The many applications for geosynthetics in the energy sector

October 1, 2018  |  Editorial

The opportunities for geosynthetics in energy applications are nearly endless. There are huge energy categories, such as oil, natural gas and coal, but geosynthetics also play a role in nuclear energy, hydropower, wind power and solar power, among others. Geosynthetics line storage tanks, support ro…
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Multilinear drainage geocomposites to filter oil sands tailing slurries

October 1, 2018  |  Features

Mining and some energy operations generate large quantities of water-containing tailings. These tailings are made of crushed-rock particles that are deposited in a slurry form. This is the case for coal, tar sand, lead, zinc, gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, nickel, taconite (iron), phosphate, baux…
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Panorama

October 1, 2018  |  News

Extreme Plastics Plus and Mustang Energy Services merge Extreme Plastics Plus (EPP) and Mustang Energy Services Inc. (Mustang) merged, creating one of the country’s largest environmental containment services companies, with a presence in most of the major domestic oil and natural gas basins in the…
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The GMA Techline

October 1, 2018  |  Q&A: GMA Techline

Toxicity of nonwovens? Q: Are there any comprehensive tests (or a general synopsis) of the environmental toxicity of leachate from nonwoven polypropylene fabrics when aged in a freshwater or saltwater solution? Regulatory and municipal bodies in Europe and New Zealand are requesting more info about …
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Geo19 Watch: Inaugural IAGI GeoGames debuts at Geosynthetics Conference 2019, Plenary lineup announced

October 1, 2018  |  Events

The International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) is hosting the inaugural GeoGames on Feb. 12, 2019, in Houston, Texas, during Geosynthetics Conference 2019. The outdoor event, to be held in a park across the street from the conference, will feature welding competitions by teams of in…
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Automation of large-scale geotextile and geomembrane fabrication

October 1, 2018  |  Features

The development of a large-scale fabrication machine was conceived during the fabrication of geotextiles for a tailings pond cap in 2010. The machine joins five strips of material at a time to create fabricated panels for large projects. It is capable of both welding geomembranes and sewing high-str…
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Geosynthetics opportunities and solutions in shale gas extraction

October 1, 2018  |  Features

While natural gas contained within shale rock is geologic and thus ancient by its very nature, the practice of its removal by horizontal drilling coupled with hydrofracking is a relatively recent development (Figure 1). Indeed, these dual technologies are making possible the recovery of huge amounts…
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From Our Readers: Woven monofilament geotextile for glacial soils?

October 1, 2018  |  News

To the editor: Regarding your article “Springtime Failure of a Cold-Climate Geotextile Riprap Slope” in the June/July issue of Geosynthetics magazine, I believe woven slit film (WSF) fabrics are inappropriate as “filter fabric” for subsurface drains or beneath hard armor in erosion control a…
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GMA’s geosynthetic education offerings make a difference on campus and Capitol Hill

October 1, 2018  |  GMA News

August 2018 was a great month for the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) and the industry at large. Banner legislation promoting innovative materials was introduced in Congress by friend of the industry Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. GMA members and industry educators met at the University of…
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Geosynthetics and coal combustion residuals

October 1, 2018  |  GSI News

According to the World Bank Group, in 2015 coal produced 41% of the world’s energy and about 34% of the energy production in the United States. While global warming and pollution are serious challenges according to most scientific evidence, and coal burning is cited as one cause of both, there are…
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