Transportable storage tank

Abstract

The instant invention is an environmentally friendly transportable storage tank having a particular use within the oil/gas industry for the temporary holding of produced water or water used in fracing. The storage tank has a lower tank that houses an upper tank for transport, the upper tank can be raised vertically at a job site by use of corner mounted pneumatic jacks. The upper and lower tanks are temporarily sealed together expanding the capacity of the lower tank without increasing the footprint of the storage vessel. The storage tank can be transported along road ways when the upper tank is retracted into the lower tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transportable expandable storage tank comprising: a rectangular shaped base tank having a bottom and lower walls defined by a first and second lower side wall, a lower back wall and a lower front wall; an upper tank having upper walls defined by first and second upper side walls, an upper back wall, and an upper front wall, said upper tank constructed and arranged to fit within said base tank; means for lifting said upper tank walls a predetermined distance above said base tank bottom; a seal positioned between said lower walls and said upper walls; whereby said upper tank being raised above said lower tank creates an enlarged storage chamber. 
     
     
         2 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein said means for lifting is a jack attached to at least one lower wall and to at least one upper wall wherein extension of the jack is used to lift the upper walls a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         3 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 2  wherein said jack is pneumatically controlled. 
     
     
         4 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein said seal formed from a rubber tube that is pneumatically filled. 
     
     
         5 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 4  wherein said seal is positionable within a chamber from by an outer surface of said upper walls and an inner surface of said lower walls. 
     
     
         6 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein said bottom is supported by a least one axle with wheels along a first end and includes a king pin along a second end, said king pin securable to a tractor for transporting the storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 6  wherein said bottom is constructed and arranged wherein a majority of a bottom surface is placed on the ground when the tank is used to hold water and the bottom surface is raised from the ground when said king pin is secured to the tractor. 
     
     
         8 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 1  wherein said upper tank includes a top. 
     
     
         9 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 8  wherein said top includes at least one vent to provide air relief when while the storage tank is in the process of being filled or emptied. 
     
     
         10 . The transportable expandable storage tank according to  claim 1  including an inlet connection and an outlet connection positioned in the lower front wall, said inlet and outlet connection available for coupling to fluid lines for filling and emptying of the storage tank.