Method Of Converting Shipping Containers To Fluid Tanks

Abstract

A method of constructing a moveable storage tank for the temporary storage of liquids at a fixed location, including the steps of obtaining a moveable shipping container having a bottom section, a top section, two side sections and two end pieces, and removing the end pieces to form a container housing having two end openings. The method further includes installing a shaped floor panel over the bottom section of the container housing to form a reservoir bottom, followed by installing a pair of side panels to the shaped floor panel and two side sections of the container housing to form the reservoir sidewalls. The method also includes the step of installing a pair of bulkheads to the shaped floor panel and the side panels at the two end openings to form a liquid-tight liquids reservoir that is integrated within and substantially conforms to the box-like shape of the container housing.

1 . A method of constructing a moveable storage tank for the temporary storage of liquids at a fixed location comprising:
 obtaining a moveable shipping container having a bottom section, a top section, two side sections and two end pieces;   removing the two end pieces to form a container housing having two end openings;   installing a shaped floor panel over the bottom section of the container housing to form a reservoir bottom;   installing a pair of side panels adjacent the shaped floor panel and the side sections of the container housing to form two reservoir sidewalls; and   installing a pair of bulkheads to the shaped floor panel and the pair of side panels at the two end openings to form two reservoir endwalls, wherein the reservoir bottom, sidewalls and endwalls combine to form a liquid-tight liquids reservoir integrated within the moveable container housing.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the outside of the shaped floor panel, the pair of side panels and the pair of bulkheads to substantially conform to the inside of the container housing. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reinforcing the container housing in a manner sufficient to support a second container housing stacked atop the moveable storage tank and fillable with liquids. 
   
   
       4 . A method of forming a frac tank for the temporary storage of well drilling liquids at a fixed location comprising:
 obtaining a shipping container with removed end pieces to form a container housing having a bottom section, a top section, two side sections and two end openings;   installing a shaped reservoir floor over the bottom section of the container housing;   installing two reservoir sidewalls adjacent the shaped floor panel and two side sections of the container housing;   installing two reservoir bulkheads adjacent the reservoir floor and the two reservoir sidewalls to form a liquid-tight frac tank reservoir integrated within the container housing, the frac tank being thereby transportable on a shipping container transport.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising configuring the outside of the shaped floor panel, the pair of side panels and the pair of bulkheads to substantially conform to the inside of the container housing. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising reinforcing the container housing in a manner sufficient to support a second container housing stacked atop the moveable storage tank and fillable with liquids. 
   
   
       7 . A transportable storage tank for the temporary storage of liquids at a fixed location comprising:
 a shipping container housing having a generally box-like shape with a bottom section, a top section, two side sections and two end openings; and   a liquids reservoir integrated within the shipping container housing, the liquids reservoir further comprising:
 a reservoir bottom formed from a shaped floor panel installed over the bottom section of the container housing; 
 two reservoir sidewalls formed from a pair of side panels attached to the shaped floor panel and two side sections of the container housing; 
 two reservoir end pieces formed from a pair of bulkheads attached to the shaped floor panel and the pair of side panels at the two end openings, wherein the reservoir bottom, the reservoir sidewalls and the reservoir end pieces join together to form a liquid-tight liquids reservoir. 
   
   
   
       8 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the liquids reservoir substantially conforms to the box-like shape of the container housing. 
   
   
       9 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the shipping container housing is made from a Series 1 General Cargo Freight Container manufactured to ISO Standard 668, effective as of the filing date hereof. 
   
   
       10 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the tank is transportable on a shipping container transport. 
   
   
       11 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the tank can be loaded and unloaded from the shipping container transport with a forklift. 
   
   
       12 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the tank can be loaded and unloaded from a tilt-bed shipping container transport. 
   
   
       13 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the tank is stackable atop another transportable fluid storage tank. 
   
   
       14 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the reservoir bottom, the two reservoir sidewalls and the two reservoir end pieces are formed from steel alloy plate having a thickness of at least about 0.25 inches. 
   
   
       15 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the reservoir bottom, the two reservoir sidewalls and the two reservoir end pieces are welded to each other and to the container housing to form substantially liquid-tight joints. 
   
   
       16 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the shaped floor panel further comprises a flattened V-shaped floor panel with a groove configured for channeling fluid. 
   
   
       17 . The storage tank of  claim 16 , further comprising a cleanout flange formed in at least one of the pair of bulkheads and in line with the central groove of the V-shaped floor panel. 
   
   
       18 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , further comprising a manifold system formed in at least one of the pair of bulkheads configured for conveying fluid into and out of the storage tank. 
   
   
       19 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , wherein the two reservoir sidewalls further comprise side panels having stiffening ribs associated therewith. 
   
   
       20 . The storage tank of  claim 19 , wherein the stiffening ribs are horizontal. 
   
   
       21 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , further comprising access ports formed in the top section of the container housing, the access ports being operable to allow for the cleaning, repair, and maintenance of the internal surfaces of the reservoir. 
   
   
       22 . The storage tank of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one support beam extending from an upper portion of one of the two reservoir sidewalls to an upper portion of an other reservoir sidewall, and wherein the support beam is coupled to the top section of the container housing.