Is It Safe to Cut Up an Old Oil Tank?

One question I’m often asked is whether an old heating oil tank can be cut up into smaller sections for removal. This question usually comes up because of access issues. An extension may have been built since the tank was installed, or gates, fencing, trees or other obstacles can make it difficult to remove the tank in one piece.

I regularly cut up both plastic and steel oil tanks as part of the removal process. Before an old oil tank is cut up, however, any remaining heating oil and sludge needs to be removed.

In this case study, I’ll look at a recent job involving the removal of a large steel heating oil tank. The tank was elevated approximately four feet above ground level on steel supports and, due to its size, removing it in one piece wasn’t a practical option.

Need an old oil tank removed?
I remove plastic and steel heating oil tanks throughout Northern Ireland, including tanks that need to be cut up because of their size or restricted access. Contact Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email: andrew@removerr.co.uk.

Cutting Up an Old Oil Tank: (case study)

The customer had purchased the property around six months earlier, and in the corner of the garage was a large decommissioned steel heating oil tank with a capacity of approximately 2,000–2,500 litres.

The tank was in an unusual position. It was elevated approximately four feet above the floor on steel H-beams and was partially enclosed by walls on three sides. There was a wall behind the tank, another to the left and a smaller wall on the right, which made removing such a large tank in one piece impractical.

There was also approximately 200 litres of heating oil remaining in the tank. Understandably, the homeowner was concerned about leaving this amount of oil in a redundant tank and the potential consequences if the tank were ever to develop a leak. He contacted me to have the remaining heating oil removed and the old tank professionally dismantled and taken away.

How Do You Safely Cut Up an Old Oil Tank?

Before I could begin dismantling the tank, the first priority was dealing with the approximately 200 litres of heating oil that remained inside.

I initially cut a small access opening, or porthole, into the side of the tank. This served two purposes: it opened the tank for ventilation and also gave me access to the inside. Larger steel heating oil tanks will often have internal support rods or braces running across them, so access to the inside of the tank is necessary when it is being dismantled into separate sections.

The porthole also allowed me to remove the majority of the heating oil before dismantling the tank any further. At this stage I was able to drain approximately 90% of the remaining oil, greatly reducing the amount of liquid left inside the tank and the risk of a spill during the removal.

Using a Cold-Cutting Method on a Steel Oil Tank

When cutting up an old steel oil tank, I use a cold-cutting method rather than equipment that produces a flame or significant heat and sparks. For this job I used a reciprocating saw fitted with a metal-cutting blade.

Cutting steel in this way still produces small metal fragments and swarf, so suitable PPE equipment is important. I wear eye protection, gloves and clothing that keeps my arms and skin covered while carrying out this type of work.

Once most of the heating oil had been removed, I cut away the front section of the tank. This provided better access to the remaining oil and residue at the bottom.

Because of the position of this particular tank, access to the sides and rear was extremely restricted. I therefore removed the upper section of the tank before working from within the opened tank to dismantle the inaccessible side and rear sections. The internal support rods also had to be dealt with as the tank was dismantled, otherwise the individual steel sections could not be separated and removed.

What Happens to the Oil Left in the Bottom of the Tank?

After the larger sections had been removed, I could properly access the bottom of the tank and deal with the remaining heating oil and residue. Oil-absorbent spill pads were used to collect the residual oil and leave the base of the tank clean.

I also placed protective sheeting over the cleaned area while working inside the opened tank. Apart from keeping my footwear clean, this helped prevent residual contamination from being transferred outside the immediate working area.

Once the bottom of the tank was free from heating oil, I was able to divide the remaining base into manageable sections and remove them individually from the steel supports.

Can You Cut Up a Plastic Oil Tank?

Yes, plastic heating oil tanks can also be cut into smaller sections for removal, and I regularly do this where a tank is too large to remove intact or where access to the property is restricted.

The basic principle is similar to removing a steel oil tank. Before cutting the tank, any remaining heating oil and sludge needs to be removed. Once the tank has been emptied, it can then be cut into manageable sections for removal.

In my experience, cutting up a plastic oil tank is generally a simpler process than dismantling a steel tank. There is no steel swarf to contend with and the same considerations around heat and sparks associated with cutting metal do not apply. I normally use a reciprocating saw for plastic tanks as well, although fitted with a blade suitable for cutting plastic rather than the metal-cutting blade used on a steel tank.

Restricted access is probably the most common reason I cut up plastic oil tanks. Over the years, I’ve removed hundreds of oil tanks from properties where extensions, new fencing, gates, mature trees or other changes to the property have made it difficult or impractical to remove the tank in one piece.

In these situations, cutting the tank into smaller, manageable sections is often the simplest way to remove it. This is particularly useful where access is limited through a side passage, gateway or other narrow area of the property.

Oil Tank Removal Across Northern Ireland

Removerr provides oil tank removal and disposal services across Northern Ireland. This service covers plastic oil tanks, metal oil tanks, single skin and bunded oil tanks. Where access is restricted or a tank is too large to remove in one piece, it can also be cut into smaller sections as part of the removal.

As part of the service, a pre-notification is submitted to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) three working days before the tank is removed. The quoted price includes the removal and disposal of up to two drums (40 litres) of waste heating oil, which is normally more than enough to deal with any residual oil or sludge remaining in the bottom of the tank.

Once the tank has been removed and the waste has been processed, customers receive a copy of the relevant paperwork confirming the disposal.

If you have an old oil tank that needs removed, call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@remover.co.uk for a quote.