The Marcellus shale is a prolific natural gas formation in the Northeastern United States. Due to the regulatory environment, the containment and reuse of gas field water (produced) requires special attention. This project, near Williamsport, PA, involved the containment and reuse of 2,000,000 gallons of produced water for completion operations. The owner, a Marcellus Shale E&P Company, required a double-walled containment tank liner system utilizing large, prefabricated bucket liners along with a conductive geotextile for leak detection.
Double-Walled Containment Solution
To ensure durability and compliance, the owner selected Layfield to prefabricate and install our Enviro Liner® geomembrane, supported by Geovolt® conductive geotextile for electrical leak testing. For the project, Layfield supplied prefabricated bucket liners and stepped panels with the following dimensions:
- Geovolt®: 190’ x 190’ prefabricated panel
- 16 oz Non-Woven Geotextile: 177’ x 177’ prefabricated panel
- LLDPE 40 mil Enviro Liner®: 168’ x 168’ prefabricated bucket liner
- LLDPE 40 mil Enviro Liner®: 156’ x 156’ prefabricated bucket liner
Challenges & Results
Deploying the large, prefabricated bucket liners was a skilled process, requiring precision, time, and a high level of expertise. Layfield’s detailed deployment instructions proved invaluable, ensuring that the installation was carried out flawlessly, resulting in no repairs needed for the three Enviro Liner® bucket liners. The meticulous planning and execution of the deployment process highlighted the importance of following precise guidelines to achieve optimal results.
To ensure the integrity of the double-walled containment tank liner system, a third-party conducted the Electrical Leak Test (ELT). This critical step involved using the Geovolt® technology to spark-test beneath the primary liner before any produced water was added to the containment system. The ELT was essential in verifying the absence of leaks and ensuring the reliability of the liner installation.
The 2,000,000-gallon containment system was successfully commissioned using Layfield’s specialty geosynthetics and world-class fabrication facilities located in Lakeside, California. The combination of advanced materials and expert craftsmanship resulted in a robust and reliable containment solution. The project demonstrated Layfield’s commitment to quality and innovation in the field of geosynthetics, showcasing their ability to deliver high-performance solutions for complex environmental challenges.
