What is an oil field frac tank and how is one used?

Its a mobile storage tank that is the approximate size of an 18 wheeler's trailer. Basically it is a big box designed to hold water that is pumped into it.





When I worked in the environmental industry we used them as a means to allow sediments to settle out from water that was pumped in. The tanks are fitted with piping that allows water to be pumped out from a high or low suction point at one end of the tank. A pipe at the other end is used to fill the tank. The tank may be fitted with a heating coil which allows steam to be piped in to heat the contents of the tank.





You can use the tank in either batch treatment or continuous treatment. In batch treatment you first fill the tank then treat the water in the tank with chemical or let it settle for a period of time then pump it out. Usually in batch treatment you have two or more tanks so while your filling one tank your letting the other settle





Continuous tratment you pump water in to fill the tant then when its nearly full you pump water out while your continue to pump water in. The lenght of the tank and its volume still allows sediment to settle out.





In the environment industry these tanks are used in conjunction with granular activated carbon filter beds and bag filters. The tanks receive water from the well or dig site. Water is then pumped out of the tank and passed through a 25 to 50 micron bag filter and then passed to the GAC beds afterwhich its discharged to either a sewer or water way.








You can also use these tanks in well development where acid is poured into the well to break up iron oxide that is fouling the well. Water is then pumped into the tank from the well where its neutralized then treated with a GAC





I imagine that similar usages in an oil field would take place. In addition the tanks could be used for water storage for use in drilling as well as water treatment.





Edit


In addition to letting sediment settle in the tank you can also let oils float to the top and collect while water is pumped from near the bottom of the tankWhat is an oil field frac tank and how is one used?
Oil well fracturing is a method to help very tight reservoirs produce more oil and gas. The site below gives a fairly good idea of what is going on. You will note the tanks at the right in the picture, they are the frac tanks or fluid storage tanks.