US20130341323A1

US20130341323A1 - Fluid Containment System and Building Method

Info

Publication number: US20130341323A1
Application number: US13/916,327
Authority: US
Inventors: David B. Hudak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-12
Filing date: 2013-06-12
Publication date: 2013-12-26
Also published as: CA2818664A1

Abstract

Systems and building methods for scalable, sturdy, above-ground containment cells for large quantities of fluid are disclosed. The systems can be built quickly on site and disassembled when a project is finished.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/658,784, entitled “FLUID CONTAINMENT SYSTEM AND BUILDING METHOD”, filed on Jun. 12, 2012, and the specification thereof is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to containment systems, particularly to above-ground systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, there are limited containment systems for large quantities of fluid that are required for reserves for large operations such as aquaculture, waste water treatment, mining, oil/gas well hydraulic fracturing (“frac” or “frac'ing”), hydroponics, man-made wetlands, bio-filters for pollution control, etc.
Dug-out or in-ground systems comprising a liner have the disadvantage that over time ground water infiltrates between the tank surface and the liner, displacing the liner and reducing the storage capacity of the system.
Current above-ground alternatives include 400 barrel capacity (“Bbl”) steel tanks. These are very expensive to manufacture and transport to the site, have a large carbon foot print, and they have to be moved off site after the project is completed. These tanks cost over $30,000 each and are not insulated or possess any special internal coatings that are required for some flow-back wells in the frac'ing process.
Bladder systems are another less effective technology. These systems have been in existence for military fuel storage purposes for more than 20 years. However, this technology is very expensive, not easy to transport and not easily scalable (the storage height is very restricted). Further, these tanks require secondary containment.
The industry has responded to the need for more scalable, easy and fast to install/remove, less expensive, above-ground systems such as the Modu Tank™. These six feet tall systems are made of 16 gauge G90 galvanized steel wall panels, supported by 2″×3″×¼″ and 2″×2″×⅛″ and 2″×2″× 3/16″ steel angles hot-dip galvanized frames. The largest disadvantage that these tanks have is that they can catastrophically fail if the integrity of a wall panel is compromised, e.g., by a puncture from a vehicle hitting the tank or a tree falling onto a wall.
Thus, there is a need for above-ground containment systems for large quantities of fluid that are scalable, versatile, have a low carbon footprint, and can be quickly built on site and disassembled when a project is finished, but at the same time are sturdy enough to withstand challenges to their walls.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide above-ground, large volume containment systems comprising a holding cell structure comprising a floor and one or more walls comprising at least one tier of one or more gabions forming a skeleton, and embankments extending from the floor to the one or more walls. In one embodiment, the gabions comprise varying geometric shapes, such as, for example, triangular shapes. Optionally, the skeleton is anchored to a ground surface through, for example, rods nailed into the ground surface and connected to the gabions, through cables, or posts driven through either the interior of the gabions, or the outside/inside of the walls. In one embodiment, anchoring posts are used to suspend cabling for bird netting. Optionally, two or more tiers of gabions are staggered. Depending on the purpose for the containment system, piping is optionally installed over or through the walls, in or on the floor or in layers of the fluid contained to move materials in and out of the holding cell. Aeration of the material contained in the holding cell is preferably accomplished through perforated piping through which gases, such as air, are injected into the fluid. In one embodiment, air from natural wind currents is funneled into the perforated piping.
In one embodiment, liners are disposed on the holding cell to prevent leakage of the fluid contained in the system.
Optionally, the floor in the holding cell is sloped to form one or more low sump areas for drainage.
In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide methods of constructing an above-ground fluid containment system comprising building a holding cell by layering one or more tiers of gabions and forming a skeleton, and forming a floor and embankments inside or outside of the cell. In one embodiment the methods comprise disposing one or more liners on the floor and embankments of the holding cell.
One embodiment comprises excavating a thin layer of dirt within the holding cell to form the floor and embankments, and filling the gabions with dirt from the excavated thin layer. In a different embodiment, the methods comprise anchoring the skeleton to a ground surface with, for example, metal rods, or posts, or cables connected to the gabions.
In another embodiment, the methods comprise installing piping over or through the walls, and in or on the holding cell's floor, in one or more layers, to move materials in and out of the cell. In a different embodiment, the methods comprise sloping the holding cell's floor and forming one or more low sump areas for draining.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a top view of a corner portion of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B is a perspective top view of the corner of FIG. 1A; and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the corner portion of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 3A is an embodiment of the present invention comprising gabions staggered on the outside of the cell; FIG. 3B is a different embodiment comprising gabions staggered on the inside of the cell;

