BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of the method of the present invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art above ground storage tank at a well site;
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a prior art above ground storage tank with a hole in its wall;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the three layers that result from the claimed invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view the secondary containment area after the liner cloth has been placed over the site;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the secondary containment area after the polyurea coating has been applied to the liner cloth and barrier wall;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for the claimed method;
Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,”“upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves an improved method for constructing the secondary containment area for one or more above ground storage tanks (ASTs). The invention produces an effective, inexpensive, versatile secondary containment area for ASTs.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 100 refers in general to an AST, which has an inlet stream 18, an outlet stream 20 and a valve 22 (or its equivalent) for manipulating the flow rate of the outlet stream (collectively referred to as the “ancillary piping”). The produced water flowing through the ancillary piping and stored in the AST 100 can be highly corrosive and, if released into the environment, can contaminate ground water in the area. The claimed invention is thus directed towards a method of constructing a secondary containment area to collect any spillage or leakage from an AST.
Even though FIG. 1 shows a cylindrical AST with its axis oriented perpendicular the ground 2, one skilled in the art knows that the claimed invention would work equally as well with ASTs of varying size, shape, and orientation relative to the ground. Accordingly, use of directional terms such as above, below, up, down, upper, and lower and the like are used with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures and should not be construed as limitations on the invention. In addition, although FIG. 1 depicts a single AST, the principles of the present invention are applicable to arrays of two or more ASTs.
A flowchart 300 for the claimed method is shown in FIG. 6. The secondary containment area is constructed using the following steps: leveling the AST site 302, placing a foundation bed on the site 304, building a retaining barrier around the site 306, cover the foundation bed with liner cloth and secure it to the retaining barrier 308, and coating the liner cloth and barrier with a polyurea spray 310. Each of these steps will be considered in more detail below.
Referring now to FIG. 3, therein is depicted the three layers that result from practicing the claimed method. The foundation bed 202 supports the liner cloth 204. The foundation bed 202 is preferably composed of materials such as gravel or dirt. The foundation bed 202 is also preferably sloped towards one end or corner to allow any leakage from an AST to form a pool of liquid that can be easily pumped out of the secondary containment area. The liner cloth 204 can be a geotextile, blown fabric, felt, or an equivalent fabric with some degree of permeability so that the polyurea coating 206 can adhere to the liner cloth 204 and form a solid, impermeable layer. The liner cloth is preferably a geotextile mat with a weight between #12 ounce and #16 ounce depending on the size of the secondary containment area. The polyurea coating 206 is impervious to the liquid stored in the AST and serves to contain any spillage or leakage that may escape from the AST.
Referring next to FIG. 4, therein is depicted the secondary containment area 200 after the site has been leveled, the foundation bed 202 has been laid, the retaining barrier 210 has been built, and the liner cloth 204 has been laid over the foundation bed 202 and secured to the retaining barrier 210. The AST site is leveled using means known to those skilled in the art. The retaining barrier 210 is made of any material so long as it is strong enough to withstand the pressure exerted on it when the secondary containment area 200 is completely full of produced water. The liner cloth 204 can be secured to the retaining barrier 210 by any means known to those skilled in the art, but it is preferably secured to the retaining barrier 210 by a series of bolts directly into the retaining barrier, or by a series of straps secured to the lining cloth by screws. Also, optional reinforcement panels of liner cloth can be placed in the corners of the secondary containment area, which are secured preferably using an adhesive. Although two straight retaining barriers of the secondary containment area are shown in FIG. 4, one skilled in the art would know that the retaining barriers can be straight or curved, and that the number and arrangement of retaining barriers can vary, as long as they ultimately form an area capable of containing any produced water that escapes from the AST.
Referring next to FIG. 5, therein is depicted the secondary containment area 200 after the polyurea coating 206 has been applied to the liner cloth 204. The polyurea coating is preferably applied using a spray device that operates at a temperature of approximately 165 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of approximately 1800 pounds per square inch. A very light base coat is first applied to the entire secondary containment area. Next, at least two more coats are applied so that the inner and outer walls of the retaining barrier have a preferable thickness of about 60 mils, with the thickness of the polyurea coating increasing to 120 mils in the area underneath the ASTs. The secondary containment area will function with a polyurea coating thickness of at least 30 mils throughout.
Patent Application
20080003060
