Improved containment stability with StrataDrain

Overview

What are reservoir-lining?

Lined containment structures in onshore oil and gas facilities rely on the soil mass for structural stability and on geomembranes for impermeability. In most cases, early performance appears satisfactory. Over time, sustained hydraulic head, rapid loading events, or repeated fill–drain cycles begin to influence how the soil–liner system behaves.

In practice, containment behaviour generally falls into four operational categories: sustained-head process ponds, rapid-loading secondary containment, cyclic drilling basins, and continuously operated effluent facilities.

Applications of reservoir lining

Produced water evaporation ponds

Produced water ponds operate under sustained hydraulic head in saline and elevated temperature environments. Continuous saturation reduces berm stiffness. Shallow groundwater or trapped construction moisture generates uplift beneath the geomembrane. Local blisters and liner wrinkling follow.

StrataDrain installed below the liner provides sub-liner pressure relief. SGB grid reinforces marginal embankment fill and controls deformation under sustained loading. The containment maintains slope geometry under continuous service.

Tank farm secondary containment

Secondary containment bunds remain dry until hydrotest or spill conditions impose rapid head. Sudden loading traps moisture beneath the liner. Uplift and wrinkling develop where drainage is absent. In reclaimed or mixed industrial fill, differential settlement transfers strain toward corners and penetrations.

StrataDrain equalises sub-liner pressure during rapid load cases. SGB grid reinforces bund fill and limits deformation under intermittent hydraulic demand. The section remains stable during hydrotest events.

Drilling mud pits

Drilling mud pits are constructed under programme pressure using excavated and site-won material. Repeated fill and circulation cycles saturate berm soils. Clay subgrades create uneven support. Sandy berms lose stiffness under prolonged wetting. Crest movement and local uplift occur where drainage is not provided.

StrataDrain relieves sub-liner pressure during refill cycles. SGB grid (biaxial geogrid) reinforces variable fill and maintains berm profile across drilling phases.

Refinery effluent basins

Refinery effluent basins operate continuously under hydraulic and chemical exposure. Mixed or reclaimed foundations introduce variability. Seepage at penetrations and anchor trenches leads to downstream softening and bund settlement. Groundwater fluctuation increases uplift risk beneath the liner.

StrataDrain manages sub-liner pressure and supports controlled drainage layouts. SGB grid reinforces embankments under sustained loading and limits long-term deformation.

Gallery of reservoir lining applications

Products used for reservoir lining

StrataGrid™ Biaxial Geogrid (SGB) (Product)

StrataGrid™ Biaxial Geogrid is a groundbreaking innovation in pavement construction that revolutionizes the durability and longevity of flexible pavements, particularly in highway embankments.

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