FIG. 4A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 4C is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4A with all other sides being identical;

FIG. 5A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 5C is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5A with all other sides being identical;

FIG. 6A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 6C is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A with all other sides being identical;

FIG. 7A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 7A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 7C is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 7A with all other sides being identical;

FIG. 8A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 8A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 8C is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8A with all other sides being identical;

FIG. 9A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 9A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 9C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 9A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 9D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 9A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 10A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 10A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 10C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 10A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 10D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 10A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 11A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 11A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 11C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 11A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 11D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 11A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 12A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 12A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 12C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 12A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 12D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 12A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 13A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 13C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 13A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 13D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 13A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 14A shows a top view of an embodiment similar in size to the embodiment of FIG. 13A but with a different gabion arrangement;

FIG. 15A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 15A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 15C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 15A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 15D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 15A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 16A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 16A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 16C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 16A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 16D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 16A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 17A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 17A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 17C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 17A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 17D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 17A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 18A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 18A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 18C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 18A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 18D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 18A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 19A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 19A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 19C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 19A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 19D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 19A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 20A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 20B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 20A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 20C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 20A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 20D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 20A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 21A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 22A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 22C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 22A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 22D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 22A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 23A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 23B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 23A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 23C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 23A with its opposite side being identical; FIG. 23D is a side view of the other side of FIG. 23A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 24A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 24B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 24A with the bottom view being identical;

FIG. 25A is an enlarged perspective view of one of the 120 degree corners of the embodiment of FIG. 24A; FIG. 25B is another enlarged view of a 120 degree corner of the embodiment of FIG. 24A; FIG. 25C is a perspective view of a segment of a configuration of triangular gabions arranged in a matrix at the bottom tier of the corners of the embodiment of FIG. 24A; FIGS. 25D and 25E are perspective view of segments of a configuration of triangular gabions arranged in a matrix at the second and third tiers of the corners of the embodiment of FIG. 24A; FIG. 25F is a perspective view of a segment of a configuration of triangular gabions arranged in a matrix at the top tier of the corners of the embodiment of FIG. 24A;

FIG. 26A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 26B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 26A with the bottom view being identical;

FIG. 27A is a top enlarged view of one of the corners of the embodiment of FIG. 26A showing a configuration of triangular gabions arranged in matrixes; FIG. 27B is a top perspective view of the corner of FIG. 27A;

FIG. 28A is a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 28B is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 28A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 28C is a side view of the shortest side of the embodiment of FIG. 28A;

FIG. 29A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 29B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 29A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 29C is a side view of one of the sides of FIG. 29A with its opposite side being identical;

FIG. 30A shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 30B shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 30A with the bottom view being identical; FIGS. 30C and 30D show perspective views of alternative gabion arrangements to fill in the corners of the embodiment of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 31A is an enlarged perspective top view of an embodiment of a triangular gabion; FIG. 31B is a front side view of the embodiment of FIG. 31A with side views being identical; FIG. 31C is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 31A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 31D is a back side view of the embodiment of FIG. 31A;

FIG. 32A is an enlarged top front perspective view of an embodiment of a trapezoidal gabion; FIG. 32B is an enlarged top back perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 32A; FIG. 32C is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 32A with the bottom view being identical; FIG. 32D is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 32A with the sides being identical; and FIG. 32E is a back side view of the embodiment of FIG. 32A.

