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/ FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK ON
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CLAYS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST
Clay Minerals Society 28th Annual Meeting Houston, Texas
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration L_ B. Johmm Sl_ce CeeNr Houston,Texas LPI
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FIELD TRIP GUIDEBOOK ON
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CLAYS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST
Prepared by Theron D. Garcia Douglas W. Ming Lisa Kay Tuck
For the Clay Minerals Society 28th Annual Meeting
Hosted with NASA Johnson Space Center Lunar and Planetary Institute
October 5-10, 1991 Houston, Texas
Contents
Preface ...... v Map Showing Field Trip Area ...... v/
Introduction: Environmental Impact of Clays Along the Upper Texas Coast ...... 1 T. D. Garcia
RegioaalSetting...... 1 Beaumont Formation ...... 3 Environmental Hazards Associatedwith the Beaumont ...... 7 References ...... 13
LEG 1. Expansive Soilsin HarrisCounty, Texas: Lake Charles and Midland Serics...... 17 D.W. ang
Harris County, Texas...... 17 STOP 1-1. Lake Charles Clay...... 20 STOP 1-2.Midland Clay...... 23 References ...... 23
LEG 2. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center ...... 25
Background ...... 25 Mission ...... 26 Facilities ...... 27 STOP 2-1. Mission Control Center ...... 27 STOP 2-2. Lunar Sample Building ...... 29 STOP 2-3. Space Shuttle and Space Station Freedom Mockups ...... 31 STOP 2-4. Visitor Center and Gift Shop (Optional) ...... 32
LEG 3. Subsidcnce and Surface Faulting at San Jacinto Monument, Goose Creek Oil Field, and Baytown, Texas ...... 33 T. D. Garcia
Introduction...... 33 STOP 3-1. San JacintoMonument StatePark ...... 33 ROLLING STOP 3-2.Wooster Fault...... 36 STOP 3-3. Brownwood Subdivision...... 37 STOP 3-4. Burnett School/Baytown Alternative High School Wellhead Casing ...... 40 ROLLING STOP 3-5. Exxon Tank Storage Field...... 41 ROLLING STOP 3-6. Baytown Community Center ...... 41 ROLLING STOP 3-7. Pelley Fault (Optional) ...... 42 STOP 3-8. Goose Creek Oil Field (Optional) ...... 42 References ...... 44
LEG 4. Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority Campbell Bayou Facility ...... 45 L. K. Tuck
Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority ...... 45 STOP 4-1. GCA's Campbell Bayou Facility ...... 45 References ...... 50
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Preface
The field trip "Environmental Impact of Clays along the Upper Texas Coast" was prepared to provide participants at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Clay Minerals Society an opportunity to see first hand some of the environmental hazards associated with clays in the Houston, Texas area. Because of the very high clay content in area soils and underlying Beaumont Formation clay, Houston is a fitting location to host the Clay Minerals Society. During this one-day field trip, stops will include the examination of (i) expansive soils (Vertisols & Alfisols) in the southern part of Houston, (ii) subsidence and surface faulting east of Downtown Houston (San Jacinto Monument, Goose Creek Oil Field, and Baytown), and (iii) a landfill located southeast of Houston at the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority Campbell Bayou Facility where clay is used as part of the liner material. In addition, a stop will be made at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Lyndon B. Space Center where field trip participants will be given the opportunity to observe the heritage of the Nation's space program. Several of the facilities that will be visited include (i) Mission Control Center, (ii) Lunar Sample Building, and (iii) Space Station Freedom and Space Shuttle Mockups.
The assistance of Stephanie TindeU, Renee Dotson, and Steve Hokanson of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in preparing this guidebook is gratefully acknowledged. The field trip has greatly benefitted from the cooperation of the San Jacinto Museum of History, University of Houston-Clear Lake, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, and the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority. A special thanks goes to Dave Pevear for his continuous support and encouragement to make this field trip guidebook possible.
We hope that you enjoy your stay in Houston.
