When you fill your tank with gas, do you think about gas storage? Pumping fuel is important, but a lot goes on underneath the surface. If you want to know where gas stations store the gas and other interesting facts, keep reading!
Underground Tank
Underneath the pumps at your gas station, an underground storage tank system stores the gas. This allows you to fill up your vehicle’s gas tank. When you drive past your local gas station, you may see the process of filling the storage tanks. Typically, a fuel delivery company representative will refill the tanks by placing a long tube down an opening in the ground. This opening connects to the underground tank. Depending on the gas the station offers, there may be separate tanks to hold regular, premium, and diesel fuel.
How the Gas Gets to the Station
Refilling the tank is just a part of the fuel journey. When you evaluate things in a large scope, you may wonder how the gas gets to the station and into everyone’s vehicle. The second part is easier to answer. When someone goes to the station, they select the gas grade and fill their gas tank. However, the “origin” journey is more interesting.
The United States’ petroleum refineries create gasoline and petroleum products from crude oil (and other imported liquids). Typically, the gasoline goes from refineries through a pipeline into a large storage terminal. The storage terminals are near consumer areas. Before shipping off to gas stations, the blending terminals test the gas batches to ensure they meet local, state, and federal specifications. When the gasoline is ready, delivery companies can access the supply and distribute them to gas stations.
Interesting Facts About Gas Stations
From refineries to your local station, gas has an interesting journey. Here are some interesting facts about gas stations you may not know:
- There are more than 145,000 fueling stations in the United States.
- Many gas station owners operate independently.
- Oregon and New Jersey are the only two states where you can’t pump your own gas.
- Before becoming a restaurant, KFC was a gas station. Colonel Sanders owned a gas station and sold chicken dinners. Years later, he decided to leave the fuel industry and focus on chicken meals.
Now that you know have more insight about gas, you’ll understand the fuel origin story next time you visit your local gas station. It’s truly a fascinating journey from the United States refineries to your neighborhood!