What to do if your oil tank is leaking

1 Introduction

If you’ve ever had a leak of any kind from your oil storage tank, you are aware of the devastation it can do to the neighborhood where it occurred. It is crucial to contain and stop any type of oil leak as soon as possible to avoid contaminating the environment, which might be expensive to fix as well as cost you the money equivalent to the oil you lost from your tank. This guidance is crucial for handling other types of fuels, oils, and lubricants that must be stopped, confined, and finally cleaned up to prevent future environmental problems. To be well-prepared and ready for any event you may encounter, preplanning and preparation are essential.[1]

It is significant from a financial standpoint due to the cost of wasted fuels as well as the cost of a possibly expensive clean-up. In order to comply with requirements regarding oil storage tanks, it’s also crucial to make sure that whatever you keep including fuels, oils, and lubricants, is kept safe and secure. In many cases, oil tank leaks may be avoided with regular storage tank maintenance. Regular tank inspections for business clients may guarantee that flaws and problems are discovered early before they become significant ones.[2]

2 General Guidelines to deal with tank leakage

• Properties and traits of the products kept in the tanks of your system. This information may be found on the safety data sheet that your product provider gave.
• The maximum quantity of product you anticipate storing in each tank of the system at any given moment over any given year. Typically, this is the manufacturer’s recommended fill level, which is typically a particular proportion of a tank’s nominal capacity.
• Pay close attention to elements that raise the possibility of harm to the environment or to people’s health. Is your system above or close to a drinking water aquifer or a wetland? Is it situated on a hill such that any product spilled would fall down the hill? Is there a neighbourhood or an underground utility nearby? Are there any possible dangers close by? In most situations, you should also send a sketch of the property and its surroundings, along with a description that highlights any significant features. Additional details like aerial photos may be useful.
• Describe in detail your plan for preventing, warning about, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergency situations that might harm people or the environment.
• List of those assigned to execute the plan, including their names, titles, and/or positions, along with a description of their tasks and any necessary training.
• Equipment utilised in your emergency response, such as shovels, spill kits, and fire extinguishers, and where it is located. For simpler and quicker reference, you can list the locations of the equipment in writing or on a map or diagram.
• Emergency announcements on local radio and television, door-to-door notice, usage of disaster email, text messaging, or other social media, and door-to-door notification are all ways to inform members of the public who could be negatively impacted by an emergency.[3]

3 Overground Storage Tanks

Where the leak is taking place, at the source, is the best place to put a stop to it. Try to confine the spill where it is if the primary container or secondary containment has been breached or failed for any reason. As a result, there will be less material that spills and can create problems. This will decrease the amount of material discharged. This option entails physically stopping the leak and preventing any additional material from leaking. The damaged container or pipes will need to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible following this because it is not a long-term solution.

1. Covering the hole with a temporary sealant is one of the easiest ways to stop a leaking container or pipe. You can buy leak-sealing putty either ready-mixed or as a powder that you mix with water. Apply the putty according to the manufacturer’s directions at all times. Before you may transport the damaged container, a more long-lasting solution could be necessary.
   

   Figure 1 Leak Sealing

2. Depending on the source of the spill, it could be possible to close pipework valves to prevent or reduce the amount of material that can leak.
   

   Figure 2 Containing Leakage from tank

If the spill cannot be stopped where it is occurring, try to halt it as near to the source as you can. Try to prevent the spill from spreading where it has already broken free from the primary and secondary containers.

1. The spill’s size can be reduced if you can securely transfer the material into another container. An appropriate container and pump must be on hand; they may also need to be safe for usage in flammable settings. Small spills may be manageable using manual pumps, but big volumes would not be moved effectively.
2. Typically, sorbents come in the form of loose granules, sheets, rolls, pillows, or booms. They can be utilised to contain spills and prevent further spread. There are various sorbent kinds available, including sorbents that are chemically or oil-selective. To find out which sorbents are best for the products or substances you store, check with your supplier.
3. When material spills out of the primary container or secondary containment, such as from a ruptured pipe or damaged gasoline tank, you might be able to catch it. There are several different sizes of portable storage tanks, which are typically composed of reinforced plastic, synthetic rubber, or polymers. To properly contain a spill and prevent it from spreading farther, place small containers on the ground nearby, such as pop-up pools or over drums.

