Access to the Site 



Planning upland or marsh sites via roadways. A route is planned to reach 

 the drilling site, usually with directness and cost of construction as prime 

 determining factors. The American Petroleum Institute has recommended addi- 

 tional factors to be considered in route selection (API, 1974). These include 

 minimizing environmental damage, presenting an acceptable appearance, accommo- 

 dating other present and foreseen uses, minimizing land use, complementing 

 present land uses, minimizing surface terrain removal, minimizing removal of 

 trees and other natural features, complementing natural drainage patterns and 

 features, avoiding natural flooding areas, and minimizing noise, dust, and 

 other nuisance factors. 



After the route has been selected, a survey crew enters to stake the 

 route, indicate where culverts or bridges are to be built, indicate elevations 

 to which dikes or levees should conform, and designate the wellsite, the pad or 

 leveed enclosure, and areas for the pits. To accomtiodate surveying, a small 

 amount of vegetation may be cleared. 



In many areas, the entrance to the access road will be from a highway and 

 through a gate. Most highways have ditches paralleling the road axis so that 

 runoff from the main road may drain into the local drainage system. Culverts 

 or small bridges across the roadside ditch must be placed or strengthened. The 

 area around and above the conduit will be filled with roadfill or roadfill plus 

 binder so that it packs into a hard, strong mound. Depending on the character- 

 istics of the soil and fill, tamping or minor reveting may be needed for added 

 strength. The top of this small dike is usually leveled and surfaced with 

 shell or gravel . 



When entry is through an existing gate, it may be necessary to enlarge the 

 gateway and strengthen the gate supports. In some cases, a cattle guard will 

 be installed. On occasion the operator will install a completely separate 

 gate, culvert, and adjoining road so that especially heavy vehicles will not 

 have to traverse the existing gate. 



In upland areas, if no road is present, one will be constructed. Equipment 

 - dump trucks, draglines, dozers, bucket loaders, "port-a-cans," contractors' 

 buildings - will be moved onto the land. In many spots, earth will be stacked 

 and packed to form the road base. Often, some of it may come from shallow 

 borrow areas that will serve as drainage ditches on both sides of the road. 

 Fill from other areas may be excavated and transported by truck. The fill is 

 shaped by the dozer and bucket loader. It may be packed in some areas to make 

 a firm base. 



To accommodate drainage, concrete conduits are sometimes placed in low 

 spots. This keeps the road from totally blocking the natural drainage and 



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