How to Optimally Locate and 

Design Frac Pits 

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<P
Fall is here 

• Volatile weather 

Hurricanes Heavy rain, flash flooding 

• Leaves are turning colors and falling 

Road slippery during rain 

Take care not to park atop leaf 

piles 

• Days will be getting shorter 

Pay attention to school buses 

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• Veronica Foster, PE - Project Manager/Directo

> Associate & Senior Engineering Consultant 

> Nearly 25 years with Golder 

> Professional Engineer in DE, MD, NJ, PA 

> 25+ years of investigation, design, permitting

construction experience 

•!•Landfills (MSW, CD&D, Incinerator Ash, C•:•Remediation Sites (old dumps, brownfield•:•Containment systems •:•Rail (cargo and high-speed commuter) •!• Traditional grading/drainage issues 

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• Optimizing location of frac pits/siting well pad 

• Evaluating permanent vs. temporary frac pit 

• Selecting materials for pit liners 

• Location of frac pits on pad 

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• Proximity 

> Neighbors 

·:· Schools 

•:• Houses •:• Wildlife refuges 

·:· Nursery 

•:• Emergency responders •:• Hospital •:• Businesses •:• Farms/livestock 

Water supply 

> Hauling routes 

)> Drinking water well impacts 

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• Above Ground 

> Wetlands 

Floodplains 

> Ponds 

)> Topography 

> Linear infrastr

(pipelines, acc

• Below Ground 

> Groundwater 

> Bedrock 

)> Surface-mine 

unconsolidate

Coal (clay and 

mines 
Spatial analysis modules 

• Characterize project sites 

• Support siting of facilities 

• Visualize outputs 

.... -..,. 

•··· : :.::.: 

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Evaluating support 

systems 

• Water • Roadways • Road weight 

restrictions 

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Example - Transportation Ana

• Routing analysis to optimize truck transportation 

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Example - Transportation Ana

• Travel time/distance - Service area analysis to a

water resources 

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Evaluate corridors to 

connect well pads and 

model the routing of 

linear infrastructure 

required for a shale gas 

development 

• Pipelines • Water conduits 

• Access roads 

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• Impact of intercepting 

mine voids with drilling 

activities 

• Impact of unconsolidated 

mine spoils on drilling 

activities 

• Impact of financial 

damages on currently 

operating and future 

• m1nes 

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0 10 lO 10 -40.-J:C& 

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0 10 3J )0 C) 50 liiDfl*ln 

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• 

0 CJ 

• 

D 
• Well locations are determined based upon the s

considerations 

• Time to design your well pad and frac pits 

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• Change to "short-term" and "long-term" usag

• "Short-term" usage 

12 months, or less, in-place 1-2 wells 

On-pad only use 

• "Long-term" usage 

In-use for several years 

On-pad with 4+ wells 

Multiple use- multiple pads 

Centralized impoundments 

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• Not discussed further in today's session 

• Using Best Management Practices (BMPs) for s

drill pit/water impoundment containment will pro

following: 

> Health and safety of the workers 

Protection of human health and the environmPractical application 

> Proven-technology (industry-standards) 

Re-useable 

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"'--' - Short-Term Application 

• Portable Tanks (e.g., 

"Baker," "wheelies," etc.) -

often used as part of a 

"closed loop" system 

Picture courtesy of Wichita Tanks 

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PROS 

Eliminate open top 

Continuous recycling/r

Minimize loss due to e

Reduce truck hauling 

Quick mob/demob 

CONS 

$35-$50/day for 1 0,0

Limited capacity Must cleanout before 
• Portable Tanks- open top 

Picture courtesy of Layfield Tanks 

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PROS 

Typical 50k gallon cap

Continuous recycling/

Reduce truck hauling 

Quick mob/demob 

Re-use the shell/rim 

CONS 

Loss to evaporation d

History of failures; reg

Limited capacity 

One-use single-liner (

after use) 
• Portable Tanks- open top 

Picture courtesy of Layfield Tanks 

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Mobile Water Impoundments (MWis) System D

• Steel support frame designed by a structural en

retain water up to 1 0 feet deep. 

