01
Diesel transfer & filtration
We filtered the diesel during transfer from the old steel tank into the customer-supplied replacement. A filter in the transfer line formed part of the fuel-handling setup.
Case Study — Diesel Transfer & Tank Removal
Diesel Transfer & 10,000-Litre Steel Tank Removal
Moving diesel into a customer-supplied tank and removing the old steel tank from an agricultural site in Oxford, Oxfordshire.
10,000L
Old tank capacity
Diesel
Fuel transfer scope
HIAB
Steel tank removal
16 Sept
Completed in 2026
Project Overview
A new tank in place.
The old one ready to go.
An agricultural site in Oxford, Oxfordshire, needed the remaining diesel transferred from its existing steel tank, followed by removal of the old tank using a HIAB crane.
The old steel tank had a capacity of 10,000 litres. The customer had purchased the replacement separately and positioned it beside the existing tank before Britteco attended. Our commercial oil tank removal work combined diesel transfer, filtration and HIAB lifting.
The customer’s fuel-level readouts were not working, making the remaining volume uncertain. Planning therefore relied on the available estimates and coordination with the site team.
We also checked for the presence of water using water-finding paste on a dipping tool. This formed part of the fuel checks for the project.
LocationOxford, Oxfordshire
Site typeagricultural site
Britteco scopeDiesel transfer and HIAB tank removal
Replacement tankPurchased and positioned by the customer
Scope of Works
Two clear tasks.
Transfer the remaining diesel and remove the old steel tank, with the responsibilities for the replacement already agreed.
02
HIAB tank removal
We used a HIAB crane to lift and remove the old 10,000-litre steel tank after the diesel transfer.
The replacement tank’s installation was excluded from Britteco’s agreed scope. Electrical connection was allocated to the customer’s electrician.
Preparation
Fuel, access and
site coordination.
The preparation focused on the fuel still in the old tank, the space needed for the transfer equipment and arrangements with the site team.
Uncertain fuel level
The tank’s level readouts had failed, so the remaining diesel could not be read from the gauges. The customer’s estimates ranged from around 5,000 to 8,000 litres.
Access and hose reach
The transfer was planned around a vehicle-to-tank distance of approximately 5–10 metres, allowing for the hose reach and access needed on site.
Working with the site
We coordinated the work with the site team, including access arrangements and the requirement for high-visibility clothing.
Photo Record
The actual project.
Photographs of the original tank, transfer equipment and site following removal.
Completion
Diesel transferred.
Old tank removed.
The diesel transfer and steel tank removal were completed on 16 September 2026.
Britteco filtered and transferred the diesel to the customer-supplied tank, then removed the old steel tank using a HIAB. The replacement tank had already been purchased and positioned by the customer.
Our scope focused on fuel handling and removal of the redundant tank. Installation and electrical connection of the replacement remained outside Britteco’s agreed works.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you transfer fuel from an old tank to a new one?
We pump the diesel from the old tank into the new tank through a filtration unit, so the new tank starts with clean fuel. Nothing usable is wasted and you do not have to buy a fresh delivery.
I already have a new tank. Can you just remove the old one?
Yes. On this job the client had already installed a customer-supplied replacement tank, so we quoted only for the fuel transfer and the removal of the old 10,000-litre steel tank.
How are large steel fuel tanks taken away?
Most large above-ground tanks are lifted out in one piece with a HIAB crane lorry once they are empty. Where there is no room for a lift, the tank can be cold cut into sections on site instead.
What if the fuel level in the old tank is unknown?
That is common when gauges have failed. We plan for the worst case, bring enough hose and pumping capacity, and confirm the actual quantity on the day before the transfer starts.
Can I remove an old oil tank myself?
It is not recommended. Even an ’empty’ tank can hold fuel vapour and sludge, and the waste has to be handled and documented correctly. A specialist contractor empties, cleans or cuts the tank safely and provides the disposal paperwork.
Discuss Your Project
Need diesel transferred
and an old tank removed?
Tell us about your tank, the fuel remaining and the available access. Britteco can discuss the scope for your commercial oil tank removal project and whether HIAB tank removal is suitable.
