If you have a gallon of gasoline, punch several holes in it below the fuel level, then light the streams of fuel running out when the fuel level drops low enough to allow air to flow inside the can through the highest hole, it will burst because the flame front will go inside the can. BOOM! Well, maybe not boom but it will burst and throw flaming fuel all over hell and part of Kansas.
One gallon vs an entire tank. That is the part that is very relevant. First off it might take hours for it to drain down to below the hole. Not impossible but if your goal is to set off a large capacity fuel tank a .308 is likely a poor choice.
It's been a long time since I took any math classes, but... Assuming these are the tanks, they're about 80 ft in diameter, guesstimating 30 feet high, and he shoots one perfectly round .308 inch hole 15 feet up the side, it would take approximately 24 days to drain the tank to the level of the hole. Again, my math is VERY rusty. Also assumes the tank is freely vented at the top.
Perhaps more concerning is the fact that you could walk up to within a grenade toss of those tanks without ANY barriers. As I said earlier in this thread, our fuel infrastructure is laughably insecure. Actually, not laughably, FRIGHTENINGLY. Gasoline infrastructure is no better than the pics above show for aviation fuel.
The tanks are vented very well. They have to be. If they are not, they crush like a pop can when you dispense flow out. If you remember your physics lessons about pressure and area, the bigger the tank the worse this issue is. They have to breathe in and out for volume changes, and heating cooling thermal changes. Here's a great visual from a demo:
It's only possible to harden them against half-assed attempts at sabotage, especially in urban areas.
I suspect that we're discussing two different scenarios. What I'm talking about is the process of gasoline igniting into an explosion. The quantity doesn't matter. You're right in how long it takes depending on the size of the container. Bigger container = bigger explosion.
LOL, that would give anyone standing there watching it drain plenty of time to visit, maybe, Fla. Hell, in 24 days or so one could walk to Fla from Las Vegas. (maybe trot a bit also.)
Strange, that's how my heart felt with I was turned down for a date with this really cute chick in high school.
Another reason MacGyver doesn't use a gun only if enoughoxidizer is present. If not if might pop and snuff out even. Unlike the poor people he was no threat to those tanks
This thread finally had me take some interest in the actual construction of these bulk fuel storage tanks. While I found little, via internet search, 0f the hard facts (available for a price) like wall thicknesses, pressure reliefs, etc., they are indeed double wall. The steel used is nowhere near as cheap as fence pipe, nor that which would be considered suitable for tube frame chassis, etc. This is serious high grade stuff and the external walls are "ballistic resistant". They also have their own fire suppression systems. These things are built to standards that, I imagine, make them adequately safe (Joe Dipshit can't light one up with his M1) and very expensive.
I have been gone on a 3 day MotoCampOut... the newer ones are constructed differently than the old single wall floating top ones..I have actually welded on some for Hill Petroleum in Panama City back in the 1980's before I moved to Atlanta..
I just had read that he cancelled all his TV appearances at the last minute. Is that "Missing" or "Just doesn't feel like dealing with a media circus"?
Or "Mandalay Bay is facing hundreds of lawsuits and their lawyers contacted the security guard and suggested he not speak publicly"