Transportable storage tank

Abstract

The instant invention is an environmentally friendly transportable storage tank having a particular use within the oil/gas industry for the temporary holding of produced water or water used in fracing. The storage tank has a lower tank that houses an upper tank for transport, the upper tank can be raised vertically at a job site by use of corner mounted pneumatic jacks. The upper and lower tanks are temporarily sealed together expanding the capacity of the lower tank without increasing the footprint of the storage vessel. The storage tank can be transported along road ways when the upper tank is retracted into the lower tank.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is directed to the field of storage tanks and in particular to an environmentally friendly transportable storage tank sized for transportation over highways and having an expandable structure providing an on-site oversized storage tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage tanks are structures used for holding fluids under no, or very little, pressure. Portable storage tanks are structures that are designed for temporary use and will need to be transported. Portable storage tanks used in the oil industry are especially limited in size as they must be transported over a roadway requiring that the tanks are less than a certain width so as to travel highways without special permits, and less than a certain height so they are able to pass beneath highway over-passes. In addition, placement of such vessels on top of a trailer must take into account the height of the trailer flat bed which can take multiple feet off the storage tank necessary to pass beneath the over-passes. Tankers, which are large storage tanks permanently mounted to a trailer, are also commonly used but are also limited in capacity due to the width and height requirement of road transportation.

Temporary storage tanks are used extensively in the oil industry in the process of hydraulic fracing. Fracing is the creation of fractures in a rock layer for use in releasing petroleum and natural gas from natural reservoirs. Many regions lack access to water needed for fracing and, even in those areas where water is plentiful, it is most beneficial to treat and recycle water used in the fracing process. The Applicant is a pioneer in the treating of frac water having a number of patent applications pending and patents issued including U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,994; U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,988; U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,087; U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,470, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

What is lacking in the industry is a transportable storage tank designed specifically for use in holding processed or frac water, the storage tank being transportable and expandable to lower the cost of transporting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is an environmentally friendly transportable storage tank having a particular use within the oil industry for the temporary holding of water used in fracing and processed waters. The expandability of the storage tanks reduces transportation time, transportations costs include fuel and equipment, and reduces road use when compared to a conventional transportable storage tank. The storage tank has a lower container forming a base structure capable of being moved over roadways. The lower container is constructed and arranged to house a second container that is raised vertically by use of pneumatic or hydraulic jacks. The lower and upper containers employ a continuous sealing mechanism to provide for an increased fluid holding capacity.

Conventional storage tanks that are transported to a job site require twice as much tankage to meet the same storage requirements. This requires twice the amount of fuel, for each of the tanks must be transported. Twice as much wear and tear on the equipment and roadways. And additional inconvenience to the residents who are delayed by storage tank movement. In addition, multiple tanks required more real estate, additional plumbing, additional maintenance and the list goes on.

Thus an objective of the invention is to provide an environmentally friendly transportable storage tank that reduces the amount of trucks required to transport storage tanks thereby reducing the amount of fuel used, the amount of wear and tear on the tractors, the amount of wear and tear on roadways, and lessens the impact on local residents must endure from trucks passing through their areas

Another objective of the invention is to provide a storage container that can be transported over roadways in a compressed state and doubled in size to increase the fluid holding capacity.

Still another objective of the invention is to maximize the limited parking area provided at a fracing site by doubling the fluid storage capacity by vertically raising a portion of the storage housing yet using the same amount of real estate.

Still another objective of the invention is to provide a first container that assimilates a conventional trailer which houses a second container that can be lifted from within the first by use of extension jacks to double the capacity of the first trailer.

Yet still another objective of the invention is to provide a low cost, light weight trailer that employs the ground for bottom wall support so as to avoid structural reinforcement necessary in a conventional tanker.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the back of the transportable storage tank in a transport mode;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front side in the transport mode;

FIG. 3 is a side view in the transport mode;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the back side in a storage mode;

FIG. 5 is a side view in the storage mode;

FIG. 6 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a front view in the transport mode;

FIG. 8 is a front view in the storage mode;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of the fittings for inserting and receiving fluid;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along lines D-D;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view depicting the tank seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, set forth is a perspective view of the transportable storage tank having a lower tank 10 defined by first sidewall 12, second sidewall 14, front wall 16, a back wall 18, and a bottom wall 22. A manhole access 19 is positioned in the back wall for ease of access to the inside of the storage tank. Dual axles 24 are depicted and the transportable storage tank includes pneumatic brakes, lights and miscellaneous safety gear common to road legal trailers. The axles need only be of sufficient strength to support the structure in an empty condition, as it is contemplated that the transportable storage tank will only be moved when all fluid has been removed. The front wall 16 includes valves 23 for inserting fluid into and drawing fluid from the tank. The valves may be coupled to an internal manifold, not shown, to permit the vessel to be used as a first in, first out storage. Further, one of the valves can be used to draw out materials that have settled in the tank.

Along the back wall 18 are positioned two pneumatic jacks 30, 32 which operate in parallel with pneumatic jacks 34, located along the front wall 16. The pneumatic jacks can operate off the pneumatic system of a tractor. It should be noted that hydraulic, electric or manual jacks could also be employed.

