Typically soil test may refer to one or more than one of a wide variety of soil analysis conducted for one of several possible reasons. Most of the time soil testing is performed by commercial labs that offer a variety of tests, targeting the specific groups of compounds and minerals. The advantages associated with local lab are that they are very much familiar with the chemistry of the soil in the area where the sample was taken. This helps the technicians to recommend the tests that are most likely to reveal useful information for coming to a conclusion. 

To investigate for the presence of petroleum or others, three to four soil borings are advanced around the perimeter of the buried tank. Each of the soil samples is evaluated on the site for the petroleum and the sample indicating the highest field screen reading is submitted to the New Jersey certified laboratory for the testing purposes. The soils borings rely on the premise that if a tank leaks, the oil will be found in the soils next to the tank.

Soil borings also allow you to help about quantifying the extent of the oil in the soil b running soil samples for independent laboratory analysis. When anyone needs an underground storage tank tested to satisfy an agreement of sale in a real estate transaction, soil borings is the recommended course of action. This method of soil testing  the soil around the tank or the former tank area for the presence of heating oil. This method might not make any damage to the tank or the landscaping.