A method of cleaning a vertical tank in a tank array comprising the steps of:
- (1) Providing a first vertical tank comprising:
- a tank having a cylindrical upper section having a radius and a conical lower section extending from the cylindrical upper section to a bottom;
- an outlet in the conical lower section and centered at the bottom of the conical lower section;
- a base connected to the tank by a frame wherein the base is in contact with a ground surface and the frame is in contact with the cylindrical upper section;
- a lower manifold having
- a lower vertical conduit in fluid communication with the out of the tank with a first end and an opposing second end, the first end connected to the outlet,
- a plurality of lower horizontal conduits connected to and extending away from the second end of the lower vertical conduit, each terminating in an end and in fluid communication with the lower vertical conduit,
- a lower vertical conduit valve in fluid communication with the lower vertical conduit,
- a plurality of lower horizontal conduit valves corresponding in number to the plurality of lower horizontal conduits wherein each lower conduit valve is in fluid communication with one of the horizontal conduits;
- wherein the lower manifold is between the base and the outlet of the conical lower section;
- an upper manifold having
- a central conduit surrounding a perimeter of the conical lower section;
- a plurality of upper horizontal conduits connected to and extending away from the central conduit, terminating in an end and in fluid communication with the central conduit;
- an upper vertical conduit with a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the central conduit and a second end connected to and in fluid communication with an inlet in the cylindrical upper section of the tank;
- a plurality of upper horizontal conduit valves in fluid communication with the plurality of upper horizontal conduits, wherein the plurality of upper horizontal conduit valves corresponds in number to the plurality of upper horizontal conduits and wherein each upper horizontal conduit valve is connected to one of the upper horizontal conduits;
- and
- a pump having a pump conduit connected adjacently to and in fluid communication with the central conduit of the upper manifold and connected adjacently to and in fluid communication with one of the plurality of the lower horizontal conduits of the lower manifold
- wherein the tank is filled with a water based drilling mud;
- (2) providing a second vertical tank comprising
- a tank having a cylindrical upper section having a radius and a conical lower section extending from the cylindrical upper section to a bottom;
- an outlet in the conical lower section and centered at the bottom of the conical lower section;
- a base connected to the tank by a frame wherein the base is in contact with a ground surface and the frame is in contact with the cylindrical upper section;
- a lower manifold having
- a lower vertical conduit in fluid communication with the out of the tank with a first end and an opposing second end, the first end connected to the outlet,
- a plurality of lower horizontal conduits connected to and extending away from the second end of the lower vertical conduit, each terminating in an end and in fluid communication with the lower vertical conduit,
- a lower vertical conduit valve in fluid communication with the lower vertical conduit,
- a plurality of lower horizontal conduit valves corresponding in number to the plurality of lower horizontal conduits wherein each lower conduit valve is in fluid communication with one of the horizontal conduits;
- wherein the lower manifold is between the base and the outlet of the conical lower section;
- an upper manifold having
- a central conduit surrounding a perimeter of the conical lower section;
- a plurality of upper horizontal conduits connected to and extending away from the central conduit, terminating in an end and in fluid communication with the central conduit;
- an upper vertical conduit with a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the central conduit and a second end connected to and in fluid communication with an inlet in the cylindrical upper section of the tank;
- a plurality of upper horizontal conduit valves in fluid communication with the plurality of upper horizontal conduits, wherein the plurality of upper horizontal conduit valves corresponds in number to the plurality of upper horizontal conduits and wherein each upper horizontal conduit valve is connected to one of the upper horizontal conduits;
- (3) connecting a first end of a first flexible tubing to one of the plurality of lower horizontal conduits of the first vertical tank;
- (4) connecting a second end of the first flexible tubing to one of the plurality of lower horizontal conduits of the second vertical tank;
- (5) connecting a first end of a second flexible tubing to one of the plurality of upper horizontal conduits of the first vertical tank;
- (6) connecting a second end of the second flexible tubing to one of the plurality of upper horizontal conduits on the second vertical tank;
- (7) introducing a cleaning liquid into the tank by way of one of the upper horizontal conduits;
- (8) positioning the upper horizontal conduit valves and the lower horizontal conduit valves of the first vertical tank and the second vertical tank to create a flow path of the cleaning liquid between the first vertical tank and the second vertical tank;
- and
- (9) using the pump of the first vertical tank to circulate the cleaning liquid through the pathway from the outlet of the second vertical tank, through lower manifold of the second vertical tank, through the first flexible tubing, through the lower manifold, pump and central conduit of the first vertical tank, through the second flexible tubing and into the upper manifold of the second vertical tank back into the inlet of the second vertical tank.