Removal of Oil Tank Previously Filled in Place with Sand

Many homeowners who converted to natural gas or to an aboveground Storage Tank (AST) had their buried heating oil tanks filled in place with an inert material such as sand, stone or foam as per acceptable construction code. 

The construction code allows for these oil tanks to be closed in place, as some tanks are located beneath obstructions such as patios, decks, driveways and landscaping and removing the tank would cause a greater disturbance than just filling the tank in place.  So, the construction code allows property owners to excavate enough to expose a portion of the tank, evacuate oil and then fill the void with an inert material such as sand, concrete or foam. 

The problem is these property owners never had soil sampling completed to document if the tank leaked.  You see after you cut open and clean a tank, you can cut holes through the bottom of the clean metal tank and access soils below the tank, that you sample and submit to a laboratory for analysis.  This procedure has been around for a long time, in fact the name for the holes you cut through the bottom of the tank are called COUPONS.  

By obtaining soil samples the property owner can document that the tank did not leak.  Unfortunately, either by choice or bad advice when these tanks were previously filled in place no soil sampling was performed.  This leaves the unanswered question, DID THE TANK LEAK?  

Few of these previously completed tank abandonment projects have proper documentation.  By proper documentation we do not mean a construction permit (many have only that). We mean a narrative drafted by the environmental company indicating that the tank was entered and cleaned of residual oil, soil samples acquired below the tank and indicated the tank did not leak and lastly, documentation that the tank was filled with an inert material.  The following photos show oil tanks that were not properly CLEANED.   Years later Curren Environmental removed these tanks and had to dispose of the oil and sand and oil and foam placed inside the tanks.

Do you have an oil tank filled in Place?

Are you buying a house with a tank that is filled in place?

Call Curren before you buy or selling a property with an oil tank. We can assess the situation and let you know if what was done was up to current standards so you can proceed with the real estate transaction.  If further work needs to be done, our project managers can explain what steps will be necessary and the time and costs involved.

Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Office staff are available to discuss your situation or click the link and complete the form and a project manager will call you back.

call the Experts 888-301-1050 

Environmental Experts Since 1992

Curren Environmental is your full-service turnkey company for all oil tank related issues.   For over 25 YEARS, we have provided reliable, comprehensive and cost effective residential environmental services. Our boutique company is small enough to give each project the attention it deserves, and large enough to get any job done.   We are both experienced and committed to providing cost-effective solutions for all environmental issues.