What Happened
Gaea- Oil Spill experts received a telephone call from a distress customer who had an oil spill from a leaking tank in Co Meath. A crack had appeared in the oil tank approximately a quarter way up its side.
The tank had recently been refilled with home heating oil and the potential for a major spill was high. The procedure for temporarily stopping a tank spill was explained to the home owner to minimise the oil spill.
in the end only 75-100 litres of home heating oil were lost.
In this instance a small containment trench was required also to prevent the spilled oil from migrating through the soils to a neighbour.
Investigation
- A Gaea emergency call out team mobilised and drove straight to site.
- A temporary tank was brought to site and set up, the remaining oil within the tank decanted to a separate tank where it was safe.
- A detailed survey was conducted by an experienced Gaea Environmental Scientist. In this instance the survey involved a drilled borehole survey to 1 metre combined with soil screening for volatile organic compounds using a Photo-ionization detector.
- The areas of contamination as highlighted by the drilled borehole survey were then further investigated using a hand auger survey. Soil core were removed from the ground, are recorded and examined in depth increments of 20cm. This allows for a more three-dimensional assessment of the property, to rule out false readings and to allow for the collection of soils samples for independent laboratory analysis.
what we found
Gaea found that the oil spilled from this leaking tank had impacted the base directly below the tank and then spread outwards from that point. An a area of the surrounding lawn was impacted that covered just over 15m2 to a depth of around 0.75m deep. The oil spill had also migrated towards the boundary fence with a neighbour, however this was prevented from happing by Gaea’s emergency response team.
Remedial works
- Gaea returned to the site in Co Meath once fully approved. The old oil tank was set aside and the base broken out and placed in a lined skip.
- The impacted areas of lawn were then carefully excavated and placed in a dedicated skip which was taken to a licenced treatment facility for recycling.
- All stages of the work were over seen by very experienced Operations Managers & Directors, with scientific support on a daily basis from our in house scientists.
Validation
Once Gaea were certain that no contamination remained a series of soil samples were collected from the floor and sides of the excavation. The samples were then couriorred to a UKAS accredited laboratory for independent analysis.
The sample results provided scientific proof that sufficient excavation had been undertaken in each direction and in terms of depth.
A detailed completion report was then compiled and provided to both insurers and the home owners.
Reinstatement
- Following validation the excavations were backfilled with aggregate in layers which were compacted.
- A new base was shuttered and poured with 30N concrete. Once set, a new tank was installed on the base and connected to the oil supply pipe. The recovered oil was then transferred to the new tank.
- 12″ of soil were then installed, compacted and raked out. A layer of sand was then brought in and screeded out to provide a smooth base for laying roll out turf.
- All of our work tools and equipment were removed form the property and the entire area thoroughly washed down for the customer.
Turn around - savings
- The program of works involved the recycling of 16T of soil
- A new tank was required.
- Gaea were on site within hours and our report submitted two days later.
- Following approval Gaea were on site to start in five days.
- The works program took just over four days.
- With the exception of the excess payment (100 euros) all the costs were covered by insurers.
- Insurers were delighted with the level of costs, the turn around time and the happy customers.
