Well pad drain and containment recovery system
AssigneeChesapeake Operating, Inc.
InventorJames Lowe Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A well pad drainage system is provide, which allows for the testing of drainage water collected from the surface of the well pad prior to the release or removal of the drainage water. The drainage system utilizes a French drain in association with one or more catch basins, a drainpipe for release of uncontaminated drainage water and an extraction line for removal of contaminated drainage water.
Claims17
A well pad drainage system comprising:
- a well pad having a pad ground surface elevated above a surrounding ground surface;
- a berm located between said pad ground surface and said surrounding ground surface wherein said berm surrounds said well pad and has an inside surface adjacent to said pad ground surface and an outside surface adjacent to said surrounding ground surface;
- a French drain extending at least partially around and subsurface to said pad ground surface;
- a catch basin in fluid flow communication to said French drain;
- and
- a drainpipe in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and in fluid flow communication with said surrounding ground surface configured for draining fluids from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface.
A well pad drainage system comprising:
- a well pad having a pad ground surface elevated above a surrounding ground surface;
- a berm located between said pad ground surface and said surrounding ground surface wherein said berm surrounds said well pad and has an inside surface adjacent to said pad ground surface and an outside surface adjacent to said surrounding ground surface;
- a French drain extending around and subsurface to the perimeter of said pad ground surface and adjacent to said inside surface of said berm and wherein said pad ground surface is graded to direct surface fluids towards said French drain;
- a catch basin in fluid flow communication to said French drain wherein said catch basin is subsurface to said surrounding ground surface and has a top at pad ground surface having a grate, which allows access to said catch basin;
- a drainpipe having a first end connected to and in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and a second end located at said outside surface of said berm at approximately ground level of said surrounding ground surface adjacent to said outside surface of said berm so that said drainpipe extends through said berm, said drainpipe configured for draining fluids from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface;
- an extraction line in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and extending above said pad ground surface, said extraction line configured for extracting liquids from said catch basin to a truck;
- and
- a valve connected to said drainpipe, said valve having an open position allowing fluid flow from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface and an closed position preventing fluid flow from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface.
A method of draining a well pad having a pad ground surface elevated above a surrounding ground surface and surrounded by a berm located between said pad ground surface and said surrounding ground surface, the method comprising:
- (a) collecting drainage water in a catch basin;
- (b) testing said drainage water for a predetermined threshold of contamination when a predetermined amount of drainage water has collected;
- (c) draining said drainage water from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface if said test indicates that said drainage water has less contamination than said predetermined threshold;
- and
- (d) withdrawing said drainage water from said catch basin to a tanker truck if said test indicates that said drainage water has contamination that meets or exceeds said predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.