- Recovers hydrocarbons from monitoring wells as small as 2″ ID — no pump required.
- Fixed-speed (MWBS) or variable-speed (MWVBS) operation for precise oil recovery rates from below-grade applications.
- Automatically removes oil from the surface of groundwater without disturbing the water table.
- Belt reach up to 25 ft standard; custom lengths on request.
- Polyurethane or stainless steel belts in 2″, 2.25″, or 4″ widths.
- Ideal for remediation jobs , spill sites, and LUST fund applications.
- No moving parts below grade except the belt — minimal maintenance, long life.
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
IN STOCK. READY FOR YOUR WELL. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Monitoring Well Belt Skimmer Features
The Belt Skimmers (TBS) are used mostly on wastewater applications. We’ve developed specialized units for product recovery from 2″, 4″, and larger wells — the Monitoring Well Belt Skimmer (MWBS) and its variable-speed cousin, the MWVBS.
01
Design
- Compact belt-driven design fits in monitoring and recovery wells 2″ ID and larger.
- Fixed-speed (MWBS) or variable-speed (MWVBS) configurations for application-specific tuning.
- Polyurethane or stainless steel belts in 2″, 2.25″ (SS), or 4″ widths , with lower tail pulley assemblies and weighted guides.
- Belt reach up to 25 ft standard ; custom lengths available for deeper applications.
- Stainless steel frame with UHMW polymer scraper blades; nylon drive pulley; stainless-steel / nylon tail pulley with SS retainer chain.
- Non-clog polyurethane webbing in narrow wells to prevent belt cogging.
02
PERFORMANCE
- Recovers oil, gasoline, diesel, and hydrocarbons floating on top of the water table.
- Operates continuously with gravity-fed discharge — no manual pump handling needed.
- Optimized for LUST remediation and SPCC compliance at fuel sites, gas stations, and terminals.
- Minimal water collection — designed for oil selectivity at the interface.
- Typical collection : 1–4 GPH depending on belt width, reach, and oil viscosity.
03
Motor & Electrical
- 30 RPM permanent magnet synchronous motor — continuous-duty, industry-proven.
- Amp draw: 0.055 A (7 W) — essentially zero operating cost.
- 64 oz-in of torque ; AGMA7 gears.
- 115V/1/60Hz standard ; 220V/1/50Hz and 220V/1/60Hz available for international deployments.
04
INSTALLATION
- No pump needed — gravity chute directs recovered oil to collection drum.
- Plug-and-play design allows installation in minutes.
- Lower tail pulley keeps belt aligned and submerged without external guides.
- Weighted tail pulley for narrow-belt wells; wider belts use tail pulley without weight. Polyurethane webbing is used in 2″ and 4″ wells to prevent cog meshing.
05
Temperature Rating
- Polyurethane belt: 120°F (50°C)
- Stainless steel belt: 210°F (100°C)
06
Warranty & Support
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on MWBS and MWVBS units (manufacturing defects only, from shipment date). Motor failure due to moisture or liquid immersion is not warranted.
- Belts are warranted for 90 days from shipment for weld-joint breakage only. Belts are not warranted for oil pickup rates, longevity, swelling, or stretching.
- Polyurethane belt stretch : poly belts may stretch slightly in use. If this becomes an issue, we’ll cut and re-bond at no charge (outcome depends on prior fluid exposure).
- Full support from SkimOIL ® engineers to help with setup, usage, and application-specific tweaks.
- Custom configurations available — call for special belt lengths, webbing types, or well fittings.
- Same-day shipping on stocked configurations.
WHY MONITORING WELL SKIMMERS ARE BECOMING SITE REQUIREMENTS
With underground contamination from aging tanks still a widespread problem, more sites are turning to Monitoring Well Skimmers for long-term remediation. These systems allow for continuous, pump-free recovery of hydrocarbons directly from the water table. Industries are realizing the value of automated, below-grade oil removal — before the problem spreads above ground.
The Application: Below-Grade Skimming from Wells
The Belt Skimmers (TBS) are used mostly on wastewater applications; we’ve developed specialized units for product recovery from 2″, 4″, and larger wells — the Monitoring Well Belt Skimmer (MWBS). Oil and hydrocarbons are attracted to belts by surface tension, then lifted up and scraped off the belt. The collected oil flows by gravity down a chute or trough to the collection device. The collection rate depends on belt width, “reach” (distance from the skimmer to the bottom of the belt), and the type of product being recovered.
Lower tail pulley assemblies for narrower belts are fitted with a weight below the tail pulley; wider belts use a tail pulley without the weight. To prevent cogs from meshing in 2″ and 4″ wells, a polyurethane web is used. This has its own weight and ends just above the tail pulley assembly. Single-speed (MWBS) and variable-speed (MWVBS) configurations available.
MWVBS & Automatic Operation : Skimming Without Pumping
The MWVBS variable-speed belt skimmer can be fitted for use on monitoring or product-recovery wells 2″ ID and larger, using the application-appropriate belt width and material with a special lower tail pulley assembly. Reach up to 25 ft (with custom lengths for deeper sites) — the beauty of the variable-speed is that you can tune the belt speed and recovery rate to fit the specific application. NO PUMPING and simple hands-off automatic operation (HOA). The Monitoring Well Belt Skimmers are often used for remediation jobs to recover oil, diesel, or gasoline sitting on top of the water table, at spill sites or where leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) have been removed.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Models | MWBS (fixed-speed), MWVBS (variable-speed) |
| Minimum well ID | 2" |
| Belt widths | 2", 2.25" (SS only), or 4" |
| Belt materials | Polyurethane or Stainless Steel 304 |
| Belt reach | Up to 25 ft standard; custom lengths on request |
| Motor | 30 RPM permanent magnet synchronous, continuous duty |
| Amp draw / Power | 0.055 A / 7 W |
| Torque | 64 oz-in |
| Voltage | 115V/1/60Hz std; 220V/1/50Hz and 220V/1/60Hz available |
| Frame | Stainless steel with UHMW polymer scraper blades/ends |
| Drive pulley | Nylon |
| Tail pulley | SS/nylon with SS retainer chain |
| Temperature — poly belt | 120°F (50°C) |
| Temperature — SS belt | 210°F (100°C) |
| Typical collection rate | 1–4 GPH |
| Warranty — unit | 1 year from shipment (manufacturing defects) |
| Warranty — belts | 90 days from shipment (weld-joint breakage only) |
| Shipping | Same-day on stocked configurations |
The Bigger Problem: LUST Tanks and Long-Term Contamination
Most states have a “LUST” fund that owners of underground storage tanks (UST) have to contribute to — because usually any older steel tank buried in the ground is at risk of leaking. When a tank leaks, hydrocarbons sit on top of the water table, and without a recovery system they spread. Monitoring wells let remediation teams see the extent of contamination; Monitoring Well Belt Skimmers then let you pull that product out continuously, cleanly, and without pumping water along with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What well sizes can the Monitoring Well Belt Skimmers be used in?
They are designed for monitoring wells 2″, 4″, and larger , with belt widths selected to match the well diameter.
How deep can these skimmers reach?
Standard reach is up to 25 feet , with extended lengths available for deeper applications.
Do I need a pump for oil recovery?
No. Recovered product flows by gravity to a collection container.
What types of hydrocarbons can it recover?
Oil, gasoline, diesel, and similar floating hydrocarbons.