FIG. 33 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention comprising four holding cells;

FIG. 34 is a perspective partial cross-section view of some of the holding cells of the embodiment of FIG. 33; and

FIG. 35 is a perspective top partial cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 33 showing a sloped floor and poles anchoring the skeleton and protruding above the walls for setting up bird netting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cost effective solution to the industry's present need by providing above-ground, large volume containment systems comprising a cell structure formed from tiers of gabions. These walls are preferably sturdy enough to resist a direct hit by a vehicle or a tree falling directly on them. The gabions are preferably easy to transport and can be set up and filled with soil or other material on site. Applications for these systems include, but are not limited to: storage of fresh water reserves for mining, frac'ing, etc.; storage of containment ponds from mining; evaporation pits; sewage treatment; remote storage tanks for water available for fire-fighting; aquaculture tanks; deep tank floating raft hydroponics tanks; aquaponics tanks; man-made wetlands; and bio-filters for pollution control and/or sewage disposal.
As used throughout the specification and claims, the term “cell” or “holding cell” refers to a containment structure. As used throughout the specification and claims, the term “liner” refers to material that is impermeable to the fluid contained in the system, which can be made of, for example, synthetic materials such as plastics, or clay, concrete, etc. As used throughout the specification and claims, the term “fluid” refers to mater to be stored in the holding cells, even if said mater is not liquid, for example, contaminated snow, hydrocarbon contaminated soil, etc.
As exemplified in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, sloped soil embankments 2 can optionally be added to gabion skeleton 4, which comprises a plurality of adjacent gabions. Embankments 2 can optionally be added inside the walls of the holding cell being constructed. This can increase the structure's mass, increase the ground contact friction co-efficient, and change the center of gravity point to resist overturning forces from large amounts of liquid stored in the cell. Further, embankments 2 on the inside can increase safety. For example, if someone were to fall into a structure with vertical side walls, it would be virtually impossible to escape. However, a sloped interior provides egress. Also, embankments 2 on the inside ease stress on any liner that can optionally be used in the different embodiments as compared to a vertical wall meeting a perpendicular floor.
In one embodiment, no liner is used in the containment system. However, in other embodiments, various liner materials can optionally be used depending on the application or regulatory requirements for the system. The use of a single layer synthetic liner is appropriate, for example, for fresh water applications. However, if the fluids being contained are of a contaminated nature, for example for frac'ing applications, then two or more synthetic liners can optionally be placed with a mesh for leak detection placed between the liners. If the storage cell will see vehicle traffic to clean it out once in a while, then a layer of packed clay between approximately 18″ and approximately 24″ can optionally be laid over the synthetic liner(s). Cement can optionally be used in permanent installations.
If liner 6 is used, it can optionally be anchored between gabions 5, 7 of gabion skeleton 4, as exemplified in FIG. 2. Additionally, gabion skeleton 4 can optionally be anchored to the ground with cables or rods (not shown) that are, for example, buried in embankments 2 and attached to a sub-grade soil anchor in order to add stability to the cell structure and to further resist overturning forces. As shown in FIG. 35, poles can optionally be disposed outside the gabion skeleton. Alternatively, poles can be disposed in the gabions or inside the walls. In one embodiment, the poles extend above the walls and are used to suspend cabling for bird netting. See FIG. 35. In a different embodiment, bird netting is substituted with blow molded balls (or variants) as a self-organizing cover. For example, in one embodiment, 3″ to 5″ diameter plastic balls, which can form one or more layers to cover a contained fluid, are molded on site and then placed on the surface of the contained fluid.
The gabions can be stacked in various configurations to meet various height (fluid depth) requirements and/or increase holding volume per unit area. Stack configurations are also varied depending on the site soil conditions—this methodology can provide a wider base when needed at a site with poor soil conditions and/or ground stability issues. Stack configurations can also be engineered to increase the structure's mass.
