Petroleum Recovery Operations in an Urban Area

Abstract

The storage and handling of large quantities of petroleum products in a “sole source aquifer” area such as Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, New York, has resulted in numerous groundwater contamination problems. Recent legislative actions have provided for a means of minimizing future discharges but many previous and ongoing discharges of petroleum remain to be cleaned up. Recovery operations utilizing: (1) Positive and negative ventilating systems; (2) site well installation; (3) recovery well depression systems; and (4) treatment of discharge waters, have developed into effective and efficient cleanup techniques. The prevention of discharges of petroleum into our aquifers requires actions such as: (1) The replacement of steel tanks with cathodically protected steel, glass fiber reinforced plastic, steel clad with glass fiber reinforced plastic, double‐walled steel, etc.; (2) corrosion protection for piping; (3) inventory control; (4) leak detectors; and (5) testing programs. Vigorous programs concerning petroleum storage are needed immediately by federal, state, and local government, as well as by private industry.