Hines Energy Complex Cooling Pond Sampling Project

Bartow, Florida

Project Description/Services

In 2003, Madrid Engineering Group, Inc. began a geotechnical site investigation of the CSA and ESA areas, to the north and east of the existing cooling pond at the Hines Complex, Bartow, Florida. The ESA and CSA were selected for a 460-acre expansion of the cooling pond system, associated with bringing online two additional power units at the plant. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the soil conditions along the existing perimeter berms, as well as the current sediment and bottom soil conditions within each pond area.

Sixteen standard penetration test (SPT) borings were completed as part of the geotechnical investigation. Within the pond areas, the thickness of the water column was checked by MEG soil scientists using Jon boats and air boats for access to mine pits within the ESA and CSA. Water depth was measured using a sonic fathometer with measuring precision of plus or minus 0.1 foot. The fathometer was calibrated using a Secchi disk, and found to be within acceptable precision. Steel probe rods, ½-inch diameter, were used to determine the thickness of the underlying sediments. The probe rods were extended through open water and bottom sediments until ‘refusal’ conditions were encountered. Once the thickness of the sediment was known at a particular location, a piston tube sampler was used to obtain discrete sediment samples within the sediment column. The samples were extruded from the sampler into plastic sample jars and taken to our laboratory for further analysis. Laboratory testing included solids content, organic content, plasticity, and gradation. Additionally, specific construction recommendations were made for preparation of the sites.