SECONDARY CONTAINMENT AREA PANELS
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for constructing a secondary containment for above ground storage units. A site is selected for the storage unit and preparing the foundation bed. A containment wall comprised of a plurality of joined panels is constructed. The panels have a wall joined to a foot, with the wall being substantially planar and comprised of rigid material and the foot being joined to the bottom section of the wall. The foot is substantially planar and comprised of rigid material, extending angularly and inwardly from the wall. The plurality of the panels are joined in a closed geometric configuration to form a containment wall, presenting an interior region. A liner is secured in the interior region and a protective coating is applied to the interior region of the containment wall.
The present invention claims priority to provisional application 61/809,995, which has a filing date of Apr. 9, 2013 and is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spill and leak containment, more specifically to an apparatus and method for containing leaks from above ground storage tanks.
2. Description of the Related Art
During the production of oil or gas from an underground well, it is common for liquid containing contaminants to be produced along with the oil or gas. One such liquid, “produced water,” is typically separated from the oil or gas at the well site and temporarily stored in above ground storage tanks. The produced water can have high quantities of minerals, salts, oil, gas, sand, and other substances dissolved, mixed, or suspended in it. A vehicle with a large storage tank attached to it periodically travels to the well site and transfers the produced water from the above ground storage tank to the storage tank of the vehicle for transport, processing, and/or disposal.
Produced water with a high concentration of impurities can be corrosive to the walls and ancillary piping of an above ground storage tank causing leaks of the contaminated liquid into the environment. Environmental law and regulations require that facilities that store large quantities of contaminated liquid must have a plan in place to contain a spill. With regards to above ground storage tanks, it is typically required that a secondary containment area be in place to collect any accidental discharge of produced water from an above ground storage tank in use. The secondary containment area usually needs to have the capacity and strength to hold more than the volume of the above ground storage tank, or for an array of above ground storage tanks, more than the largest above ground storage tank in the array. A need exists for an efficient, higher strength, more quickly deployable, and inexpensive method of building the secondary containment area for an above ground storage tank.
SUMMARYThe present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for constructing a secondary containment for above ground storage units. A site is selected for the storage unit and preparing the foundation bed. A containment wall comprised of a plurality of joined panels is constructed. The panels have a wall joined to a foot, with the wall being substantially planar and comprised of rigid material and the foot being joined to the bottom section of the wall. The foot is substantially planar and comprised of rigid material, extending angularly and inwardly from the wall. The plurality of the panels are joined in a closed geometric configuration to form a containment wall, presenting an interior region. A liner is secured in the interior region and a protective coating is applied to the interior region of the containment wall.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
The present invention includes at least one panel 10 for building a containment wall 30 and a method for constructing a secondary containment area for one or more above ground storage tanks 08 using the same.
Referring to
As disclosed above, the site is selected and the foundation bed 28 is prepared 100. Referring to
The containment wall 30 is constructed from a plurality of panels 110. Referring now to
A foot 22 is rigidly joined to the wall 18 and extends angularly and inwardly from the wall 18. The foot 22 is also a rigid, substantially planar length of material capable of bearing load. Its exemplary composition is a metal such as steel. In exemplary configuration, it is substantially orthogonal to the wall 14. In an alternate configuration, it is from about 90° to 110°. In another alternate configuration, it is from about 75° to 90°. Its exemplary (latitudinal) length is about nine inches. In one configuration, its length is about ¼ of the height of the wall 18. In an alternate configuration, its length is greater than about ⅙ of the height of the wall. Its exemplary (longitudinal) width equals that of the wall 18 and ranges from about four feet to about twelve feet.
Optionally, a cap 14 is rigidly joined to the wall 18 and extends angularly and outwardly from the wall 18 in an opposing direction to the foot 14. The cap 14 is also a rigid, substantially planar length of material. Its exemplary composition is a metal such as steel. In exemplary configuration, it is substantially orthogonal to the wall 18. Its exemplary length is about three inches. Its exemplary (longitudinal) width equals that of the wall 18 and ranges from about four feet to about twelve feet. Optionally, its distal end includes a downwardly depending segment.
