With over 10 feet of material covering the separators and tank diameters of 10 feet each, it was a challenge to dig deep enough to uncover and remove the separators. Using a Caterpillar 336F and 315D with a shear attachment, we were able to safely remove the tanks and finish cleaning the interiors.
Since these tanks were oil-water separators with ground-level drains, they collected garbage and other waste during their use. Because much of the waste was solid, pumping all of the sludge-like material proved to be inefficient. To solve this, we mixed the waste left after pumping with dry wood chips and hauled the material as non-hazardous waste to a landfill. Following cleaning of the tanks, we compacted and cut up the steel for recycling.
Project Facts:
- Three-month project
- Excavation and removal of over 25 underground tanks, aboveground tanks, & hydraulic lifts
- Excavation and removal of (2) 30,000-gallon oil-water separators
- Tank material: Fiberglass-encased steel
- Max Excavation depth: 22-feet
- Equipment used: Caterpillar 336F Excavator & Caterpillar 315D with shear attachment
- Personnel: 2 operators, 2 laborers
- Project completed safely, without incident, and under budget
