BP Chemicals, Inc.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Chemical Storage and Delivery

Industry: Chemical Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Wastewater

Location: Port Lavaca TX

No. of employees: 150

Contact: Van A. Boone

Phone: (512) 552-8642

Description:

A project was initiated in 1995 to install a full containment system for an aboveground pipeline called the "Sleeperway Corridor". The transfer pipeline is approximately one mile long and extends from the manufacturing unit to the barge terminal. The new concrete containment system is designed to collect major and/or minor spills of products, raw materials, or wastewater from the pipeline. It will also prevent spills from contaminating storm water, groundwater, soil, and the Victoria Barge Canal.

P2 Application:

The corridor was paved with post-tensioning concrete which reduces the number of expansion joints from one every 20 feet to one every 200 feet. Two concrete containment structures were designed to hold the volume from a 9.5 inch rainfall event and the largest pipe bursting at the same time. The one mile expanse of newly concrete lined corridor cradles the series of pipelines and is 50 feet wide at its base and approximately 20 feet deep with sloping walls. The corridor will empty into one of two 1.5 million gallon concrete containment structures.

Environmental Benefits:

The containment unit will prevent an accidental release from entering ecologically sensitive surface waters and will also prevent extensive soil and groundwater contamination resulting from a potential spill from the corridor.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The initial capital cost was $4 million, but the benefit of this project is not measured in terms of annual cost savings. The success is measured in terms of the potential to eliminate environmental degradation and the cost of spill remediation.

Source: TCEQ