Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept

EPA Grant Number: R827015C030
Subproject: this is subproject number 030 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827015
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment
Center Director: Allen, Herbert E.
Title: Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
Investigators: Barfield, Billy J. , Matlock, Marty D. , Gasem, Khaled A
Institution: Oklahoma State University , University of Arkansas
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: September 10, 2003 through September 9, 2004
RFA: Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC) (1999) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research

Objective:

The objectives of this research project were to: (1) prepare and present two workshops at the Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC) meeting to develop consensus among leading researchers, industry, and environmental agencies on design and performance criteria for new silt fence technology to be used in the petroleum industry; (2) develop threshold design criteria for sediment control, effluent guidelines under Phase II Storm Water Program (SWP) based on a regional impact analysis; (3) prove the Failure Avoidance and Effective Silt Fence Technology (FAEST) silt fence design and implementation concept under laboratory and field conditions where current silt fence fails because of: (a) flow concentrations that result from current installation technology, and (b) failure to trap clays and fine silts addresses through flow barriers; (4) writer proposed best management practices (BMP) guidelines and develop design aids for the technology; and (5) develop deisnn requirements for machine systems to install fences.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

Objectives 3a and 3b: We have completed four “full” simulations wherein the field measurements were taken and laboratory samples were analyzed, plus two simulations that were for the purpose of assessing the experimental set-up and flow barrier configurations. The primary objective of these tests was to develop information for modeling the hydraulics and trapping efficiency of the small impoundments and to compare the performance of the new technology with performance of existing technology. Existing technology was evaluated as part of a previous project that was completed earlier this year. Table 1 gives the test parameters.

The minimum turnaround time between simulations is 1 week, and we had planned to have nine full simulations completed during July through September. Unfortunately, the unusually rainy summer and fall resulted in losing about 5 weeks of work time. The remaining simulations should be completed before the end of November.

Table 1. Executed and Proposed Simulations to Study Hydraulics and Trapping

Date	Slope	Soil	Objective
6/10/2004	10%	Silty clay	Test sample collection apparatus
8/16/2004	10%	Silty clay	Full data collection
8/24/2004	10%	Loam	Full data collection
9/10/2004	10%	Clay loam	Full data collection
10/1/2004	13%	Clay loam	Evaluate barriers
10/18/2004	13%	Clay loam	Full data collection
	13%	Sandy loam	Full data collection
	13%	Silty clay	Full data collection
	18.5%	Silty clay	Full data collection
	18.5%	Sandy loam	Full data collection
	18.5%	Clay loam	Full data collection

Although limited, the series of tests to date has demonstrated that the new technology is effective in solving the problems with a conventional fence stated above. The placement of the apron upslope of the fence solved the problem of erosion along the toe of the fence, and there was no observed scour of material from under the apron. In addition, the lateral flow barriers increased detention time and trapping efficiency. A comparison of trapping efficiency (TE) with equivalent tests of a conventional installation is in Table 2. The tests were comparable in that the rainfall rate, soils, fabric, and slope along the toe were the same.

 

Table 2. Comparison of Equivalent Simulations

Soil	Slope	TE-Conventional	TE-new
Sandy loam	10%	-412%	81%
Loam	10%	-257%	58%

The trapping efficiency was computed as the ratio of the sediment retained in the fence to the sediment load from the source area. The negative trapping efficiency indicates that more soil was scoured from the toe trench than was transported from the source area. The toe trenches in these installations were completely scoured after 30 to 60 minutes of rainfall. The recommended 6-inch wide by 6-inch deep toe burial trench was used. With the new technology, there has been no failure by scour at the front of the apron (where it is anchored into the soil), and it does not appear that failure would occur, even if the rainfall was extended by several hours. The one problem observed was development of concentrated flow along the interface between the soil and the apron, particularly with the very erodible sandy loam soil. Although there was no indication that the toe would eventually fail to be properly anchored in the soil or that undercutting would occur, the problem caused by the concentrated flow was that the runoff would bypass the flow barriers and not enter the impoundments. This problem can be easily solved by providing a smoother transition between the soil and apron that will direct flow into the impoundments.

We are very confident that the new technology has successfully addressed the problem of failure of the toe and resulting undercutting, and that the addition of the flow barriers has greatly increased detention time and trapping, particularly of settleable solids.

Figures 1 through 4 are photos taken during the simulations.

Figure 1. Water and Sediment Impounded During the Simulation	Figure 2. Impounded Sediment After the End of Simulation (Next Day)
Figure 3. Simulation To Test a Variety of Barriers	Figure 4. Sample Collection Troughs: left - through fence; center - through flow barriers right - seepage under apron

The investigation currently underway to identify various formulations of polyacrilimide (PAM) that have the best potential to enhance the flocculation of clay particles is progressing very well, and we anticipate completing the data set for one of our soils by the end of November. For this particular soil, we will identify the best PAM formulation, optimum concentration of PAM and optimum concentration of gypsum. The soil that we focused on first has a relatively high clay content, on the order of 30 to 40 percent. This analysis also will yield data for mathematical modeling of the change in size distribution resulting from the addition of PAM.

