1. Polymics Leak-Proof Spill Containment System
for Oil & Gas Applications
By Tim Hsu, Ph.D.
Lin Zhang

2. Company Profile Founded 1994 in State College, PA.
Privately Owned Manufacturer
Technology Focused
150 employees globally (50 US)
Multiple patents on ultra-high performance polymers being used by the Oil & Gas Industry
Production Facilities in US, China and Taiwan
Headquartered in State College, PA
3 shifts provide 24 hour capability
Houston Sales & Support Office, TX
Manufacturing – Vertically Integrated
Polymer Synthesis & Production
Specialty Formulation & Compounding
Compression & Injection Molding
Extrusion, Pultrusion & Filament Winding
Centrifugal Assisted Molding
Powder & Coating Technology
Testing & Pilot Development Laboratory
Clients include – Halliburton, Schlumberger

3. Objectives in Drill Site Spill Containment
• Contain mud & frac fluid (water, sand, & chemicals) at drill sites
• Mat to be laid on graded patch of land with easy Installation & removal
• Mat to bear the load of any vehicle & containers On-Site
• Mat to provide leak-proof barrier without the need for an additional liner

4. Current Issues & Opportunities
• Limited supplier & availability of existing system components in use
• No primary sealing function provided by existing mat system
• Liner used as secondary seal but subject to tear, wear & potential for leakage
• Heavy components with complex Interlocking mechanism
• Difficult to dissemble during cold weather due to mud buildup

5. Desirable Features by End Users
(Determined through Collaboration with Penn State)
Leak Proof (proven through PSU Testing)
Installation without heavy equipment
Reusable (Durable)
Cost effective with minimal environmental impacts
Easy to transport from site to site
Manufacturability
Highly Functional (easy access, non-slip, built – in leak detection, etc.)
Quick assembly & disassembly
Target Technical Specifications
Single piece dimensions not to exceed 10 ft. x 20 ft.
Material properties of the mat meets all loading requirements
Electrostatic dissipative desirable
Ease of Installation – The mat needs to be installed by 3 workers with a fork lift, and any other necessary tools.
Sealing Capabilities – The mats will seal against any drill site fluids under atmospheric pressure.
Low # of Pieces – A mat with fewer pieces is ideal. Pieces could include: gaskets, springs, locking mechanisms, etc…
Field Usable – Each mat will need to be able to withstand the elements on a rig sites, including extreme temperature variations (-50F to 115F), all kinds of precipitation, and various other conditions.
Reusable (Durable) – Each system has to have a long work life (~5 years per mat) and work life of approximately 3-5 uses per gasket.
Safety – This is in regards to the safety of the workers installing the mats, and the environment outside the drill site.
Transportability – The mats need to fit in a shipping container, being shipped by sea from Taiwan.
Manufacturability – The ease of manufacturing the mats directly impacts the cost, payback time, and ROI (Return on Investment) of our project.
Shape – An awkwardly shaped mat will cost more to ship, and could cause shipping delays; optimization of shape will reduce costs.

6. Current Design – System Overview
Material Selection: Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite
*Carbon fiber reinforced system could be used for specialty needs
Key Features:
Each 5’ by 10’ mat weighs less than 150 Ibs!
(compared to over 500 lbs for the current Polyolefin mat system)
Mats provide primary sealing eliminating the need for protective liner
Significantly improved wear resistance
Easy to assemble and disassemble

7. Current Design - Mat Internal Attachment
Groves are cut on each side of the mat
Each mat is slid onto the interlocking support beam system
Gasket ensures leak proof connection between mats
No bolts are required for the attachment
“Brick Pattern” layout is adapted to ensure no leakage at the junction
Note: Mats currently utilized in Europe during mining operations to build temporary roads
(proven strength and durability)

8. Key Structural Components
Current Curb Design
Consistent design with thermoplastic GF composite formed curb
Interlocking mechanism for sealing
Slides into the mat, no bolts required
Easy to manufacture and install
All pieces connect internally with secondary seal
Key Structural Components
a. Interconnecting Frame
b. Pultruded GRE channel
Allows Leak Detection Sensors and Hot Air Circulation during Winter
c. Interlocking internal connection with primary sealing function

9. Cost & Supply Chain:
• Leasing Program will provide competitive cost versus existing system
• Elimination of protective liner reduces overall cost (and leak proof mat system eliminates environmental impacts/ costs)
Light Weight Components & Ease of Installation save on shipping and handling (install/ disassembly) Costs
• All components currently available to offer system at this time

10. Path Forward Manufacture Prototype system for initial Pad test
Goal: Mats and other components for demonstration available in 60 to 90 days
Produce 300 mats (15,000 sq. ft. pad)
Team with drilling company to gather all performance data
Ongoing research collaborative with PSU sponsoring graduate research on specific topics

11. Summary Acknowledgement
• Novel mat system will provide cost effective alternative to existing system
• In addition to providing leak and spill containment, elimination of protective liner also further reduces waste and other environmental impacts
• Thermoplastic fiber reinforced mat and curb design are ready for full scale production & job site evaluation
• Assembly and manufacturing plant can all occur in PA with minimal capital investment
• Minuteman Environmental Services
• Chesapeake Energy
• PSU Learning Factory