Unless your incident response plan specifies that you can use your drainage system to contain the spill, you should try to prevent the material from entering the drainage system or onto any unsurfaced ground if the spill is spreading and you are unable to safely or effectively contain it close to its source. It is simpler to remove or transfer a spill into a suitable temporary container once it has been contained in order to prevent it from spreading contamination; you should do this as soon as it is safe to do so. You might be able to shift the spill to a temporary container if you can stop it from spreading contamination before you finish cleaning it up if you can stop it from reaching your drainage system.

1. A physical barrier boom that you need to fill with water in order to contain a spill, isolate a drain, or direct the flow in a certain direction. The boom is frequently composed of plastic.
2. Booms made of sorbent materials that can catch spills and stop them from spreading. To clean up any spills that leak from beneath the barrier, these can be used in conjunction with a barrier boom.

Figure 3 Oil Sorbent Booms

4 Underground Storage Tanks

An underground storage tank leak often includes the release of a fuel product, which can contaminate the soil, groundwater, or surface waterways nearby, as well as interior air spaces. It’s crucial to identify releases as soon as possible, as well as their source, kind of fuel, whether any receptors are immediately in danger, and the best first reaction. Finding out the type and scope of a leak as soon as feasible is the main goal of the initial reaction.[4]

Figure 4 Leaking Underground Tank

1. Through inspection and monitoring, inventory management, and leak-detection technologies, early release indicators can be found. Once the release is confirmed, specific state or tribal criteria must be followed when notifying the relevant government entity.
2. When an emergency arises, action must often be performed right away without waiting for official inspection or approval. The initial course of action is all about safeguarding the environment, public health, and safety. According to the majority of state rules, the operator or owner has a certain amount of time in which to carry out free product removal, file reports, finish an initial site characterization, and carry out first reaction activities. In the event that enforcement action is required, it is crucial that officials reiterate these critical goals.
3. A crucial initial step is to pinpoint the precise area of the tank or tank system that has resulted in a subsurface discharge. The bottoms of underground storage tanks, in particular the region under the manhole where gauging sticks are or were once used, accompanying pipes, tank fill manholes, dispensing pumps, and locations known to have installation concerns are all common risky areas. At tank connection points and when ground settlement near a tank changes from one end of a tank to the other, piping failures are particularly frequent.
4. Releases are discovered in a number of ways. A leakage might be discovered by leak detecting technology, or unexpected water in a tank could be found. Gasoline delivery into an underground tank or fuel dispensing at the point of sale may cause a spill to be discovered. As these tasks are also known to be frequent sources of releases, releases may also be found during tank upgrades or replacement. [5]
5. A release may be noticed as a mismatch between the inventory of gasoline provided and the fuel dispensed from the tank, which is frequently detected by inventory control and can notify the UST operator of the release. With the use of electronic measuring sensors, newer systems feature automatic tank gauging systems that can detect discrepancies right away and sound an alert.
6. Field screening and sampling by a knowledgeable professional may help to swiftly determine a release and its precise source if a tank is being improved or replaced. An experienced field supervisor can also reduce a release’s negative effects on the environment, public safety, and health. An underground storage tank owner will benefit from less downtime and expense if a release is discovered right away.
7. It is best to follow a set procedure when confirming that a release from a tank has taken place. Checking the underground tank system and monitoring tools for proper operation is the first step. It may be necessary to examine the functionality of the sensors that monitor releases. Checking gasoline delivery receipts to review inventories may be a further step. The tightness of the system may be tested using techniques that are acceptable to both the government and the industry after the equipment and inventory have been examined. Tank tightness is a sign of leaks, even little or gradual leakage.
8. Owners and operators of underground storage tanks are obligated to look into, verify, and alert the authorities to any suspected discharges within 24 hours or within another time frame determined by the state or tribal government. The threshold for the reportable quantity as well as the period of time before notification is subject to change depending on the implementing agency.
9. Each state and country has certain documentation and reporting requirements, and the facility must keep records of inventory and maintenance in accordance with these criteria to provide consultants and regulators access to information on the release.
10. Once a leak has been identified, immediate action must be taken to contain or remove the source of the emission and lessen any possible impact on the environment, human health, and safety. It is the responsibility of the owner or operator of the underground tank to carry out activities in accordance with his or her local laws as each state has different standards for starting reactions to releases. State, municipal, and tribal relationships can be used to find qualified experts who can offer prompt assistance and help save expenses and responsibility.
11. The removal of explosive or combustible items from the release location as well as the prevention of discharges to wetlands, surface waterways, and storm water utilities are examples of immediate actions. For people, families, or organizations who rely on groundwater for drinking, bathing, and food preparation, it may also be required to provide bottled water. The issue of petroleum fumes entering indoor building spaces has grown significantly, and it may be necessary to actively ventilate certain areas.

