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Typically, soils located above the underground tank are hand excavated. The size of the excavation is usually 40" x 40". After gaining access to the top of the tank, it is cut large enough to have a field technician fit inside of the tank. The tank is then emptied and all the contents are either transferred into a new tank or disposed of at a licensed waste disposal facility.
After the tank has been properly cleaned and inspected, it is then filled with an inert material. Proper cleaning is of the utmost importance, as the large hole cut into the oil tank to gain access will allow water to get inside. If the tank is not properly cleaned, the oil/sludge/residue floats on top of the water and is released into the environment.
Important Note
In time, your decommissioned tank will eventually create holes. Surface and groundwater will eventually enter the vessel; that's why Tank Masters uses pea gravel, a self-compacting material that will not absorb water. Sand will, and cause a void in the tank possibly creating a sink hole or caving in. Foam will decompose after time or create buoyancy underground possibly raising the tank up from the ground.
After the tanks interior is filled, the unearthed soil would be placed back. Tank abandonment will minimize the restoration of the property versus tank removal. On a removal the size opening in the ground for a (550 removal would be 8' wide, 11' long, 7' deep) and (1000 removal would be 8' wide, 17' long, 7' deep).
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