Field Erected Tanks

When Tank Size Exceeds What a Shop Can Ship, We Build On-Site

Some projects simply cannot be solved with a shop-built vessel. When capacity requirements reach large-scale storage volumes, field-erected tanks are the engineered answer. We have the experience, equipment, and field-certified crews to design and construct large-scale storage tanks directly at your facility, anywhere in the country.

Abtrex Industries has been doing this work for nearly sixty years. Not as a sideline to our core business, but as a natural extension of the fabrication, lining, and field service capabilities we’ve built since the 1960s. When a tank has to go up on-site, we bring the shop to you.

We have delivered cost effective, high-quality tank construction to clients in chemical processing, oil and gas, industrial water treatment, mining, and more. Whether you need a single large vessel or multiple tanks designed for a complex storage system, Abtrex brings turnkey capabilities and state-of-the-art fabrication expertise directly to your job site.

Why Field Construction Makes Sense

The decision between shop fabrication and field construction usually comes down to size. Vessels that exceed roughly 12 ft. in diameter can’t be transported intact cost effectively from a manufacturing facility over public roads. Once you’re specifying capacity in the hundreds of thousands or millions of gallons, shop fabrication stops being a viable option. Field-erected storage tanks are constructed from prefabricated steel plates shipped to the site and assembled by certified crews on location. It’s more logistically complex than buying a shop-built vessel, but for large-scale storage solutions, it’s often the only path that makes engineering sense.

Materials and Standards

At Abtrex, proper material selection is the foundation of every project. Carbon steel is the workhorse of field tank construction, with most projects utilizing either carbon steel or stainless steel based on the stored contents and the specific corrosion conditions.

For oil storage tanks and most industrial liquid storage, we design and build to API 650, the standard that governs welded steel tanks and sets the bar for weld quality, structural integrity, and long term serviceability at pressures up to 2.5psig. For tanks designed to operate at internal pressures up to 14.9psig we also build to API 620, which extends those same principles of rigorous engineering to vessels that shop fabrication simply cannot accommodate at scale. If the project involves potable water, material and lining specifications shift accordingly, and we work to the appropriate standards for that service as well.

Our engineering team evaluates each project for the appropriate material grade, wall thickness, roof design, and protective lining or coating system, all before a single plate is set.

The result is a large, permanent storage solution that is purpose-built for the site, the product being stored, and the environmental conditions of the location.

What Gets Built in the Field

Field tanks serve a wide range of industries and storage needs, including:

• Oil and gas – Large-diameter oil storage tanks for upstream, midstream, and downstream operations
• Potable water – Municipal and industrial water storage requiring NSF-compliant  linings
• Chemical processing – Bulk storage solutions for acids, caustics, and process fluids requiring corrosion-resistant lining systems
• Industrial water treatment – High-volume equalization, retention, and process tanks
• Mining – Abrasion and corrosion-resistant vessels for slurry and reagent storage

The advantage of field construction is flexibility: tank size, geometry, roof style and nozzle placement can all be specified and executed without the dimensional constraints of shop fabrication.

On-Site Rubber Lining & Corrosion Protection

Constructing a massive storage vessel is only half the equation; protecting it from highly corrosive or abrasive materials is just as critical. For field-erected tanks requiring ultimate chemical and wear resistance, our cross-trained field technicians perform complete on-site rubber lining installations. From surface preparation and adhesive application to installing and curing rubber inside massive field-erected structures, we manage the entire lining process at your facility. Beyond new construction, our crews are fully equipped to perform site inspections, emergency repairs, and complete strip-and-relines on existing field equipment. By integrating our primary lining expertise with our tank erection services, we ensure a flawless, impermeable barrier engineered for your exact operational needs.

Field-Erected vs. Shop-Fabrication

Shop fabrication offers speed and controlled production conditions and is an excellent choice for smaller vessels that can be transported without restriction. However, when volume requirements grow beyond what a manufacturing facility can ship intact, field construction becomes not just preferable but necessary.

Field-erected tanks offer:

• No transport size limitations- Build to the capacity the project demands
• Site-Specific Design Integration- Field-erected tanks are engineered to match the exact site layout, constraints, and existing infrastructure, enabling seamless fit and reducing rework
• Integrated lining and coating- Applied after assembly for complete coverage and performance
• Direct coordination- Abtrex manages the full scope, from foundation interface to final inspection

Turnkey Field Construction

What sets Abtrex apart is our vertically integrated approach, combined with the flexibility to incorporate trusted third-party specialists when it best serves the project. Whether performed by our own AWS- and ASME-qualified welders, fitters, and lining experts, or in coordination with carefully vetted partners, all work is executed under direct Abtrex oversight. This ensures a single point of accountability and seamless coordination, eliminating the typical finger-pointing between fabricators and separate contractors when challenges arise.

That means:

• Single-source accountability from engineering through installation
• AWS and ASME qualified welding personnel on every job
• In-house lining and coating application for corrosion and abrasion protection- rubber, protective coatings, FRP and more
• Go anywhere mobilization-  our crews are experienced working in remote, constrained, and active production environments

Whether your project calls for a single large erected tank or a battery of field-erected storage tanks serving a complex storage infrastructure, Abtrex has the personnel and qualifications to deliver.

Request a Quote for Your Field Tank Project

If you are planning a large-scale storage project or need to assess the feasibility of field construction versus other storage solutions, our engineering team is ready to help. Share your capacity requirements, site conditions, and the material to be stored, and we will configure the right approach for your application.

Abtrex has been earning repeat business from customers for decades, not because we’re the easiest call to make, but because we tend to get it right. If you’ve got a project that needs field tanks built by people who know what they’re doing, we’d like to hear about it.