A new transformer at a power plant is in the process of being installed. Oil-spill containment is a top priority.
Petro-Barrier Applications for Oil Containment
Solidification Products International’s Petro-Barriers have been installed in thousands of locations across North America since 1998.
The original design of the Petro-Barrier in the above drawing utilizes a sump in the containment area that incorporates a corrugated HDPE pipe that may extend downward to 48” deep. This design discharges water directly into the ground.
The bottom 20” is filled with crushed stone and can be perforated to discharge the rainwater through the sides of the pipe as well as the bottom. The top 30” are non-perforated and the rainwater is filtered through the Petro-Barrier media, filtering any oil sheen to non-detectable levels.
The top 4” are dirt and debris filters that are replaceable for necessary maintenance of the Petro-Barrier. The Petro-Barriers are topped off with clean crushed stone and are available with steel grates and/or top hat filters.
Petro-Barriers in a Transformer Oil Containment Area
In this new substation, a moat containment area surrounds the transformer. Petro-Barriers are used to drain rainwater and provide 100% oil containment.
This drawing shows a Petro-Barrier draining rainwater from the surface of the oil containment area. It is similar to the first drawing, but a perforated drainpipe has been installed under the Petro-Barrier and is surrounded with crushed stone, allowing the rainwater to drain and dissipate into the ground.
This design allows for better drainage in poorly draining clay-like soils.
Note: All surfaces slope towards the barrier drains for proper stormwater discharge. Contractor to prepare area as shown and provide drainage holes for barriers. Containment area sized to hold full contents of transformer plus 10%-25% rainwater as required.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 display a concrete moat system for oil containment. There are many different ways to configure the moats and Petro-Barrier locations.
In this drawing, there are four Petro-Barriers, one in each corner, with steel grates above affording a level work surface around the transformer.
The design can also incorporate crushed stone in the containment pit with access to each Petro-Barrier.
SPI top hat filters are used with the Petro-Barriers for extra dirt and debris protection inside containment areas. The top hat filters attach to the top of the Petro-Barriers and utilize replaceable dirt and debris filters that greatly increase the useful life of the Petro-Barrier media.
Detail ‘A’ / Top View Of Petro-Barrier
Detail ‘B’ / Top View Of Top Hat Filter
Use Petro-Barriers in New Installations and Replacements
The Petro Barrier-Plug is available in different sizes to slide into existing sumps. The top hat filter basket attaches to the canister. The canister has two flanges when installed so it can be easily removed for replacement or maintenance.
The area is cleaned of any dirt and a bead of industrial sealant is used to set the canister in place.
Get Prefab Petro-Barriers Sent Directly to You
Prefabricated Petro-Barriers are sent directly from the SPI factory to your facility for installation. They are made to discharge directly into the ground, or we can add a lateral discharge to a dry well or daylight, either one.
There are 3 layers of media in the Petro-Barriers. Layer #3 is primarily for filtering oil sheen, #2 is a more active absorption media, and #1 is the most active product. The different media work together to provide 100% oil spill protection and non-detectable oil levels in the discharge.
The top drawing shows a Petro-Barrier installed in an existing storm drain. Angles are installed into the concrete walls of the storm drain and a support grate is then added. The Petro-Barrier is then installed directly in the drain.
The lower drawing shows the Petro-Barrier installed outside the oil containment area. All water and potential oil is piped to a remote Petro-Barrier. The Petro-Barrier drains all rainwater as needed, and completely shuts down to provide 100% containment in the event of an oil spill.
Above is a diagram of a Petro-Barrier installed through a containment liner providing rainwater drainage and oil spill containment.
A flange is installed between the top of the liner and the HDPE Petro-Barrier housing and is then backfilled with crushed stone and dirt. The liner is set in place on the floor of the containment area and the 36” perforated access pipe is attached to the flange on the Petro-Barrier housing.
The access pipe is then backfilled with clean crushed stone, so when it rains the water will enter the access pipe through the perforations and drain through the Petro-Barrier.
When all construction is complete, the Petro-Barrier cartridge is then lowered into the access pipe and the housing pipe below the liner. It is then attached with screws and additional dirt filters are installed.
A steel grate is installed to provide access from the top for maintenance and change-outs.
Prefabricated Petro-Barriers are shipped ready to install. Bill Gannon, President of SPI, explains the filters built into the SPI Petro-Barrier.
Each prefabricated Petro-Barrier comes with a lid that is never removed until all construction is completed and the Petro-Barriers are fully installed. The concrete is then sloped toward the Petro-Barriers.
How Does an SPI Petro-Barrier Work?
Designed for the largest volume of water drainage in a good drainage field with a vertical type installation, Petro-Barriers are custom-designed and manufactured in our factory and delivered to your facility or facilities.
Land slope, under-drain percolation rates, rainfall amount, containment area size, and other factors are all considered in the system design.
Large containment areas or installations in wet climates might require six or more sumps, whereas a small area in a low-rainfall climate might need only one or two Petro-Barriers. Because of this variability, our customers rely on our extensive experience to design the optimum spill containment system.
In a spill containment area surrounding an oil storage vessel or oil-filled electrical transformer, everything on the ground is designed and created to be impervious to oil and water. The ground is sloped to drainage sumps where the Petro-Barriers will be installed.
After the drainage path and spill containment area have been completed, SPI fills the drainage sumps with three types of media that allow water to pass while removing and locking up any oil.
Average stormwater drain rates per barrier vary from 18 gallons per minute (gpm) with the 12-inch diameter Petro-Barrier to more than 100 gpm with the 72-inch diameter Petro-Barrier.
Petro-Barriers are typically 24 inches deep, though custom applications are available. The most popular diameters are 18”, 24”, and 36”.
How Does the Petro-Barrier Compare to the Competition?
Expensive, high-maintenance methods such as oil/water separators, oil stop valves, and oil sensing switches for pumps have contributed to or failed to prevent significant and costly oil spills for many of our customers.
In comparison, with thousands of installations, oil has never gotten past the Petro-Barrier.
Petro-Barriers cost less to install, require virtually no maintenance under most circumstances, and offer the most foolproof way to prevent oil from being discharged along with stormwater.
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