NOW I'm getting some "outside of the box" ideas about this.
That alone could be the decider of what needs to be done. Oil heaters look great and all but I think my drinking water should come first...
The first thing I did (well the only thing so far) was to rake around it to observe for leaks. There is no visual signs of leakage from raking all around it but it sits guessing 5-6 inches below the surface. Tank is 478 feet from my well. (measured from a digital copy of the survey). My well is 290 feet deep. I can see this being a large concern!
I am going to toss a weighted cotton string down in it this weekend to get a better feel. And then I'll try to calculate how much is there.
I wonder what the best procedure would be to use this thing safely as used oil storage? I would guess to drain it down low and then lifting the tank to a final rest up on some blocks so I can monitor the bottom. I know gasoline eats metal, what about oil?
I used to work with oil tanks and shit like this all the time.
If your well is that deep, and this mofo is that close, then it is a concern unless your well is up hill. If its downhill, then it isn't happy.
First, get a stick and see how full it is. Also determine if it is craptacular used motor oil (useless) or if its actually usable fuel. If its usable fuel (i.e. fuel oil!!!) then you are a lucky motherfawker. You can make ok coin off that.
When checking the level, if it is almost full, IMMEDIATELY put extra covers over ALL ports. Water can AND WILL get into those tanks...and guess what gets pushed out every fawking where and creates a huge disaster...Yep! The oil. Now THAT REALLY sucks.
If you think there is jello in there, then you've got bunker oil. Selling that shit WILL fund your next project!!! But when you get it pumped out, heat up the outside of the tank.
But seriously, you don't know WTF you are doing...and you have this large mofo...you need help before you make shit worse. You spill this, you are gonna kill your well and possibly everyone else's well within 500~1,000 feet. These large commercial tanks aren't forgiving.
I'm concerned that it is a commercial tank. they only come out of the ground when they are leaking....
As for the leakage, these tanks always leak from the bottom. If it is leaking, you won't notice it just by raking around the bottom. Usually I'd auger about 2 feet below the tank to check the soil if its leaking.
Just reminding you, DON'T FAWK around with this crap!! But you can do some initial investigation to determine what you've got. Best case scenario, you'll have to pay to get the tank pumped and then the tank cut up. Worse case, you have a release.
Lemme know if you have anymore questions.
). I haven't got a precise number yet but the tank is one that goes in the ground for gas stations. But it's a tad longer and not as wide. Guessing 24' x 6'.
Seriously though, my vote is to sell it as well.