Theron D. Garcia University of Houston-Clear Lake
Douglas W. Ming NASA Johnson Space Center
Lisa Kay Tuck Sterling Chemicals, Inc.
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/ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CLAYS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST
Theron D. Garcia University of Houston-Clear Lake
REGIONAL SETrlNG Throughout most of the Tertiary, The Houston-Galveston area is changes in sea level were relatively mild located in the northwestern part of the and lacked the rapid rates of change Gulf Coast Basin (Fig. 1). During the found in the Quaternary (Winker, 1979). Cenozoic Era the Gulf Coast Basin Major fluctuations in sea level have been experienced fluctuations in sea level documented in the Pleistocene and, accompanied by transgressive and according to Richmond and Fullerton regressive depositional events. (1986), the beginning of these major
FIGURE 1. Generalized geologic map of the Gulf coastal plains and the principal hydrographic features of the Gulf of Mexico (Bernard et al., 1970). ORIGINAL PAGE IS OF POOR QUAL.n_
[ XPLA_AT ION aELAt,VE S_C ¢C_'E_ T
FIGURE 2. Depositional system for the Beaumont Formation (Solis, 1981). fluctuations can be found in the Pliocene. McGowen 1980; Aronow, 1990). Multiple fluctuations of sea level Strandplains formed at the seaward edge throughout the Cenozoic have produced of delta progradation as transgressing 50,000 feet (15,259 m) of sediment in off- seas reworked previously deposited sands shore Texas and almost 45,000 feet (Morton & McGowen, 1980). During (13,725 m) in off-shore Louisiana. periods of low sea-level stand, the Deposition of these sediments was exposed deposits underwent intensive normally accompanied by growth faulting weathering, producing extensive which, along with subsidence, produced paleosols (Morton and Nummedal, sequences of sediment that thickened 1982). The modern southeast Texas seaward (Morton & Nummedal, 1982). coastal plain consists mainly of late Regardless of the rate of sea level Pleistocene and Recent alluvial and change or magnitude of sea level deltaic plains (Bernard et al., 1970). An fluctuations, the depositional styles along example of a depositional system for the the ancient Texas Gulf Coast have Beaumont Formation is illustrated in remained the same throughout the Figure 2. Cenozoic (Winker, 1979). Rivers The present topographic surface on crossing the coastal plain deposited silty the Beaumont Formation is directly to sandy meander-belt ridges (levees) related to depositional systems present and point bars (Van Siclen, 1985). Mud- during the high sea-level stand (about + 6 rich deltas, resulting from the high meters above present) of the last suspended load of these rivers, interglacial stage. Fluvial deltas prograded into shallow marine water prograded into shallow marine water during periods of high sea stand depositing overbank and interdistributary "and formed broad, low-relief muds (Winker, 1979; Morton & surfaces that maintain much of their depositional grain. Details shelf off the Louisiana coast and preserved on delta surfaces are possibly part of the southeast Texas straight distributary channels, coast before the cycle is terminated meanderbelt sands, overbank and by the next falling-sea-level distributary muds....The seaward substage." extent of delta progradation is marked by strandplains formed by BEAUMONT FORMATION reworked sands deposited on delta- The Beaumont Formation of late plain surfaces" (Morton and Pleistocene age is the youngest of a long McGowan, 1980, p. 1). series of Cenozoic stratigraphic sequences which crop out in subparallel Bernard and LeBlanc (1965) belts along the upper Texas coast. The speculated on future sedimentary Beaumont Formation is in contact with deposition along the Texas coastal plain: Recent sedimentary systems near the coastline. Boundaries between these "Given sufficient time, belts can generally be recognized only by approximately 20,000 -25,000 years, a change in slope relative to adjacent and a constant stand of the sea, the plains (Bernard and LeBlanc, 1965). future events along this part of the These investigators noted that coast should be similar to those of successively younger (and seaward) the Last Pleistocene Interglacial formations dip at progressively smaller stage [Beaumont Formation]. The gradients. A combination of basin rivers, if not controlled by man, downwarping due to sediment loading should prograde their deltas far (and contemporaneous inland uplift) and seaward of the present strand. The higher clay compaction rates oceanward Mississippi deltaic plain should produced the greater slopes evident in eventually cover most of the present older Cenozoic formations (Fig. 3). The
