Well pad drain and containment recovery system

Abstract

A well pad drainage system is provide, which allows for the testing of drainage water collected from the surface of the well pad prior to the release or removal of the drainage water. The drainage system utilizes a French drain in association with one or more catch basins, a drainpipe for release of uncontaminated drainage water and an extraction line for removal of contaminated drainage water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well pad drainage system comprising:
 a well pad having a pad ground surface elevated above a surrounding ground surface;   a berm located between said pad ground surface and said surrounding ground surface wherein said berm surrounds said well pad and has an inside surface adjacent to said pad ground surface and an outside surface adjacent to said surrounding ground surface;   a French drain extending at least partially around and subsurface to said pad ground surface;   a catch basin in fluid flow communication to said French drain; and   a drainpipe in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and in fluid flow communication with said surrounding ground surface configured for draining fluids from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The well pad drainage system of  claim 1  wherein said French drain extends around the perimeter of said pad ground surface adjacent to said inside surface of said berm. 
     
     
         3 . The well pad drainage system of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said catch basin is located subsurface to said pad ground surface. 
     
     
         4 . The well pad drainage system of  claim 3  wherein said drainpipe has a first end connected to said catch basin, extends through said berm and has a second end located at said outside surface of said berm. 
     
     
         5 . The well pad drainage system of  claim 4  wherein said second end of said drainpipe is at approximately ground level of said surrounding ground surface adjacent to said outside surface of said berm. 
     
     
         6 . The well pad drainage system of  claim 1  further comprising a valve connected to said drainpipe, said valve having an open position allowing fluid flow from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface and a closed position preventing fluid flow from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface. 
     
     
         7 . The well pad drainage system of  claim 1  wherein said catch basin has a sump configured to catch sediment. 
     
     
         8 . The well pad of  claim 1  further comprising an extraction line in fluid flow communication with said catch basin configured for extracting liquids from said catch basin to a truck 
     
     
         9 . The well pad of  claim 8  wherein said extraction line is in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and extends above said pad ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . The well pad of  claim 1  wherein said pad ground surface is graded to direct surface fluids towards said French drains. 
     
     
         11 . A well pad drainage system comprising:
 a well pad having a pad ground surface elevated above a surrounding ground surface;   a berm located between said pad ground surface and said surrounding ground surface wherein said berm surrounds said well pad and has an inside surface adjacent to said pad ground surface and an outside surface adjacent to said surrounding ground surface;   a French drain extending around and subsurface to the perimeter of said pad ground surface and adjacent to said inside surface of said berm and wherein said pad ground surface is graded to direct surface fluids towards said French drain;   a catch basin in fluid flow communication to said French drain wherein said catch basin is subsurface to said surrounding ground surface and has a top at pad ground surface having a grate, which allows access to said catch basin;   a drainpipe having a first end connected to and in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and a second end located at said outside surface of said berm at approximately ground level of said surrounding ground surface adjacent to said outside surface of said berm so that said drainpipe extends through said berm, said drainpipe configured for draining fluids from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface;   an extraction line in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and extending above said pad ground surface, said extraction line configured for extracting liquids from said catch basin to a truck; and   a valve connected to said drainpipe, said valve having an open position allowing fluid flow from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface and an closed position preventing fluid flow from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface.   
     
     
         11 . A method of draining a well pad having a pad ground surface elevated above a surrounding ground surface and surrounded by a berm located between said pad ground surface and said surrounding ground surface, the method comprising:
 (a) collecting drainage water in a catch basin;   (b) testing said drainage water for a predetermined threshold of contamination when a predetermined amount of drainage water has collected;   (c) draining said drainage water from said catch basin to said surrounding ground surface if said test indicates that said drainage water has less contamination than said predetermined threshold; and   (d) withdrawing said drainage water from said catch basin to a tanker truck if said test indicates that said drainage water has contamination that meets or exceeds said predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said drainage water is collected through a French drain extending around the perimeter of said pad ground surface and adjacent to said berm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said drainage water is stored in said French drain and said catch basin until after step (b) is carried out. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising settling sediment collected with said drainage water into a sump in said catch basin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said draining in step (c) is through a drainpipe in fluid flow communication with said catch basin and said surrounding ground surface and wherein a valve is connected to said drainpipe such that draining to said surrounding ground surface is prevented when said valve is in a closed position and allowed when said valve is in an open position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said withdrawing in step (d) is through an extraction line wherein drainage water is removed from said catch basin to a truck located on said pad ground surface through said extraction line.