Underground Gasoline Extraction Made Easier

The Abanaki PetroXtractor® Well Oil Skimmer, used for the removal of oil, fuel, and other floating hydrocarbons from water, where access is limited, was recently evaluated by BJAMM Environmental, Inc. of Canal Fulton, Ohio. Working closely with the Ohio EPA and the Bureau of Underground Storage Agency, this group of consultants deal primarily with gasoline stations using underground storage and industrial sites concerned with ground water contamination. They define potential risk and provide ongoing monitoring and reporting until a no further action status is achieved.

Always researching new resources and tools to provide better service to their customers, BJAMM became aware of the Abanaki Corporation’s oil skimmer technology. Dave Sears, a Research and Development Troubleshooter for the company, was given the Abanaki PetroXtractor well oil skimmer for evaluation. The PetroXtractor is ideal for the removal of floating hydrocarbon liquids and can help reduce the oil or fuel content in water to an acceptable EPA level. Designed for those applications that have a limited access area and a deep drop between the mounting surface and the surface of the liquid, it is especially successful in groundwater remediation systems, monitoring wells, recovery wells, and underground tanks.

In dealing with spills, BJAMM has several alternatives at their disposal. They can use monitoring wells to check contamination levels and in some cases use the Abanaki PetroXtractor well oil skimmer to bring contaminate to acceptable levels. For the monitoring and recovery of free floating gasoline products BJAMM may use an existing monitoring well or will drill new wells if necessary. The Abanaki PetroXtractor is very successful in this type of application. The company uses the PetroXtractor A in monitoring wells. “Abanaki’s one-inch belt works in these small wells and in some cases will reduce the number of new wells needed” explains Dave Sears. BJAMM has mounted the skimmer on a mobile hydraulically elevated table. “The platform can be raised/lowered about 20 inches. This allows us to move the PetroXtractor from one well to the next….and adjust for variation in water level.” Recovered gasoline products are then discharged into 55 gallon drums. A local waste management company disposes of the drum.

A dependable and cost effective means of removing oil, fuel and other floating hydrocarbons from water, the Abanaki PetroXtractor well oil skimmer unit can be used anywhere electric power or compressed air is available. Explosion proof and pneumatic motors are an option for use in areas where combustible fumes may be present. The skimmer’s rugged construction keeps it running under the most severe conditions.

Dave Sears feels “the skimmer does a good job”. He likes the way Abanaki listens and responds. “The original one-inch belt supplied with the PetroXtractor tended to twist and curl up…we told Abanaki that “we thought it might be too thin.” They responded by supplying a belt with a thicker backing… and this has worked much better…”Abanaki listens to our feedback and is very helpful”. He expects to use the skimmer on other sites for gasoline products and has a proposal pending to use it for oil recovery in industrial settings.

Copyright Abanaki Corporation.