When conventional remediation methods failed, the president of Leddy Oil, the owner of a pipeline on Poplar Creek, called UESS to respond to the 100 cubic meters of crude oil spilling into the creek. Though he initially doubted Gelco 200 would prove effective to remediate such a large area, after two days of working with skimmers, pillows, sock booms and vacuum trucks, he admitted, “our efforts were futile.” At this point a substantial amount of money, time and resources had been spent with no significant progress being made.

UESS responded with 2 crews of four men, 2 supervisors, and the appropriate vehicles and tools for the terrain, including swamp matting to provide an access point for vacuum trucks. Working from land and flat bottom boats, the crew spread Gelco 200 across a one-mile area, using containment zones for temporary storage of solidified hydrocarbons in areas too narrow for truck access.

According to the president of Leddy Oil, UESS effectively and efficiently remediated the initial spill for about one third the cost projected at the start of cleanup operations. After officials from Alberta Environment & the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada declared the water clean, UESS continued monitoring the spill site and pipeline repair at the customer’s request.

When a B-Train rollover spilled 18,000 liters of diesel fuel into the McLeod River, near Edson, Alberta, the affected area soon grew to 1000 feet long by 75 feet wide. The initial response team, including local emergency responders and the Area Spill Co-op, could not contain the spill effectively. One of the emergency responders, in consultation with the owner, 2N Environmental, called UESS, who responded immediately.

UESS assumed control of the operation and dispatched three crews of five men and the necessary vehicles and equipment for effective cleanup. Working in hazardous icy water, the crews ran a series of booms to contain the spill and applied Gelco 200 to solidify the diesel. Gelco 200 was also applied to the shoreline and at a culvert spillway to prevent further contamination. The crews spread 3,500 pounds of Gelco 200, in 10 separate applications, to completely remove all diesel and sheen from the contaminated areas.

Forty-eight hours later, officials from Alberta Environment, the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries, and Oceans Canada declared the remediation complete. Their water sampling showed that the spill site was now cleaner than sites upstream and downstream. UESS also remediated the spill for about half of the initial projected cost, realizing a savings of about $1 million.

UESS responded to a broken pipeline near Estevan, Saskatchewan, which was pumping Bakken oil into the Souris River. Enbridge Pipelines, Inc., the owner of the pipe, was familiar with UESS’s expertise and called them in as second responders.

UESS arrived on the scene with a crew of 6 men equipped with booms, boats, and Gelco 200. The crew worked continuously, containing the spill with booms and applying 1,650 pounds of Gelco 200 to fully remove and remediate the oil.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Petroleum Development Branch Director, Todd H. Han, declared the remediation complete. UESS recovered the environment in and around the spill to pre-spill conditions, for far less cost than traditional remediation methods.

UESS responded to a pipeline break in a Calgary AB-based, Arc Resources, Ltd line in the marshy Buck River area near the North Saskatchewan River in Drayton Valley, AB. The line break resulted in a spill of 4,200 gallons of Alberta mixed light sweet crude oil (MSW) into the marsh.

UESS responded with 2 crews of four men. An accelerated two-day boom by grid cleanup process stopped the Buck River spill from reaching the North Saskatchewan River. Systematic application of non-toxic Gelco 200 permitted UESS to not only contain the spill before it reached the North Saskatchewan River, but was also able to clean and restore the Buck River marsh flora to pre-spill condition.

Compared to the use of conventional clean-up materials, the Gelco 200 facilitated clean-up was a much less expensive remedy, and the marsh was restored to pristine condition. After the two day cleanup was completed, the Alberta Environment & the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada declared remediation complete.