Embedded Polymeric Barrier Liner for Oil Site Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional geomembranes used in oil and gas well sites are prone to punctures, slippery, and delaminate under heavy traffic, leading to safety hazards and environmental risks due to their design limitations.
Innovation Solution
A containment liner with a polymeric barrier layer embedded into felt geotextile layers, providing a puncture-resistant and slip-resistant surface that eliminates the need for adhesives and tie layers, and allows for seamless integration without delamination under heavy loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional HDPE geomembranes are used for containment, then containment function is provided, but they are prone to punctures and delamination under heavy traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines HDPE geomembrane with geotextile layers to create a composite containment system. The geotextile provides puncture resistance and structural strength to withstand heavy traffic, while the HDPE layer maintains the containment function. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by distributing mechanical loads across different material layers with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the HDPE geomembrane containment layer with geotextile protection layers into a single integrated system. The layers are bonded together using adhesives or thermal welding, creating a unified structure that simultaneously provides chemical containment and mechanical protection against punctures and heavy traffic loads.
2Ease of operation
If geotextile is placed over geomembrane to improve traction, then slip resistance is improved, but geotextile slides around and masks punctures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention bonds the geotextile layer to the HDPE geomembrane using adhesives or thermal welding, merging them into a single integrated structure. This eliminates relative movement between layers, preventing the geotextile from sliding around and masking punctures, while maintaining the improved traction surface for worker safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical placement method (loose laying geotextile over geomembrane) with a chemical/thermal bonding method. This substitution ensures the geotextile remains firmly attached to the containment layer, eliminating the detection problem while preserving the traction benefit.
3Strength
If adhesive or tie layers are used to laminate geotextile and geomembrane, then layers are bonded together, but delamination occurs under heavy vehicle traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the bonding parameters by using thermal welding instead of adhesives or mechanical tie layers. The thermal welding process melts and fuses the HDPE geomembrane and geotextile layers together, creating a bond with higher strength and better resistance to delamination under heavy vehicle traffic loads compared to adhesive bonding.
4Reliability
If continuous polymer sheet is used for containment, then containment integrity is maintained, but seams create tripping hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different surface characteristics to different locations of the containment system. The walking surface area is treated to be slip-resistant and level, while maintaining the continuous polymer sheet containment integrity in the containment areas. This local differentiation eliminates tripping hazards at seams without compromising containment functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution creates a durable, all-weather work surface that prevents slips and punctures, maintains integrity under heavy traffic, and facilitates easy recycling, reducing environmental contamination and regulatory fines.
Implementation Method 1
at least one polymeric barrier layer between the first and second felt geotextile layers, wherein the at least one polymeric barrier layer is embedded into at least one of the first and second felt geotextile layers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides containment liners to protect the environment from spills and leaks at oil and/or gas production sites and other sites. The containment liner comprises a first felt geotextile layer and a polymeric barrier layer embedded partially into the felt geotextile layer.