Field-erected tanks are an essential component in industries requiring large-scale storage solutions, such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and water treatment. Unlike shop-built tanks, field-erected tanks are constructed on-site to accommodate vast storage capacities and meet specific project requirements that would be difficult to accomplish in a shop and then transport. In this article, we’ll explore the sizes of these tanks and how they compare to other types of storage tanks.
What Are Common Oil Tank Sizes?
Oil storage tanks come in various sizes to meet the diverse needs of industries. Common options include:
- Small Oil Tank Sizes: These tanks typically range from 275 to 1,000 gallons and are used for residential or small-scale industrial purposes.
- Crude Oil Storage Tank Capacity: Crude oil storage tanks can hold a range from 50,000 to millions of barrels of oil, with sizes often detailed in a crude oil storage tank size chart, like the one shown here.
Some of the largest crude oil tanks, for example, can exceed capacities of 1.5 million barrels, making them indispensable in global petroleum storage operations.
How Big Are Fuel Storage Tanks?
Fuel storage tanks also vary significantly in size (as seen in a fuel tank dimensions chart, depending on their application:
- Small Fuel Tanks: For residential and small-scale industrial settings, small fuel tanks typically range from 250 to 1,500 gallons.
- Large Fuel Tanks: Found in industrial and commercial settings, these tanks often hold tens of thousands of gallons, but can be built to hold millions.
- Underground Fuel Tank: Ranging between 5,000 and 50,000 gallons, underground fuel tanks are often used for commercial applications.
These tanks are designed to meet stringent regulations and safety requirements—including those imposed by the API 650 (American Petroleum Institute), EPA, ASTM, and OSHA—for the storage of flammable materials.
How Big Are Storage Tanks?
Regardless of the material they hold, storage tanks are engineered to fit specific industry needs:
- Small Tanks: Often less than 1,000 gallons, small tanks are used for residential or niche industrial applications, such as a small manufacturing facility.
- Medium Tanks: Common in agriculture and mid-sized industries, medium tanks have capacities of up to 50,000 gallons.
- Large Tanks: These industrial-sized tanks can range from 100,000 gallons to several million gallons, and are frequently used in oil refineries and water treatment facilities.
How Big Are Industrial Storage Tanks?
Industrial storage tanks are among the largest in size, designed to handle vast quantities of material:
- Field-Erected Tanks: Often constructed on-site—rather than shop-built—these tanks can accommodate capacities exceeding 10 million gallons.
- Underground Storage Tanks (USTs): Typically ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 gallons, USTs are often used for fuels or chemicals.
- Large Crude Oil Tanks: These tanks can store millions of barrels and are a critical part of the industrial infrastructure at major refineries, and export terminals where large inventories are required for global demand.
These tanks are customized to meet the demands of industries like oil and gas, chemical manufacturing, and municipal water supply.
What Is a Field-Erected Tank?
A field-erected tank is a storage solution constructed on-site, allowing for customized sizing and design to meet specific operational needs. Suitable for projects where prefabricated tanks are impractical, their construction involves assembling materials like steel or reinforced concrete directly at the site.
Typically used in industries requiring large-scale storage capacities, field-erected tanks can range in size from several thousand gallons to tens of millions of gallons, depending on the industry and application. Where crude oil or other petroleum products often require over 2 million gallons, water treatment facilities can as well.
What Size Are Industrial Water Storage Tanks?
Industrial water storage tanks are vital in sectors like agriculture, municipal water supply, and manufacturing. These tanks can vary widely in size:
- Small to Medium Tanks: Typically, anything up to 50,000 gallons is considered smaller-scale water storage.
- Large Field-Erected Water Tanks: Designed for large-scale applications, these tanks range from hundreds of thousands of gallons to oftentimes exceeding 1 million gallons.
Their sizes and specifications are often detailed in industry standards, for example specific to wastewater facilities.
Field-erected tanks offer unparalleled capacity and customization for industries requiring large-scale liquid or other material storage. From small chemical tanks to water tanks serving municipalities to massive crude oil tanks, understanding the sizes and application options is essential for efficient project planning.
To benefit from our expertise of 125 years of constructing field-erected tanks, contact Kennedy Tank today. We’ll guide you toward the optimal solution for your storage needs.
