Odessa · Midland · on location in the Permian
Frac tank delivery and setup on a Permian location
Most delays with rented tanks are not about the tank. They come from a truck that cannot get to the pad, a gate nobody can open, or ground that sinks once 21,000 gallons are in. Here is what to sort out before the first tank rolls in.
Getting the truck there
- Directions a driver can follow. Lease name, county road or FM road numbers, gate codes and the last turn. GPS pins for remote leases help, but give the road description too.
- Room to swing. A tank of around 43 to 45 feet plus the truck pulling it needs space to turn and back in. Say if the lease road is narrow or has a cattle guard or low line.
- Site rules. If drivers need site orientation, H2S training or a permit to enter, say so in the request.
The ground under it
An empty tank is roughly 29,500 lb. Filled with fresh water it carries about 175,000 lb more, and brine or flowback weighs more than fresh water. Set tanks on a firm, level, compacted pad. Soft ground after rain can tilt a tank, which strains the valves and can stop it draining. Ask the firm if they want mats or a specific gravel base.
Spacing, containment and hoses
- Containment. If the tank will hold oil or oily fluid, the federal SPCC rule asks for mobile and portable containers to sit inside secondary containment. A site with more than 1,320 gallons of oil storage above ground can fall under SPCC; one 500 bbl tank alone is 21,000 gallons. Your environmental lead knows whether your location has a plan. Lined berms or containment mats can often be rented alongside the tanks.
- Manifolds and valves. Say which side should face the pump or the road, how many tanks will be connected together, and the hose sizes in use.
- Walkways and stairs. If crews need to gauge tanks from the top, ask for stairs and catwalks.
When the job ends
Tanks usually go back clean. Fresh water may only need draining. Flowback, produced water or oily fluid usually means a washout, and the solids and rinse water have to be disposed of lawfully. Ask up front who drains the tank, who pays for the washout, and whether disposal is included.