Project Profile

Oil & Gas Production Water Impoundment

OWNER Oil & Gas Exploration Company
SIZE 5 acres
LOCATION Pennsylvania
DESIGN/MATERIALS 3:1 Slopes
Conductive HDPE geomembrane
Brine-resistant GCL
Geocomposite leak detection layer
Conductive HDPE geomembrane
Cushion non-woven geotextile
Speciality geomembrane leak detection testing

Constraints

National/Local EPA Oversight

Operation of a Leak-Free Design

Stringent Safety Concerns

Community Concerns

Accelerated Construction Schedule

Background

The oil & gas water impoundments located in several counties in PA were deemed insufficient by the EPA and local DEP Agencies following several investigations into groundwater impacts. The previously constructed water impoundments were not performing as designed, and potential water contamination was a concern. In order to continue operation of these impoundments, they were under strict supervision by state and local officials to upgrade several to new and safer standards. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council pushed the legislature and owners for thicker double lined systems in all holding ponds.

Solution

Hallaton Environmental Linings was contracted to provide design and material input to implement a new best practice geosynthetic impoundment design. It was recommended that owners install a multi-layer geosynthetic liner system consisting of 4 layers: a primary HDPE geomembrane liner, a geocomposite leak detection layer, a secondary HDPE geomembrane liner, and a bottom geocomposite drainage layer. In addition to the double lined system, Hallaton provided geomembrane leak detection testing post liner installation per ASTM D 6365.

Related Photos