Containment Membrane

Abstract

A liquid resistant containment membrane and which is durable enough to remain in place during the drilling and fracking phases to eliminate the delay and cost of replacement or can be relocated from site to site, has a slip resistant top surface, is a flexible membrane, and/or which top portion of the containment membrane does not absorb liquids. The containment membrane comprises a polymer waterproof layer and a reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layer is connected to a bottom side of the polymer waterproof layer.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for protecting an area of ground in a worksite by forming a containment system comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of strips of a liquid-proof containment membrane capable of blocking contaminants from seeping therethrough, each strip of said containment membrane having a top and bottom surface and comprising a polymer waterproof layer forming said top surface of said container membrane and a reinforcement layer that is secured to said polymer waterproof layer, said reinforcement layer positioned below said top surface of said containment membrane;   arranging said plurality of strips of containment membrane on the worksite to cover a top surface of the worksite, said bottom surface of each strip of containment membrane facing said top surface of the worksite; and,   forming a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant heat-created melted seam or a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant adhesive bond between said side edges or side portions of said adjacently positioned strips of said containment membrane to form said containment system on said worksite.   
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said polymer waterproof layer has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said reinforcement layer. 
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said polymer waterproof layer has a thickness of about 40 to about 80 mils, said reinforcement layer has a thickness of about 10 to about 15 mils. 
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said polymer waterproof layer is greater than 70% of a thickness of said containment membrane. 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said reinforcement layer is at least partially embedded in said bottom surface of said polymer waterproof layer. 
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said reinforcement layer is at least partially embedded in said bottom surface of said polymer waterproof layer. 
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said top surface of said polymer waterproof layer has a textured surface that has a R a  of at least 15 μm. 
     
     
         35 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said top surface of said polymer waterproof layer has a textured surface that has a R a  of at least 15 μm. 
     
     
         36 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said containment membrane is a flexible, waterproof and durable membrane, said containment membrane having a breaking strength of about 55-100 lbs. as tested per ASTM D 751 Procedure B, said containment membrane having an elongation of about 35-70% when tested per ASTM D 751, said containment membrane having a low temperature flexibility of at least −10° F. when tested by ASTM D 2136, said containment membrane resisting tearing at force of at least 20 lbf. as measured per ASTM D 751. 
     
     
         37 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said containment membrane is a flexible, waterproof and durable membrane, said containment membrane having a breaking strength of about 55-100 lbs. as tested per ASTM D 751 Procedure B, said containment membrane having an elongation of about 35-70% when tested per ASTM D 751, said containment membrane having a low temperature flexibility of at least −10° F. when tested by ASTM D 2136, said containment membrane resisting tearing at force of at least 20 lbf. as measured per ASTM D 751. 
     
     
         38 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , including the step of adding a curb to at least a portion of a perimeter of said containment system, a top of said curb having a height of at least two inches above a top surface of said containment membrane, said curb creating a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant barrier with said containment membrane. 
     
     
         39 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , including the step of adding a curb to at least a portion of a perimeter of said containment system, a top of said curb having a height of at least two inches above a top surface of said containment membrane, said curb creating a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant barrier with said containment membrane. 
     
     
         40 . The method as defined in  claim 38 , wherein said step of adding said curb includes the steps of:
 i. providing a compressible material that is compressible when a compression force is applied to said compressible material and which also retains its original shape after said compression force is removed from said compressible material;   ii. positioning said compressible material on a top surface of said containment membrane near a perimeter of said containment system;   iii. folding a side portion of said containment membrane over and about said compressible material and overlapping a portion of said side portion with a top surface of said containment membrane; and,   iv. securing said overlapping portion of said side portion to said top surface of said containment membrane.   
     
