The Smart Contractor

Service station owners know all too well about the time and cost involved when it comes to installing, decommissioning and the remediation of underground product storage systems (UPSS). If there was a cost-effective and painless way to make these processes happen, it would definitely get the attention of the petroleum industry.

Recently, Numac expanded its core services for retail service station operators to do exactly that. Formed in 1998, Numac provides a niche service in environmental and geotechnical drilling. Since then it has grown into a specialist contractor, servicing consulting firms and hazardous facility operators across a broad range of industries. With offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and clients across the country, its services include drilling, sub-surface sampling, demolition, tank removal, tank and line installation (re-tanking) and soil and water remediation systems.

ACAPMAg speaks with Ross Raymond, CEO at Numac, about their new cost-effective technology offering plus all of the benefits.

What has Numac been up to of late?

A: Numac recently expanded our core services to include installation, decommissioning and remediation of UPSS for retail service station operators. We also brought in some exciting new technology to help deliver those services.We now have the capacity and capability to provide retail service station operators with cost-effective solutions when either re-tanking or decommissioning UPSS on service stations sites. When we look at a project we provide more than just a basic scope and price. We have the unique mix of skills and experience needed for combining re-tanking with remediation, we like to know if we are dealing with any contamination issues before we get there so we can offer more cost effective solutions such as plume delineation and pre-treatment of contamination to reduce soil disposal costs.

Can you tell us about this new technology offered by Numac

A: One of the exciting developments for Numac, and its clients, is the introduction of MIP technologyNumac’s new MIP unit provides high-resolution data mapping which is a cost-effective method for environmental consultants to delineate the impact of volatile organic contaminants such as BTEX, TCE, and DCE deep below the surface.

MIP is able to locate the zones where light or dense non-aqueous phase liquids are present and provide real-time measurements for optimising remediation. Contamination zones can then be specifically targeted eliminating unnecessary excavation and disposal of contaminated soil. The MIP approach also allows for faster excavation works as volumes and location of contamination are pre-determined, qualitative sampling is still required for verification and offsite disposal by environmental consultants. The combination of this approach can save tens/hundreds thousand dollars on a single project.

By correlating a series of MIP logs across a site, we can also produce 2D and 3D modelling of contaminant plumes and migration pathways. This provides accurate data necessary for successful outcomes when utilising in-situ remediation methods such direct injection or vacuum extraction systems.

The modelling practice is also a cost-effective way to evaluate remediation performance and monitor progress.

What are some of the benefits for service station owners?

A: We aim to partner with our clients and provide a more holistic approach by considering these options combined with decisions regarding: placement of UPPS infrastructure; ground water conditions; shoring requirements; former UST locations; plus a range of other factors that can deliver significant savings in shut-down time, project duration and overall project costs.We take the time to plan our projects thoroughly. We start working for our clients long before we arrive on site to begin the physical work. We prefer to look at projects in their entirety and provide a clear approach so clients don’t receive long lists of unexpected variation items. We’re upfront and transparent.

Why Numac?

A: Over the years we have worked across a range of industries such as petrochemical, mining, government and transportation. We have achieved many success stories with our clients. For example in 2010, 7-Eleven asked us to providing drilling investigations for the assessment and remediation of impacted sites from the 250 Mobil sites they had acquired. Working with environmental consultants , the project involved delineating areas of impact where there was risk of causing a fuel leak and targeting drilling locations around any pumps, tanks, fuel points, fuel lines and underground infrastructure and then looking at remediation such as Numac’s direct injection using insitu chemical oxidation processes.

As an organisation, Numac proactively implements quality operating systems and OHS standards - safety is central to all our activities. Our uncompromising approach is one reason we’re a leading provider to industries that demand strict risk management procedures.

We’re always applying our technical expertise and enthusiasm for innovation to produce smarter and more efficient solutions for our clients. And we’re a pretty friendly bunch of people to work with too.

For more information on Numac and their services visit www.numac.com.au

Phone: 1300131 019