Assessment and Remediation of Abandoned Oilfield Pits in Kleberg County

Summary

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)conducted a feasibility study and determined that the most effective pit closure alternative would be to construct a clay cap supported by a geogrid to cover the pit waste. In situ capping involves the placement of relatively impermeable cap over the contaminated soils and materials. The impermeable cap prevents the vertical infiltration of water into pit contents that would create contaminated leachate and creates a land surface that can support vegetation and be used for certain other purposes. In support of this alternative, RRC verified that the project area was not located in a floodplain by performing a topographic survey.