FIG. 3 illustrates different possible arrangements of the gabions of gabion skeleton 8. FIG. 3A is an arrangement that can optionally be used for systems with smaller fluid containment requirements, for example between 1,000 m³and 3,000 m³, where the overturning forces from, for example, liquid stored in the cell are lower than those in larger cells. In FIG. 3A's embodiment, gabions are staggered outside the cell, resulting in an internal vertical wall where wedge 10 can optionally be added to stabilize the structure and ease the stress of liner 12. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B can optionally be used for cells with liquid holding capacities of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of m³. This embodiment can optionally comprise an arrangement of gabions staggered on the inside of the cell to facilitate the construction of embankments 14. Liner 16 can optionally be placed on embankments 14.
FIGS. 4 to 23 demonstrate the versatility and flexibility of the embodiments of the present invention to customize systems that can range in size from tens of feet to hundreds of feet in the lengths of their sides, and fluid holding capacities ranging from hundreds of m³to hundreds of thousands of m³. These embodiments optionally comprise gabion arrangements staggering on the outside for relatively smaller volumes and arrangements staggering on the inside for larger volume capacity cells.
Depending on the purpose of a given containment system, piping can optionally be installed over or through the walls of a given gabion skeleton for moving materials into and/or out of the cells, and may be used for chemical injection, aeration, circulation, and/or heating, etc. For example, piping can optionally be installed within or on top of the cell floor, for example, to provide heated fluid circulation, in the case of containment of contaminated snow. In one embodiment, perforated pipe can optionally be laid on the cell floor and low pressure-high volume air be circulated to provide aeration, in the case of containment of contaminated soil. In another embodiment, several layers of perforated piping networks are disposed within different layers of material stored in the holding cell. The air injected into the piping can, for example, be funneled into the piping from natural wind.
The gabions may vary in shape to create structures of different shapes, such as angled or circular. In one embodiment, triangular gabions can optionally be used to create structures of different shapes and accommodate corners of more than 90 degrees. For instance, FIG. 24 illustrates an embodiment of a cell comprising hexagonal shape with 120 degree corners. FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate different views of the 120 degree corner where triangular gabions are arranged in a matrix to form the corner. The segment shown in FIG. 25C shows the triangular gabion configuration for the bottom tier. FIGS. 25D and 25E show the second and third tiers, which are the same. FIG. 25F shows the arrangement of triangular gabions in the top tier.
Triangular gabion matrixes are also useful in creating angular corners of less than 90 degrees. For example, FIG. 26 shows a triangular cell comprising corners of less than 90 degrees with matrixes of triangular gabions forming these corners. FIGS. 27A and 27B show a top view and an enlarged perspective view of the triangular gabion matrix for a corner of the embodiment of FIG. 26. FIGS. 28 and 29 show two different embodiments of cells with different shapes comprising triangular gabion matrixes in their corners.
Alternatively, cells of diverse shapes can be built out of square gabions without any gabions in corners that are greater or smaller than 90 degrees. For instance, FIG. 30 illustrates a cell with octagonal shape where each 135 degree corner may comprise a gap in the gabion skeleton.
In another embodiment gabions comprising a trapezoidal shape are used to make circular or curved containment walls. See FIG. 32. The versatility that the embodiments of the present invention offer to formulate structures of odd shapes makes it possible to go around obstructions, for example on an oil lease site that has a rock outcropping.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method of constructing a containment system comprising layering tiers of gabions that can optionally be filled with soil excavated from a relatively thin layer within the holding cell, which preferably results in a shallow subterranean portion. Embankments may optionally be built by profiling the shallow excavation in the holding cell to form a low sump area for final pump out of, for example, liquid stored in the cell. A liner may optionally be disposed on the floor and embankments of the holding cell. After the holding cell's function is complete, the gabions are preferably recovered for re-use, and the dirt is returned to the excavated area. Hydro-seeding and/or tree planting may optionally be performed to reclaim the land.

