Oil tank backfill is the material that is used to fill in the excavated space around installed fuel tanks and their access pipes. In achieving a stable work area nearby the pipelines and fuel tanks, space is often filled with crushed stone sand or pea gravel, depending on what works best for you.
The backfill is the stuff implemented around the fuel tank while it is being installed underground. The EPA has a lot to say about what goes in the backfill or bedding. The exact size, shape, and material are dictated by them; it can be clean sand or pea gravel no larger than one-quarter inch. They also forbid using excavated materials from installation sites on top of that!
Backfill materials are specially made for the EPA-designated underground storage tanks. They cannot be anything other than what is specified by them because these storage tanks have to meet their standards and specifications.
Installation and enforcement specifications for fuel tanks buried underground, including the depth of cover, are well-understood by oil tank installation engineers and oil tank building firms. They’ll regularly interact with local stone and gravel companies to provide the accurate combination needed for underground oil tank construction or getting an older tank up to code to avoid tank spills and falls.
Why is the gravel that encloses an oil tank causing such a stir?
By the law of gravity, the weight of a tank is an essential consideration. Groundwater can cause tanks to float if they are not properly filled with oil backfill, and this could lead to disastrous consequences for people who work around them.
In many parts of the country, high groundwater levels are common. In order to account for these conditions during installation, engineers work with oil tank construction companies they must calculate buoyancy and add countermeasures against rising waters in case water tries to displace it.