The bottom wall 22 is of a shape that obtains support by placement on level ground before filling of the container. The storage tank 10 is delivered to a well site by use of a tractor trailer. The hinge pin 38 is hoisted off the tractor trailer and the bottom wall 22 placed upon the ground. Unlike a conventional trailer that has adjustable jack stands at the front of the trailer, the transportable storage tank must be placed on the ground as the weight of the fluid would place too much strain on said jack stands or otherwise cause the jack stands to simply sink into the ground. In this manner, the front of the transportable storage tank can be held by the king pin 38 for attachment to a crank or fork lift, for removal from or attachment to a tractor. In a preferred embodiment, a conventional towing tractor can be used employing a cable winch with a ramp. The towing tractor, not shown, employs a cable that hooks to king pin 38 and used to pull the container onto the deck of the towing tractor.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the transportable storage tank bottom 22 is placed along the ground wherein a second tank is formed from an extendable section 40 defined by first sidewall 44, opposite second side wall 46, back wall 48 and front wall 50. The top wall 20 encloses the tank extendable section 40. Tank section 40 is lifted by use of the two pneumatic jacks 30, 32 which operate in parallel with pneumatic jacks 34, 36 located along the front wall 16. Vents 60 are positioned along the top wall to permit unrestrained filling and emptying of the tank. Further, a 24″ manhole access is placed in the upper wall 20 to allow access to the inside of the tanks.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper tank 40 includes at least one cross member 64 attached to side walls 44 and 46, along inner side surface 66 and 68. The placement of the cross member maintains the side walls 44 and 46 from expanding due to water pressure. A pneumatic inflatable air seal encompasses the upper tank and is positioned within a chamber formed along the outer surface of the upper tank and inner surface of the lower tank 10. The chamber is formed only when the upper tank 40 is raised in relation to the lower tank 10 and has an inner wall formed by side wall section 72 and 74, and an outer wall formed by side wall section 76 and 78. The inflatable air seal is formed from flexible natural or synthetic rubber. The seal is a torus shaped balloon made from an impermeable rubber to prevent air leakage.

In operation, the transportable storage tank is placed on a level ground surface when disconnected from the tractor so that the bottom 22 rests firmly on the ground. Placement of the bottom 22 on the ground eliminates the need for structural reinforcement of the bottom otherwise necessary in a tanker situation. The pneumatic jacks are then used to raise the second tank 40, a distance above the lower or base tank 10. In an expanded condition, the distance between the bottom 22 and the top 20 is about 17 feet. In the raised position, a chamber is formed by the juxtapositioning of walls 72, 74, 76 and 78 wherein the inflatable air seal is positioned. The air seal is inflated forming a water tight seal. While the inflatable air seal is the preferred embodiment, a fixed seal can be used and compressed within the formed chamber. Alternatively a liner, not shown, can be attached along the upper edge of top tank 40 to form a receptacle for fluid as found in conventional liners. A liner constructed from EDPM or a similar impermeable geo-membrane capable of fluid retention will provide a water tight seal and can easily be repaired or replaced if damaged. When the upper tank 40 is raised above the lower tank 10, the upper container can unfold a liner creating a receptacle similar to a pond liner. Once the tanks are sealed together, water can be introduced into the tanks where the increased amount of weight is distributed along the lower surface 22. The tanks can be made from steel, aluminum, basalt or the like rigid materials.

In a preferred embodiment the side walls 12 and 14 have a height of about 128″ as measured from the bottom 22 to the top edge 21. During transport with the container placed on a tractor, the height between the tire and the upper surface is about 130″ which fits within DOT requirements. In certain States, higher side walls are attainable depending upon bridge passage. During transport a tractor engages the king pin raising the bottom 22 substantially off the ground for ease of transport over unfinished roadways. With the upper tank extended, the height of tanks total about 200″ providing a capacity of about 34,000 U.S. gallons.

Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A transportable expandable storage tank comprising: a rectangular shaped base tank having a bottom and lower walls defined by a first and second lower side wall, a lower back wall and a lower front wall; an upper tank having upper walls defined by first and second upper side walls, an upper back wall, and an upper front wall, said upper tank constructed and arranged to fit within said base tank; means for lifting said upper tank walls a predetermined distance above said base tank bottom; a seal positioned between said lower walls and said upper walls; whereby said upper tank being raised above said lower tank creates an enlarged storage chamber.

2. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said means for lifting is a jack attached to at least one lower wall and to at least one upper wall wherein extension of the jack is used to lift the upper walls a predetermined distance.

3. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 2 wherein said jack is pneumatically controlled.

4. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said seal formed from a rubber tube that is pneumatically filled.

5. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 4 wherein said seal is positionable within a chamber from by an outer surface of said upper walls and an inner surface of said lower walls.

6. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said bottom is supported by a least one axle with wheels along a first end and includes a king pin along a second end, said king pin securable to a tractor for transporting the storage tank.

7. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 6 wherein said bottom is constructed and arranged wherein a majority of a bottom surface is placed on the ground when the tank is used to hold water and the bottom surface is raised from the ground when said king pin is secured to the tractor.

8. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said upper tank includes a top.

9. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 8 wherein said top includes at least one vent to provide air relief when while the storage tank is in the process of being filled or emptied.

10. The transportable expandable storage tank according to claim 1 including an inlet connection and an outlet connection positioned in the lower front wall, said inlet and outlet connection available for coupling to fluid lines for filling and emptying of the storage tank.