5 Gas Storage Tanks

Figure 5 Gas Storage Tank

1. Check for leaks and determine whether the lines and equipment can withstand the full cylinder pressure before using them. To check for leaks, an inert gas should be used, and it’s important to avoid over pressurizing any system parts. A pressure-reducing regulator must be employed and the system should be safeguarded with a pressure relief device if it is not rated for full cylinder pressure. At the system’s operating pressure, leak-check it. Make sure the building materials are appropriate for the gases being used.[6]
   

   Figure 6 Leak Detection

2. All facilities that work with hazardous materials are required by federal law to create emergency plans. Plan for emergencies and be aware of any potential risks associated with the gases being utilized and stored. Practice putting emergency plans into action to ensure that all eventualities are handled. Establish power structures and responsibility levels. In order for them to be ready with the necessary knowledge, tools, and medical help in the event of an emergency, coordinate with the neighborhood hospitals and fire departments and let them know about the gases being used. [7]
3. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be specified and made available for both everyday activities and emergencies. Establishing a policy that mandates that employees wear the appropriate PPE for each task is crucial. Self-contained breathing equipment and other protective clothing required for emergencies should be made available along with suitable work clothes, gloves, and face protection for normal tasks. Additionally, when employing hazardous materials, gas cabinets, eye wipes, safety showers, and fire extinguishers should be taken into account. Everyone engaged must receive training on how to use all required PPE. Staff members should receive training on when to use that equipment.
4. If the leak’s source ignites, do not attempt to douse the flame until the flow of combustible gas has been cut off. Without removing the source of flammable gas, it is possible for the gas to accumulate and explode after a fire has been put out. If the source of the flammable gas cannot be halted, steps must be taken to cool the area and shield neighboring machinery and cylinders from the fire.
5. Isolation in a well-ventilated environment serves as the initial stabilization for a leaky cylinder containing corrosives.  If moving the cylinder can be done safely, only do so. Before making any decisions regarding disposal, containment, or diversion, speak with the supplier. If the cylinder needs to be approached, specific PPE, such as acid suits and self-contained breathing apparatus, may be necessary. Use of this device is not recommended unless you have received training. The exposure of persons and equipment to the product will be minimized by using additional measures to gather and divert the escaping gas to a disposal medium.
6. Leaks involving dangerous and poisonous substances also call for a quick exodus from the affected region.  Place the cylinder in a secure location with good ventilation. However, only move the cylinder if you can do it safely. Send any leaking gas to a forced ventilation system or an appropriate disposal unit so that it can be safely diluted and remotely released.
7. Employees handling dangerous or poisonous gases should have self-contained breathing apparatus on hand and be trained in using it properly. Numerous dangerous gases also possess additional risky characteristics, such as corrosivity and flammability. It’s critical to be aware of all the risks associated with a material in order to take appropriate action without putting anyone at risk.

6 References

[1] H. Kariznovi, A. A. Farshad, R. Yarahmadi, Y. Khosravi, and P. J. I. O. H. Yari, “Consequence Analysis of fire and explosion of a cylindrical LPG tank in a selected industry of oil and gas,” vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 37-45, 2017.

[2] F. Ikwan, D. Sanders, and M. J. J. o. L. P. i. t. P. I. Hassan, “Safety evaluation of leak in a storage tank using fault tree analysis and risk matrix analysis,” vol. 73, p. 104597, 2021.

[3] S. Pullarcot, Aboveground storage tanks. USA.: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, 2015.

[4] R. M. J. E. S. Dowd and Technology, “Leaking underground storage tanks,” vol. 18, no. 10, pp. 309A-309A, 1984.

[5] S. Fujita, K. Fujiwara, J. Sumita, Y. Konya, and S. Muroyama, “Automatic oil leak detection system for an underground tank,” in 21st International Telecommunications Energy Conference. INTELEC’99 (Cat. No. 99CH37007), 1999, p. 329: IEEE.

[6] L. Terzioglu and H. J. P. S. P. Iskender, “Modeling the consequences of gas leakage and explosion fire in liquefied petroleum gas storage tank in Istanbul technical university, Maslak campus,” vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 319-326, 2021.

[7] M. H. Beheshti, R. Hajizadeh, A. Mehri, and M. J. I. O. H. Borhani Jebeli, “Modeling the result of hexane leakage from storage tanks and planning a emergency response programm in a petrochemical complex,” vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 69-79, 2016.