Pits and ponds are used for storing various types of waste in almost every major industry. However, oilfield pits are some of the most challenging environments to line because of the intense environment. The liners are under constant stress and strain, which can lead to leaks that are hard to detect without stopping operations. Understanding the challenges specific to the oilfield will help you choose liners that can handle all of these issues and more.
Petroleum By-Products
The primary and most obvious issue common to oilfield waste storage is the high level of petroleum by-products. Synthetic based drilling muds are particularly harsh on the liners used for reserve pits since the mixture contains a blend of hydrocarbons like benzene. These chemicals react with the polymers used in the liners to break them down and create leaks. Even water-based hydraulic drilling and fracturing will produce wastewater with some residual hydrocarbons and other compounds that react chemically with liner materials. Make sure to choose a liner with high petroleum resistance, in particular, for oilfield pit lining.
Abrasive Solids
All types of oilfield drilling also create highly abrasive solids as the chips and bits of rock are blasted out of the way to release the oil. This is commonly known as drill cuttings and produced sand. As this material settles rapidly to the bottom of the reserve pit, it both adds weight to stress the liner and mechanical abrasion to wear down its surface. Lesser lining materials quickly become worn through or ripped by the heavy layers of abrasive solids that settle with each new load of wastewater. Add in the extra mechanical strain of routine dredging to remove all this build-up and it’s clear that oilfield pit liners must be tougher than most other flexible materials.
Double Liner Systems
Due to the increased risk of environmental damage when an oilfield pit leaks or seeps, many states require double liner systems for these structures. Double liner installations create a secondary layer of protection in case the initial layer of liner fails and allows a leak to escape. The backup liner captures the liquid and generally sets off a sensor or alarm to alert the operators to the leak. Yet these doubled systems are also quite a bit more work to install and increase the material costs significantly.
Wildlife Access
Oilfield pits are particularly attractive to wildlife because they’re often the only open body of water available anywhere near the area. Due to the need to drain and clear any existing bodies of water on the site, displaced birds and animals often return to the pits assuming they’re safe to drink from. Aside from the impact on the wildlife populations, these contact issues also lead to clogs and water quality problems if animals drown in the water. Setting up nets and fencing adds to the cost of both installation and maintenance, but it’s necessary and may be required by law in many states.
Changing Regulations
Few other industries face the huge changes in regulations that the oil and fuel industry regularly experience. What’s acceptable for storing wastewater right now is likely to change within the next few years, often leaving oilfield owners and operators struggling to adapt to the constant updates. There’s no guarantee that any particular operation will be grandfathered in and allowed to follow previous laws, even if the oilfield is long closed. Future regulation changes can always affect any pits currently or previously used for storing oilfield wastewater and related products, so using a reliable liner is the first step in meeting any potential new requirements.
Close Proximity
Oilfields are usually designed with maximum efficiency in mind. This leads to little space left between reserve pits and other features like containment basins, above-ground tanks, and access roads. Pits and ponds need careful bank design and reinforcement, like flexible polymer liners, to prevent the soil from sliding and collapsing. With so little space between the features on most oilfields, it’s important to prevent soil disturbance that could lead to widespread damage. The collapse of a single pit could start a chain reaction that leads to thousands of dollars’ worth of damage and interrupted operation.
All of these challenges are easily addressed with the combination of careful design and durable, flexible liners. We can certainly help with the latter here at BTL Liners. Shop our selection of petroleum compatible lining products; including ArmorPro.
