Long-term performance of a geosynthetic clay liner exposed to hydrocarbons in the Arctic

M. Hosney, R.J. Bathurst, R.K. Rowe

In the proceedings of: GEO2011: 64th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 5th Pan-American Conference on Teaching and Learning of Geotechnical Engineering

Session: Geoenvironmental Engineering

ABSTRACT: For the last eight years, a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) has been used as part of a subsurface barrier system to minimize the migration of a hydrocarbon spill in the Canadian Arctic. GCL samples exhumed from the site 1, 6 and 7 years after installation were examined to assess their hydraulic conductivity with respect to both water and jet fuel. Test results indicate that the GCL has performed well over 7 years. However, samples subjected to wet-drying cycles, freeze-thaw cycles, and exposed to jet fuel over the 7 year period showed an increase in the hydraulic conductivity by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude and a loss of swell and self-healing capacity.

RÉSUMÉ: Au cours des huit dernières années, un revêtement d'argile géosynthétique (GCL) a été utilisé dans le cadre d'un système de barrière souterraine pour minimiser la migration d'un déversement d'hydrocarbures dans l'Arctique canadien. Des échantillons GCL exhumés du site 1, 6 et 7 ans après l'installation ont été examinés pour évaluer leur conductivité hydraulique à l'égard de l'eau et du carburant. Les résultats indiquent que la GCL fonctionne bien jusqu'à 7 -séchage, des cycles de gel-dégel, et exposés à du kérosène ont augmenté leur conductivité hydraulique de 1 à 3 fois. Ces échantillons ont aussi démontré -guérison.

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