     
         41 . The method as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said step of adding said curb includes the steps of:
 i. providing a compressible material that is compressible when a compression force is applied to said compressible material and which also retains its original shape after said compression force is removed from said compressible material;   ii. positioning said compressible material on a top surface of said containment membrane near a perimeter of said containment system;   iii. folding a side portion of said containment membrane over and about said compressible material and overlapping a portion of said side portion with a top surface of said containment membrane; and,   iv. securing said overlapping portion of said side portion to said top surface of said containment membrane.   
     
     
         42 . A containment system comprising a plurality of strips of a liquid-proof containment membrane that are positioned on a worksite, said containment membrane capable of blocking contaminants from seeping therethrough, said containment membrane having a top and bottom surface and comprising a polymer waterproof layer forming said top surface of said container membrane and a reinforcement layer that is secured to said polymer waterproof layer, said reinforcement layer positioned below said top surface of said containment membrane, said containment system further comprising adjacently positioned strips of said containment membrane that are connected together by a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant seam formed by an adhesive or a melted bond, said bottom surface of each strip of containment membrane facing a top surface of the worksite. 
     
     
         43 . The system as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said polymer waterproof layer has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said reinforcement layer. 
     
     
         44 . The system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said polymer waterproof layer has a thickness of about 40 to about 80 mils, said reinforcement layer has a thickness of about 10 to about 15 mils. 
     
     
         45 . The system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said polymer waterproof layer is greater than 70% of a thickness of said containment membrane. 
     
     
         46 . The system as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said reinforcement layer is at least partially embedded in said bottom surface of said polymer waterproof layer. 
     
     
         47 . The system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said reinforcement layer is at least partially embedded in said bottom surface of said polymer waterproof layer. 
     
     
         48 . The system as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said top surface of said polymer waterproof layer has a textured surface that has a R a  of at least 15 μm. 
     
     
         49 . The system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said top surface of said polymer waterproof layer has a textured surface that has a R a  of at least 15 μm. 
     
     
         50 . The system as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said containment membrane is a flexible, waterproof and durable membrane, said containment membrane having a breaking strength of about 55-100 lbs. as tested per ASTM D 751 Procedure B, said containment membrane having an elongation of about 35-70% when tested per ASTM D 751, said containment membrane having a low temperature flexibility of at least −10° F. when tested by ASTM D 2136, said containment membrane resisting tearing at force of at least 20 lbf. as measured per ASTM D 751. 
     
     
         51 . The system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said containment membrane is a flexible, waterproof and durable membrane, said containment membrane having a breaking strength of about 55-100 lbs. as tested per ASTM D 751 Procedure B, said containment membrane having an elongation of about 35-70% when tested per ASTM D 751, said containment membrane having a low temperature flexibility of at least −10° F. when tested by ASTM D 2136, said containment membrane resisting tearing at force of at least 20 lbf. as measured per ASTM D 751. 
     
     
         52 . The system as defined in  claim 42 , including a curb positioned about at least a portion of a perimeter of said containment system, a top of said curb having a height of at least two inches above a top surface of said containment membrane, said curb creating a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant barrier with said containment membrane. 
     
     
         53 . The system as defined in  claim 43 , including a curb positioned about at least a portion of a perimeter of said containment system, a top of said curb having a height of at least two inches above a top surface of said containment membrane, said curb creating a liquid-proof or liquid-resistant barrier with said containment membrane. 
     
     
         54 . The system as defined in  claim 52 , wherein said curb is formed of a compressible material that is compressible when a compression force is applied to said compressible material and which also regains its original shape after said compression force is removed from said compressible material, a majority of said compressible material encircled by said containment membrane, overlapping portions of said containment membrane sealed together to secure said at least partially encircled compressible material in position. 
     
     
         55 . The system as defined in  claim 53 , wherein said curb is formed of a compressible material that is compressible when a compression force is applied to said compressible material and which also regains its original shape after said compression force is removed from said compressible material, a majority of said compressible material encircled by said containment membrane, overlapping portions of said containment membrane sealed together to secure said at least partially encircled compressible material in position.