In October of 2009 Albarrie Geocomposites Ltd. had the privilege to install our SorbWebTM Plus secondary oil containment system for Vattenfall Eldistibution. This was our first overseas project for a very large electrical company who are established in several European countries. They saw our product as a great alternative for protecting the environment. It was a sensitive area with a waterway not too far away.
Here we see old transformers that were in storage and moved from their original location where they were leaking and now the asphalt and gravel must be removed and disposed of properly at great expense.
The idea was to construct a large shallow area that would contain any leakage from transformers that were placed here for storage. A large containment area was therefore constructed with an excavated earthen perimeter and a 0.35m depth. A 2” base layer of sand had already been placed in the floor of the containment.
The first step was to lay down the non woven fabric along the perimeter banks which will help stabilize the bank and protect the impermeable liner.
The following impermeable liner is placed along the bank. It is a double layer liner with the upper side to be folded back until it is required later.
PICTURE 2009 4 001
The lower side of the impermeable liner is beaded with silicone cauking.
The Oilmat is then rolled out and gluing it to the impermeable liner.
Loose copolymer(white powder) is sprinkled along the edges and the caulking beads are repeated on top of the Oilmat. The impermeable liner is then unfolded and pulled down and glued to the Oilmat.
A final bead of silicone caulking seals the edge and loose copolymer is placed again. We now have a completely sealed containment.
The adsorbent layer was then placed.
Followed by a woven geotextile layer.
Next a 2” sand layer is raked out and will add structure to the layers allowing drivability over top of the system.
Another woven geotextile layer is rolled out.
The final step is placing a specific washed crush stone and filling the entire containment area.
After grading the site was returned to it’s original condition with identifiable small berms marking the perimeter of the containment area.
The old transformers were then moved back on top of the containment where they could safely be stored with the security of knowing any leaks would be caught by the SorbWebTM Plus System.
Prepared by Mike Dowds of Albarrie Geocomposites Ltd.