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FIGURE 3. Generalized cross section of the Gulf Coast Geosyncline (Bernard et al, 1970). 4
belt of exposed Beaumont sediments deposits (Fig. 4). Sea level during extends from the eastern edge of the deposition of the Beaumont was slightly Mississippi River in Louisiana (Prairie higher (+ 6 m) than the present sea level Formation) to the northern edge of the elevation (Aronow, 1971). Van Siclen great South Texas Sand Sheet, south of (1985) suggested that low meander-belt Corpus Christi (Aronow, 1988). The ridges left by the ancient Brazos River Beaumont Formation underlies most of are the most enduring depositional Harris County. In the field trip area, the features of the Beaumont Formation in Beaumont outcrop belt is 30 to 40 miles the Houston Area. The silty to sandy (48.3 to 64.4 m) wide and dips gulfward meander-belt ridges and distributary between 1.5 and 5 feet per mile (0.3 and patterns of these deltas form topographic 0.95 m) (Solis, 1981). Bernard and highs which are surrounded by the muds LeBlanc (1965) approximated the of ancient flood basins and seaward slope of the Beaumont south of interdistributary areas. Similar patterns Houston at 2.0 feet per mile. were produced by the interglacial Nueces The sediments of the Beaumont and Trinity Rivers (Aronow, 1990). The Formation were deposited as ancient Beaumont Formation in the Houston- rivers migrated across the coastal plain Galveston area, mainly muds depositing silt and sand in meander-belt representing delta-plain sediments ridges, point-bars, and distributary (Kreitler et al., 1977), overlies a sand channels, and muds (clays) were section known as the Alta deposited in overbank and floodbasin
CHANNEL CUTOFF 7
// / _---POINT BAR SAND BODIES
OVERBANK MUD (INCLUDES LEVEES 8, CREVASSE SPLAYS)
FIGURE 4. Depositional model of an idealized fine-grained meanderbelt fluvial system showing bed forms, sedimentary structures, and multistory geometry (Morton and McGowen, 98o). Upthrown fault block Downthrown fault bk>ck \ : Offset land surface Scarp \ Fault trace
Fault "_
Offset sedimentary layers \
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FIGURE 5. Vertical section through a hypothetical fault in the Houston area. Land surface was originally level, but has since been displaced by movement along the fault. Note thickening of sedimentary layers on the downthrown side. This indicates that faulting occurred repeatedly over a long period of time, while the sediments were being deposited. Such faults are common in the Texas Gulf Coast.
Loma Sand (Wood and Gabrysch, 1965). depocenters from Texas, where The muds typically contain high deposition was greatest in the Eocene to percentages of smectite (Gabrysch and Oligocene, to Louisiana which Bonnet, 1975), forming Vertisols experienced much greater depositional (Aronow, 1976). Gustavson (1975) rates in the Miocene, Pliocene and estimated that 15 to 20 percent of the Pleistocene (Solis, 1981). The Coastal Plain surface is covered by depocenter of Pleistocene sediments was smectite-rich, expansive soils. located offshore from the Winker (1979) stated that, in Texas, Texas/Louisiana border according to Beaumont deposits are generally less Woodbury et al. (1973). than 100 feet (30 m) thick. Solis (1981) Growth faults originating in Tertiary however, suggested the Beaumont is sediments often penetrate the Beaumont, about 500 feet (152.5 m) in the sometimes producing topographical northwestern region of the Gulf Coast features (Fig. 5). Verbeek et al. (1979) Basin. The thickness of the Beaumont in defined a growth fault as, the Louisiana Coastal plain is considerably thicker than the Beaumont "A fault along which movement in the Texas Coastal plain, ranging from occurs as sediments are deposited several hundred feet in Texas to three on and above the fault scarp. thousand feet (1000 m) in Louisiana Continued movement and (Russell, 1940). Differences in thickness sedimentation over an extended in the Beaumont indicate a shift of main 6