Objective 4. A framework for a mathematical model already has been developed as part of a previous project, and the rainfall-runoff-sediment yield relationships for the drainage area into the fence are equally applicable here and can be adopted directly. The previous research also produced algorithms for defining the stage–discharge relationship through the silt fence. We will refine these further using the data obtained for the small impoundments included in the new technology. The component of the model defining the impoundment geometry and routing the flows has been developed, and the field data will be used to make any necessary modifications to account for the deposition in the impoundments and its impact on the head available to force flow through the fence.

For Year 1 of the project, we completed the nine planned simulations–five were completed later—and analyzed the data obtained from all of the simulations with the following objectives in mind:

• Documenting the modifications to date, namely the apron and flow barriers, that we have addressed two of the major problems with conventional silt fence (i.e., failure of the toe and inadequate detention time).
• Collecting data to use for calibrating the mathematical model.
• Finding an apron and barrier configuration that is the best possible considering effectiveness at trapping sediment, cost to fabricate, and time and cost to install.

The economic issues were addressed in Year 2 of the project.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

soil, sediments, pollution prevention, sustainable development, engineering, hydrology, south central, Oklahoma, EPA Region 6, petroleum industry, construction industry,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Sustainable Industry/Business, Sustainable Environment, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Ecology and Ecosystems, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, green design, sustainable development, urban planning, environmental sustainability, conservation, silt fence technology, stormwater, hydrology, filter fence, sediment control, environmentally conscious design, stormwater management

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R827015    Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827015C001 Evaluation of Road Base Material Derived from Tank Bottom Sludges
R827015C002 Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for Bioavailability Screening of Soils Containing Petrochemicals
R827015C003 Demonstration of a Subsurface Drainage System for the Remediation of Brine-Impacted Soil
R827015C004 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C005 Microflora Involved in Phytoremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R827015C006 Microbial Treatment of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
R827015C007 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C008 The Use of Nitrate for the Control of Sulfide Formation in Oklahoma Oil Fields
R827015C009 Surfactant-Enhanced Treatment of Oil-Contaminated Soils and Oil-Based Drill Cuttings
R827015C010 Novel Materials for Facile Separation of Petroleum Products from Aqueous Mixtures Via Magnetic Filtration
R827015C011 Development of Relevant Ecological Screening Criteria (RESC) for Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Exploration and Production Sites
R827015C012 Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C013 New Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C014 Enhancement of Microbial Sulfate Reduction for the Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Aquifers - A Laboratory and Field Scale Demonstration
R827015C015 Locating Oil-Water Interfaces in Process Vessels
R827015C016 Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C017 Continuation of an Investigation into the Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of Whole Gasoline
R827015C018 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
R827015C019 Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Salt-Impacted Soil by Native Halophiles or Halotolerants and Strategies for Enhanced Degradation
R827015C020 Anaerobic Intrinsic Bioremediation of MTBE
R827015C021 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R827015C022 A Continuation: Humate-Induced Remediation of Petroleum Contaminated Surface Soils
R827015C023 Data for Design of Vapor Recovery Units for Crude Oil Stock Tank Emissions
R827015C024 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells
R827015C025 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R827015C026 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation of MTBE in Goundwater Using Molecular Methods and "Bug Traps"
R827015C027 Identifying the Signature of Natural Attenuation in the Microbial Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and "Bug Traps"
R827015C028 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R827015C030 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R827015C031 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R827015C032 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633 Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC)
R830633C001 Development of an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Process for Plugging Abandoned Wells (Phase II)
R830633C002 A Continuation of Remediation of Brine Spills with Hay
R830633C003 Effective Stormwater and Sediment Control During Pipeline Construction Using a New Filter Fence Concept
R830633C004 Evaluation of Sub-micellar Synthetic Surfactants versus Biosurfactants for Enhanced LNAPL Recovery
R830633C005 Utilization of the Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Individual Compounds in Refined Hydrocarbon Products To Monitor Their Fate in the Environment
R830633C006 Evaluation of Commercial, Microbial-Based Products to Treat Paraffin Deposition in Tank Bottoms and Oil Production Equipment
R830633C007 Identifying the Signature of the Natural Attenuation in the Microbial Ecology of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Using Molecular Methods and “Bug Traps”
R830633C008 Using Plants to Remediate Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: Project Continuation
R830633C009 Use of Earthworms to Accelerate the Restoration of Oil and Brine Impacted Sites