• Reinforced geomembrane is also supported by 

strength geogrid. 

• Geogrid supports the liner between steel suppor

eliminates undue stress on the geomembrane. 

• A nonwoven geotextile is used under the entire 

provide a cushioning layer beneath the liner sys

• Good for centralized impoundments. 

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Long-Term Application- MWI 

MWI Frame Assembly 

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*Steel 

Support ___.... 

Frame 

Loading 

Retained Water Up to 10 

*Impervious Ge

Natural Bed Material 
MWI Frame & Liner 

System Assembly 

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MWI Liner System 

Termination 

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PROS 

Typical 1 M-6M gallo

Continuous recyclin

Quick mob/demob - 

build 

Maximum height of 

Re-use the struts a

CONS 

Loss to evaporation 

Hauling water- sig

Top-liner (likely disp
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Long-Term Application - Line

• Not this - issues: Liner system stability; wrinkle 

up on equipment in/out of impoundment; burrow

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• Stable, prepared 

subgrade - 6-inch thick 

layer of material <3/8-

inches 

• Lining System 

> 60-mil LLDPE or HOPE 

textured (both sides) 

geomembrane 

> Nonwoven geotextile 

(commonly called 

"engineered felt") 

> Backup barrier layers? 

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• Lining system is custom-fitted to the subgrade, b

installed on-site 

• Stable on the slopes - because the entire panel 

intimate contact 

• Few wrinkles to be torn 

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PROS 

Typical 2M-1M gal

Continuous recycli

Quick mob/de mob 

install liner 

Maximum height o

CONS 

Loss to evaporatio

Hauling water- sig

Top-liner (likely dis
• Worker safety 

• Installation methods 

• Timing of installation 

• Containment capability 

• Perimeter containment • Resistance to tear and/or puncture • Material availability 

• Proof containment intact (liner testing) 

• Inspection, maintenance, and repair • Decommissioning and removal 

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• Documentation of the installation of the lining system 

> In-field testing of every seam and weld > Full-time monitoring of installation by Independent Co

Quality Assurance 

> Construction documentation report, including panel la

and all in-field testing data for seams 

• Documentation of the integrity (i.e., leak-proof) of the line

> Before it is put into service > After taken out of service, before dismantling 

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• 3 of the 4 most frequently used options are geo

• Which industries are most-directly applicable? S

WASTE 

• Why? 

All about containment, compatibility with har

chemicals 

30 year track record of geosynthetics use 

Proven CQA methods/protocols that are app

USEPA and state DEPs for primary containm

solid and industrial waste 

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Differential Costs of the Optio

Short-Term Options 

Option 

Closed Tanks* (10,000 gallons) 

Open Tank {50,000 gallons) 

*Assume 4 months of use 

Long-Term Options 

Option 

Mobile Impoundments 

{ 1 M-6M gallons) 

Lined Pits {2M-7M gallons)+ 

+Includes soil excavation for pit construction 

Capital Cost 

per gallon 

$0.30-$0.40 $0.25-$0.55 

Capital Cost 

per gallon 

$0.22-$0.38 $0.08-$0.20 

Decom

Cost pe

$0.12- $0.08- 

Decom

Cost pe

$0.05 - 

$0.05 - 

Costs exclude construction costs for pad earthworks, rock ledge/bedrock excavation, access roads, and pad 

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Several considerations .. 

• On-pad truck routes to deliver water 

• Natural topography of the surrounding area 

• Size of the land lease 

• Proximity of the public road to the drilling operat

• Proximity to the landowner's house 

• Location of bedrock 

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• Several considerations 

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• Several considerations 

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• Several considerations 

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• Several considerations 

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• Optimizing location of frac pits/siting well pad 

• Evaluating permanent vs. temporary frac pit 

• Selecting materials for pit liners 

• Location of frac pits on pad 

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PRIORITIES .CREATIVITY .. AND INNOVAT

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For more information, feel free to contact 

Veronica Foster, PE 

Associate and Senior Engineering Consul

(724) 935-6400 (Pittsburgh office) 

(856) 793-2005 (Philadelphia office) 

(856) 904-7 434 (cell) 

veronica foster@golder.com 

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