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.
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.
Contact Us