Industrial Applicability:

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting example.

EXAMPLE 1

Three connected treatment cells, each with a capacity of approximately 5,625 m³for frac'ing flowback water, and an adjacent fresh water storage cell with a capacity of approximately 24,290 m³storage were built. See FIG. 33. It should be noted that the increased capacity of the “fresh water” cell over the three “treatment cells” was to permit the addition of more surface gathered fresh water to allow for salt dilution. Only approximately 10%-15% of the storage volume in the system was contained below grade. The soil that was removed from the interior of the storage cells during construction provided the fill for the above ground walls and liner support material.
After the excavation to form the floor was completed, two bottom rows of gabions were assembled. Hesco Concertainer® wire baskets lined with a non-woven geotextile liner to contain soil were used as gabions in this project, but other products such as TrapBag® cellular structures can alternatively be used. Any rock or bolder greater than 8″ was removed from the fill material. The gabions were filled in various 18″-24″ lifts, and a vibratory packer was used to achieve approximately 95% of standard proctor dry density. After the second lift of soil was deposited into the two lower rows of gabions, a third, upper, string of gabions was attached to the outside bottom row. While this was being carried out, the final lift of soil was added to the lower inside row, and the consecutive lifts were added to the outside row, raising the outside wall height to 8′ above grade. It is worth noting that the three treatment cells had some walls in common. See FIG. 34.
The soil embankments were built to have a 2:1 slope and the holding cells' floor was sloped to form low sump areas for drainage. See FIG. 35. The embankments did not have any rock or bolder greater than 8″. A vibratory packer was used to achieve approximately 95% of standard proctor dry density for the soil embankments. Geomatting and liners were installed after the dirt works were completed. A double liner with leak detection was installed into each of the three treatment cells in compliance with the requirements of Canadian ERCB Directive 55. A single liner was installed into the fresh water holding cell.
After the liner was installed, approximately 122 poles (4½″ drill steel) at a finished length of 20′ were installed around the outside of the walls, these poles were 8′ into the ground plus 8′ up the outside side wall, leaving 4′ above the finished wall height. See FIG. 35. These poles were used to secure the required cabling to support bird netting. After the piles are placed and cables run, bird netting was secured to the cabling and the sides of the walls.
A soil ramp was assembled on the outside of the cells to provide access for removal of equipment and a 20 feet wide service roadway was built between the three treatment cells and the fresh water holding cells. Although the service roadway was raised, it was three feet below the top of the containment walls so that the walls would provide a vehicle barrier. Inspections, tests and checks were carried.
The preceding example can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding example.
Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately” means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited.
Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An above-ground fluid containment system comprising:

a holding cell structure comprising a floor and one or more walls comprising at least one tier of one or more gabions forming a skeleton; and

embankments extending from said floor to said one or more walls.

2. The fluid containment system of claim 1 wherein said gabions comprise varying geometric shapes.

3. The fluid containment system of claim 2 wherein at least on said shape of said gabions is triangular.

4. The fluid containment system of claim 1 wherein said skeleton is anchored to a ground surface.

5. The fluid containment system of claim 4 wherein said skeleton is anchored through rods nailed into the ground surface and connected to said one or more said gabions.

6. The fluid containment system of claim 4 wherein said skeleton is anchored to the ground surface through cables.

7. The fluid containment system of claim 4 wherein said skeleton is anchored to the ground surface through posts driven through an interior of said gabions.

8. The fluid containment system of claim 7 wherein said posts are driven through an outside of said walls.

9. The fluid containment system of claim 7 wherein said posts are driven through an inside of said walls.

10. The fluid containment system of claim 7 wherein said posts suspend cabling for bird netting.

11. The fluid containment system of claim 1 comprising two or more tiers and said tiers are staggered.

12. The fluid containment system of claim 1 further comprising piping.

13. The fluid containment system of claim 12 wherein said piping is installed over said one or more walls.

14. The fluid containment system of claim 12 wherein said piping passes through said one or more walls.

15. The fluid containment system of claim 12 wherein said piping is installed in said floor of said holding cell.

16. The fluid containment system of claim 12 wherein said piping is installed on said floor of said holding cell structure.

17. The fluid containment system of claim 12 wherein said piping is perforated to inject gases to fluid stored in said system.

18. The fluid containment system of claim 17 wherein said perforated piping is disposed in various layers of a fluid contained in said system.

19. The fluid containment system of claim 17 wherein the gases injected into the fluid comprise air from natural wind currents funneled into said perforated piping.

20. The fluid containment system of claim 1 further comprising one or more liners.

21. The fluid containment system of claim 1 wherein said floor is sloped to form one or more low sump areas for drainage.

22. A method of constructing an above-ground fluid containment system comprising:

building a holding cell by layering one or more tiers of gabions and forming a skeleton; and

forming a floor and embankments inside the cell.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising disposing one or more liners on the floor and embankments of the holding cell.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising excavating a thin layer of dirt within the holding cell to form the floor and embankments.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising filling the gabions with dirt from the excavated thin layer.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising anchoring the skeleton to a ground surface.

27. The method of claim 22 comprising anchoring the skeleton with metal rods connected to the gabions.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising installing piping over or through the walls to move materials in and out of the cell.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising installing piping on the floor.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising installing piping in the floor.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising installing the piping in various layers of a fluid contained in the system.

32. The method of claim 22 further comprising sloping the floor and forming one or more low sump areas for draining.

33. The fluid containment system of claim 1 further comprising embankments outside the walls.