Fourchon, La. is home to North America’s busiest port for support of shallow and most deep water offshore drilling and production activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Supply ships are constantly in and out servicing the platforms. As much of the land for an operational set-up is leased, leasees are somewhat limited in any
permanent setup. In addition to supplies and equipment, some of these lease companies offer various liquid products associated with drilling and production activities and store them in large tanks.

Following EPA and Louisiana environmental regulations, the storage tanks must be placed within a containment system in order to prevent leaks or spills from entering the local environment. Being close to the Gulf would create serious issues in a spill situation. Since the land is leased, it is very difficult and
expensive to construct containment areas. Also, the leases change and the
new tenant may not require a containment area.

PDA Member formulator-company Rapid Coatings Systems, LLC, of Lafayette, La. has designed and installed a unique approach to a secondary containment system that addresses these issues. Using a proprietary method of securing
cast concrete wall sections together and pinning to the ground, a 3-foot high box is created. A woven geotextile fabric is laid in the area and the 60 – 80 mils of the RCS-800 polyurea system is applied and anchored to the top of the wall
section.

Metal rings are then placed inside the area for each tank that will be installed and filled with gravel. The tanks are then set on the gravel inside the containment area. In case of area expansion, the coated geotextile can then be cut from the concrete wall, additional sections added and new geotextile tied into the existing area.

Using one of the RCS Certified contractor / applicator, Advanced Coatings from Crowley, La, an approximate 2400 square foot area was setup and installed in one day. This area has already doubled in size since the first installation and
was completed with relative ease. When the existing tenant vacates the area, the tanks can be removed and the secondary containment area disassembled for use at another location.

This is a very unique use of polyurea technology and illustrates the benefit of the fast cure and performance of the system. Contact Rapid Coating Systems,
LLC for additional information.