Pollution Engineering - March 2009 - (Page 35)

Ocean-Front By TOM HOBSON, Abanaki Corp. president or most people, the phrase “ocean-front property” carries a pleasant cachet. For project engineer Stephen Hanks it just meant a headache with a view. Hanks’ engineering consultancy, Mactec, was in charge of an ocean-side property containing a bulk fuel storage terminal. That terminal continued to create challenges caused by a spill that happened about 10 years ago. Seeking a solution online, Hanks found a well-sized oil skimmer that seemed ideal for the application. Two units were installed on different recovery wells on the site. Hanks’ choice proved better than expected. REMEDIATION Fuel was oating on the groundwater threatening other Fuel was ﬂoating on the groundwater threatening other water sources. Nor mal methods of recovering the oil water sources. Normal methods of recovering the oil could not be placed into action. F The recovered materials are scrapped from both sides of the belt simultaneously and discharged via a small hose. The trench is not enough A recovery trench had already been dug to keep contaminants from leeching into the nearby natural water source. However, because of the site’s close proximity to a coral reef, this solution proved untenable in the long term. The coral would re-grow in the trench. Recovery wells relying on a floating pump system were installed, but engineers quickly realized that this direct recovery approach was less than effective. When the floating pump system mounted on the wells began to fail, Hanks knew it was time to do additional research. Hanks needed a solution that provided the accuracy of a pump to pull fuel from the surface of the well water, but without the complications. “The pump method ultimately failed because it had too many parts and needed to accommodate too many variables. The fluctuating salinity of the water caused the pump float to sink, and the tidal influence posed a tremendous obstacle,” said Hanks. “Pump controls needed to be calibrated very accurately to the specific gravity of the fuel and water. We needed something less maintenance-intensive and more reliable.” After reviewing various technologies online, Hanks chose to install two oil skimmers from Abanaki Corp. of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The units were installed on different recovery wells on the site. “Prior to installing the [skimmers], weekly visits to the well sites were made so that the fuel could be pumped by hand using diaphragm pumps,” said Hanks. “The skimmers are run approximately 16 hours per week, and have been working very well. Because the skimmers are not pumping water out of the wells there is no water treatment issue, which is a major benefit.” PE For more information, contact Abanaki Corporation at info@abanaki.com or (800) 358-SKIM. Two units were initially installed in two wells. Note the belt that descends into the well. Almost no water is extracted as the oil or fuel is drawn up and wiped off the belt. Visit www.pollutionengineering.com to electronically forward a copy of this article to a colleague or customer. MARCH2009 www.pollutionengineering.com 35 http://www.pollutionengineering.com http://www.pollutionengineering.com

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Pollution Engineering - March 2009 Contents The Editor’s Desk EnviroNews PE Events Legal Lookout Green Connections Get Ready to Count Carbon Getting Rid of Foreign Oil Green Goes Underground Thermal Oxidizers Ocean-Front Remediation Pumps, Pipes and Valve Products Air Monitoring Equipment PE Products Classified Marketplace Advertisers Index State Rules

Pollution Engineering - March 2009

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