Hydrocarbon Pollution - Tank Farm

History of the Site

In order to improve the underground environment of the site, we should first understand the current pollution situation through soil sampling , and further confirm the possible sources of pollution and the equipment and facilities in operation. EX: oil storage facilities are set on the surface, and related underground pipelines below and around must be confirmed for leaks.

Get a clear view of the site’s underground piping map is not an easy task, due to the long history of the site. Historical data of past equipment is hard to get, facility renewal or replacement, pavement renewal, or equipment replacement occurred and it is difficult to confirm the old unused pipelines that were abandoned in the early years. In 2018 and 2019 APOLLO has performed a wide range of ground penetrating radar scans on the site, including the area where most oil tanks are located. After comparing the existing pipeline distribution maps in the field, the survey results have roughly confirmed the differences in the distribution of underground pipelines in several areas. 

The assessment including pipeline used in the early years and abolished later. Comparing the operation history of the site, the locations of the gasoline/diesel oil filling area, gasoline/diesel oil filling pump area and fuel oil filling area have all been changed. In addition, the area where the oil tank is located was used as a storage area for oil products in the early years, and Long-term operation leakage becomes a potential source of pollution.

 

Remediation strategy

In the early days, when the underground oil pipes connected to the main equipment were abolished, they were mostly blind-sealed and left on-site without being excavated. The residual oil in the pipes was easy to seep out due to rust and damage over time, or the old pipes or the soil gaps in the pipe walls were used to form pollutants in the formation. The advantage of the flow path and long-distance transmission.

Therefore, the confirmation of the source of pollution should pay attention to whether there is pollution transmission that has not removed the old pipeline. Information on the distribution of underground facilities and waste pipelines should be collected. After confirming the location, it should be properly dismantled and cleaned.

Apollo handles soil sampling and underground pipeline dismantling operations on site. The subsequent excavation and screening of contaminated soil will be carried out to distinguish contaminated soil with high/medium/low pollution levels, and procedures for the removal and reuse of contaminated soil will be handled. Before the soil leaves the site, because the site soil may contain stones, this project also uses mobile particle size screening equipment to process large stones and soil screening and classification, which can reduce the cost of contaminated soil leaving the site and improve the quality.