SUCCESSFUL PRETREATMENT AND DEEP-WELL INJECTION OF
CHEMICAL PLANT WASTEWATER
Ray S. Dugas, Environmental Engineer
Uniroyal Chemical Geismar Plant
Geismar, Louisiana 70734
Paul E. Reed, Manager
Environmental Control Department
Uniroyal Chemical Division
Uniroyal, Inc.
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
INTRODUCTION
On October 30, 1970 the Louisiana Stream Control Commission approved a discharge
permit and waste treatment procedures for water pollution control and abatement for
Uniroyal's Geismar Chemical Plant Complex.
Subsequently, Corps of Engineers discharge permit applications were filed and updated
beginning June 1971.   Waste abatement practices included recycle and reuse of unreacted
raw materials and solvents; collection and incineration of waste liquids; collection and
landfilling of waste solids; recycle and reuse of water; segregation and neutralization of
waste streams, including contaminated storm waters; pretreating and injecting contaminated portions to deep-wells below 3600 ft and discharging essentially uncontaminated
waste and rain waters to the Mississippi River.
By the end of 1972, cumulative abatement efforts succeeded in markedly reducing
pollution loads to the Mississippi River—for example, COD by over 95%, BOD5 by over
97% and chlorinated hydrocarbons by 100%.
Prior to drilling the first disposal well, Uniroyal and four other chemical companies
jointly commissioned a geological survey of the Geisma>-/St. Gabriel, Louisiana area. This
same group also funded a study to determine if all abandoned oil and gas wells within a
2-1/2- mile radius of the disposal well sites had been adequately plugged.
Lacking in-company expertise, we engaged a petroleum engineering consultant with a
proven record in the field of subsurface disposal to engineer and supervise the drilling of
our wells.   The well design recommended and used for the wells is shown in Figure 1.
Uniroyal has two identical wells spaced 470 ft apart, both drilled into the same 200-ft
thick sand strata at 3500 ft.   It has a third well 235 ft from the first, drilled to a 200-ft
sand strata at 5900 ft.   The wells are constructed as follows:   (Refer to Figure I)
1. 12-3/8-in.-diameter surface casing, to 200 ft below the freshwater strata, cemented
back to surface.
2. 9-5/8-in.-diameter well casing (Long String), from surface to the top of the inject-
tion strata, cemented full length.
3. 7-in.-diameter injection tubing, sealed inside the well casing at top and bottom.  The
annular space is liquid full.   The annulus pressure is continuously recorded.
4. Completion is with a 6-5/8-in.-diameter screen and liner gravel packed.
Total investment in the collection, pretreatment and disposal system facilities exceeds
$2 million; annual operating costs exceed $250,000.
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