Design and Pilot Tests of Binder Stabilization of Oily Refinery and Dredged Marine Sediments

Stabilization with binder of oily sediments and recently deposited dredged marine sediments was used in connection with the cap closure of an oil refinery waste management unit. The main objective of binder stabilization was to improve the strength and reduce the permeability and compressibility of a layer of sediments to serve as a cap foundation layer. The design of sediments stabilization was developed on the basis of a phased approach. First a grid sampling investigation was carried out to characterize the composition and engineering properties of the sediments. A laboratory treatability testing program was then carried out to assess feasibility of stabilization with binder, identify the optimum mix design, and evaluate curing parameters. Eventually, a field pilot test was performed to evaluate consistency of mix design performance between bench-scale and full-scale and design a construction and materials acceptance procedure applicable to full scale implementation. The results of the laboratory treatability tests are presented in a companion paper. This paper presents the results of the grid sampling investigation and of the field pilot test. In particular, the paper discusses an approach for in-situ assessment of strength and permeability of the binder stabilized sediments based on the results of cone penetration and double ring infiltrometer tests. This approach, other than providing information on greater volumes of materials and a more rapid response than the conventional sampling and laboratory testing, is considered more appropriate for stabilized materials whose properties are sensitive to curing conditions and sampling disturbance effects.