A frac tank is a large, steel container that come in a variety of designs and has a wide array of uses spanning across several industries. Most tanks can hold up to 21,000 gallons of liquid, including:
- Waste water
- Diesel fuel
- Liquid fertilizer
- Fresh water
- Runoff water
- Oils
- Hazardous chemicals
Waste Water
Whether your job entails environmental remediation, the treatment of septic tanks, or water treatment for municipalities, a frac tank will be useful for interim water storage. Residual oils can rise to the top, or chemicals may be added in order to treat the water, in order to allow treated water to come out of the pump near the bottom.
Diesel Fuel
The temporary storage of gasoline is a highly sensitive matter due to the buildup of static electricity resulting from the friction of rapidly transmitted water, chemicals, oxygen and hydrocarbons. This static electricity is a causative factor of many early day explosions. The gas buster frac tank is designed with a slotted pipe inside the tank which allows the gas to vent upwards and out an open top or flip-top style door.
Liquid Fertilizer
A frac tank is a cost-efficient means of storing liquid fertilizer and liquid nitrogen for agricultural purposes, costing approximately 1/3 of the price of a vertical fiberglass tank. More importantly is the increase in productivity with the use of frac tanks, as they can be easily transported between farms. A slope top tank is specifically designed with a shorter length which allows for tighter turning and easy maneuvering on farm roads. A good epoxy lining will prevent the potential of rust build up on the steel tank.
Fresh Water
There are numerous reasons why a frac tank would come in handy for fresh water storage. On the construction site, a large fresh water supply provides operational restrooms, air conditioning for the site office, and dust control. In agricultural applications, a used frac tank is a great solution to cattle watering needs.
Runoff Water
Urban areas subjected to heavy amounts of rainfall can cause flash flooding. Water-resistant surfaces such as concrete and blacktop prevents the rain water from absorbing into the soil. If not controlled, the runoff water may result in overflows of raw sewage, sewer system backups into city streets and homes, and/or dangerous debris, chemicals and other pollutants to flow into local bodies of water. This poses a direct threat to water quality and human and environmental health. The EPA’s Clean water and safe drinking water acts have been targeting large municipalities to reduce stormwater runoff that results in contamination. Frac tanks not only store stormwater, they also provide the ability to treat the stormwater before processing through the city’s water filtration system.
Oils
Frac tanks were devised as a necessary component to the fracking process that is signature to the oil & gas industry, but in addition to this type of oil, other types of oil can also be stored in a frac tank. Types of oils that can be stored in a frac tank include:
- Transformer oil
- Mineral oil
- Processing oil
- Quench oil
- Soybean oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Lube oil
Hazardous Chemicals
When working with hazardous chemicals, safety of crew, local citizen’s and the environment are of utmost concern. This line of work is highly regulated by the EPA and there are a wide array of standards that must be met, especially when working near areas with fresh water sources. While tanks like acid frac tanks may be suitable for chemicals with high acidity, such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, a double wall tank may be more suitable when environmental concerns are high.