Kalamazoo District Orphan Well Project: Facility Decommissioning and Site Restoration
The Kalamazoo District Facility Decommissioning and Restoration Project was a State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) endeavor that took place at (6) locations in Oceana and Newago Counties, Michigan. The main purpose of the project was to drain, clean and remove oil storage tanks, flow lines, vessels, containments, concrete pads, and other equipment that have been on these locations for many years, as most of these tank battery locations were part of abandoned wells.
The project began in April 2023 and concluded in August 2023. The (6) site locations were scattered around Oceana and Newago Counties in various areas, mostly rural, agricultural areas. This project was part of federal funding provided by the Department of Interior. During the course of the project, representatives from the Department of Interior visited the sites and were very pleased with the quality of work that Taplin was executing.
When crews arrived on each site, they would remove any fluids left in the tanks and take that material for disposal, clean the tanks and vessels, clean and remove the flow lines and transport all salvageable materials to the salvage yard, which included steel flow lines, tanks, and vessels. For at least (3) of the locations, Taplin was required to solidify the material removed from the tanks, prior to disposal. Once the tanks etc. were removed, any impacted soil would be excavated and transported for disposal. Finally, the locations would be restored and seeded in a way that most would have no idea that a tank battery was ever there.
The Taplin crew was made up of a Superintendent, (2) operators and (1) laborer. Roll off drivers and a fill in tanker driver were used intermittently. An excavator with a thumb attachment, skid steer, mini-excavator, tractor, low boy and stainless steel tanker were on-site for all operations to complete the work.