material including sand, concrete slurry or foam.  Each has its advantages.  Pertaining to foam filling, foam tends to be able to be installed in a tank when access is an issue and when future removal maybe a possibility foam is white in color and is classified as an inert nonflammable material.  The foam is mixed on site to the quantity needed to fill the tank void (volume).  The photo below shows one of Curren's foam trailers.

The foam is installed utilizing a wand similar to a power washer wand. The hose utilized to transfer the foam can be snaked several hundred feet around corners and downstairs to the tank location.

Foam tank fillingwhat can you fill an oil tank with?foam tank filling in place

 

What can you use to fill a tank that is being abandoned in place?

 

The general definition is an inert material, which includes sand, stone, foam or concrete/slurry.  What you will use depends on your circumstance, but we will discuss some issues with each material.

Sand Tank Filling

First sand is cheap and plentiful, but you must physically place it in the tank and PUSH is to fill the tank void, this is difficult on longer tanks.  Stone has the same physical requirements as sand and depending on where you or one is cheaper or more expensive.

Foam Tank Filling

Foam has superior advantages to reach areas where sand or concrete cannot.  Foam is injected via a hose or want and will roll and fill in void areas.  In the future if perhaps you decide to remove the tank, perhaps due to an addition, well foam is easier to remove and less expire to dispose of than sand, stone or slurry.

 

 

Concrete or Slurry

Concrete slurry can also be used.  Slurry is a low PSI concrete as you do not need a high PSI for filing a tank void.  Slurry is also self-leveling so you do not need labor to push the slurry to the far end of the tank.  The rub is you need to be able to pull a heavy concrete truck within about 15' of the tank location which is not always possible., as seen in the following photo: 

 

 tank below basement floor

Step 6: Restoring the excavated area.

In addition to cleaning and filling the tank in place, the outside fill and vent to the tank needs to be sealed so that oil can no longer be delivered to the out of service tank.  You must also back fill the area excavated to access the tank.  Typically, a 4' by 4' area is excavated to safely access the tank top.  


 

Soil Sampling Site Assessment

aka

How do I know the tank abandoned in place didn't leak?

 

 

Many people believe that if you leave abandon in the ground, you can't obtain soil samples to determine if the tank leaked.  This is a false assumption as there are requirements for commercial tanks, which include obtaining soil samples even if a tank is abandoned in place.  How this is performed is by cutting holes or as we say in the industry coupons in the bottom of the tank.  This coupon clipping allows the soils below the tank to be obtained and placed into laboratory supplied glassware and submitted to a licensed laboratory for analysis.  The photo below shows a triangle shaped coupon cut in the bottom of the tank.   

Now there are many people who had their tanks filled in place and who did not obtain soil samples, either because they got bad advice from the removal company or they did not want to find a problem, or both.   These tanks are a whole separate issue, which you can learn more about by clicking the following link:

Tanks Previously Abandoned in Place

soil sampling tanks closed in place143soil sampling tanks filled in place

In summary, most tanks can be removed for the same cost as abandoning a tank in place.  These are sites that have a tank in an accessible location, which is the vast majority of tanks.  Now there are situations where there are obstructions that hinder the physical removal of a tank.   Maybe you could remove these tanks, but often times the math doesn't work, meaning it is just much more expensive to remove than abandoning the tank in place.  

Curren recommends abandoning an underground storage tank in place when the tank is located under a building or would endanger a building structure if removed. It should be noted that some townships and municipalities may say they do not allow abandonment in-place. This is typically not the case as the town would have had to enact a statue or law, which takes time and money.  Ask to see the regulation.  If abandonment in-place is the only option, then soil sampling beneath the tank is highly recommended.

 

Pro Tip

What if a tank was abandoned, filled in place under grass in an easy to access area?

If you don't have a report, the tank gets removed.  Most likely (based on 10,000's of tanks, people left the tank in place to avoid finding a problem.  Don't believe the excuse that they didn't want to make a mess, grass can be replanted, mulch re-laid, concrete repaired.   Hey, have you ever seen an inground pool being built?   Yards looks like a major construction site because you need to dig dirt out and bring concrete in.  After pool install everything gets redone nice, same thing for a tank removal.

Still have question? Call Curren Today, we are licensed for tank work in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, over 25 years experience

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Tank filled with sand

Some buried oil tanks have had structures built over them, requiring the tank to be closed in place.  The photo above is one such property.  There is always a work around.

Tank Abandonment Tank Closure in Place Mew Jersey  Pennsylvania  New Jersey

 

 

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