The exemplary manner of making the panel 10 is bending a single sheet of steel, whereby the wall 18, foot 22, and optional cap 14 form a rigidly unitary piece.
In continuing to build the containment wall 110, two panels 10 are joined, preferably sealably joined along the walls 18 and feet 22 of the two panels 10. Referring now to
In continuing to build the containment wall 110, plural panels 10 are joined. Referring to
A liner 36 is secured to the interior region 130. The liner 36 can be composed of a geotextile, blown fabric, felt, or an equivalent fabric with some degree of absorption so that the coating 32 can adhere to the liner 36. The liner 36 can be secured to the panel 10 by any means known to those skilled in the art, but it is preferably secured by bolts directly into the foot 22 and wall 18, or by a series of straps secured to the lining 36 by screws. Alternatively, the liner 36 is secured to the panels 10 using an adhesive, such as polyurea.
A coating 32 is applied to the liner 36 to form a solid, impermeable layer 120. A suitable coating 32 is applied as a substrate to at least a portion of the liner 36, preferably the complete liner 36. Suitable coatings 32 include those resistant to contaminants as disclosed above. A suitable coating 32 is applied as a substrate to at least a portion of the liner 36. A suitable coating is one which is resistant to reaction with, dissolution in or with, permeation by, or other interaction with the contaminants or the liquid of an above ground storage tank 08 which may escape and could affect the integrity of the coating 32. One suitable substance is polyurea. Polyurea is an elastomer that is derived from the reaction product of an isocyanate component and a synthetic resin blend component. Polyurea suitable for the present invention is available from Sherwin Williams under the name EnviroLastic AR200HD or Versaflex FSS 50DM. The polyurea coating 32 is preferably applied using a spray device. One or more coats is applied to form a solid, impermeable layer. A representative, now completed secondary containment area is depicted in
In operation, at least one above ground storage tank 08 is situated in the interior region 33 of the containment wall 30.
Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the single claim below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.
Claims
1. An apparatus for forming a containment wall, said apparatus comprising:
- a wall joined to a foot;
- said wall being substantially planar and comprised of rigid material;
- said foot joined to the bottom section of said wall, said foot being substantially planar and comprised of rigid material, said foot extending angularly and inwardly from said wall.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said foot is about 90° relative to said wall.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said foot is from about 90° to about 110° relative to said wall.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said foot is from about 75° to about 90° relative to said wall.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of said foot is about ¼ of the height of said wall.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of said foot is greater than ⅙ of the height of said wall.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said wall and foot comprise a single sheet of folded metal.
8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cap, said cap joined to the upper section of said wall and extending outwardly from said wall.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein said wall, foot, and cap comprise a single sheet of folded metal.
10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a brace.
11. A method for constructing a secondary containment for above ground storage units, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a site for said storage unit and preparing the foundation bed;
- providing a panel comprised of a wall joined to a foot, said wall being substantially planar and comprised of rigid material, said foot joined to the bottom section of said wall, being substantially planar and comprised of rigid material, said foot extending angularly and inwardly from said wall;
- sealably joining a plurality of said panels in a closed geometric configuration to form a containment wall, presenting an interior region;
- securing a liner in the interior region; and
- applying a protective coating to said interior region of the containment wall.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said panel comprises a single piece of folded metal.
13. The method of claim 11, further providing a brace and welding said brace to opposing ends of adjacent panels.
14. The method of claim 11, further providing mechanical fasteners and mechanically fastening opposing ends of adjacent panels.
15. The method of claim 11, further providing a brace and anchoring said brace into said foundation bed.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method comprises subterranean anchoring.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the method comprises cement anchoring.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein said foot is angled about 90° relative to said wall.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein said foot is angled from about 90° to about 110° relative to said wall.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein said foot is angled from about 75° to about 90° relative to said wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 5, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
Inventor: John D. Pound (Odessa, TX)
Application Number: 14/197,761
International Classification: B65D 90/24 (20060101); E04B 1/66 (20060101); E02D 27/38 (20060101);