period of time causes the oldest and Faults resulting from the lowermost sediments to be offset emplacement of salt domes also cut the the most and causes the amount of Beaumont Formation in local areas. offset to decrease upward within Many active faults in the Houston area younger deposits." are located near producing oil or gas fields (Verbeek and Clanton, 1981). Verbeek and Clanton (1981) suggested The Beaumont, then, was deposited that these faults are everywhere in a fluvial-deltaic depositional system subparallel to the coastline. The during the last interglacial high stand of downthrown side is generally coastward. the sea. Relict features of this Growth faults, according to Kreitler depositional system, including meander- (1976b), are commonly associated with belt ridges and point bars, distributary high-mud delta systems where they form channels, overbank, interdistributary and between the delta-front sands and the flood basin deposits are present on the thick, prodelta muds. Bruce (1972) and surface in the Houston area (Fig. 7). Fisher et al. (1972) suggested that Vertisols have formed on the smectite- gulfward creep of the Cenozoic rich muds of these deposits. sediments enhances the formation of Topographic features on the Beaumont growth faults. Over 7,000 miles of include meander-belt ridges and fault lineations representing, in part, surface scarps. According to Aronow (1990, p. expressions of deep-seated growth faults 3), occur in the Texas Coastal Zone (Fig. 6) (Kreitler, 1976a). No strain builds up in "Modern analogues [of the these poorly consolidated sediments; Beaumont] are the combined therefore, no seismic activity occurs Holocene floodplains of the along these faults. Colorado and Brazos Rivers, and
FIGURE _ Lineations and surface traces of faults extrapolated from the Frio Formation (Oligocene), Galveston Bay to the Neches River (Kreitler, 1976b). ORIGINAL PAGE IS OF POOR QUAIJTY
FIGURE 7. Recent Brazos River point bar near Richmond, Texas just west of Houston.
the Holocene alluvial plain of the Subsidence Rio Grande with its well-preserved Natural subsidence occurs along the numerous resacas (abandoned Texas Coastal plain due to: 1) channels)." dewatering and compaction of clay-rich sediments ( Morton & McGowen, 1980); ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS 2) slow basinward migration of the ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEAUMONT Cenozoic sedimentary clastic wedge The Houston-Galveston area is (Elsbury et al., 1981; Delflache, 1980); subject to many environmental hazards and 3) tectonic subsidence due to as a result of being sited on the structural warping related to the isostatic Beaumont Formation. Subsidence, adjustment of sediment loading (Morton faulting, expansive soils and increased & Nummedal, 1982). risk of flooding are natural hazards that Although natural subsidence is are readily recognized in the Houston- important on a geological time scale, Galveston area. The human presence in increased subsidence rates from ground the Texas Coristal plain has, however, water withdrawal (Gabrysch and Bonnet, accelerated the rate at which these 1975,) and hydrocarbon production natural processes proceed. (Holzer and Bluntzer, 1984) have importance in local areas and produce a Sheets (1962) noted that until 1940 all much greater effect than natural water supplies in the Houston area were subsidence (Morton & McGowen, 1980; from wells. Ratzlaff, 1982). The pumping of large The Gulf Coast aquifer has been amounts of water for municipal, described as a complex, gulfward-dipping industrial, and agricultural uses has series of sands and shales (Solis, 1981). caused the ground water level in the In hydrologic terms, Muller and Price region's two major aquifers, the Chicot (1979) and Gabrysch (1991) describe it and Evangeline, to decline hundreds of as a leaky, artesian system. Leaky feet (Fig. 8) (Gabrysch and Bonnet, artesian conditions occur when aquifers 1975). These aquifers, along with other which dip at an angle are overlain by minor aquifers, represent some of the confining beds or aquitards (the most prolific sources of fresh water in the Beaumont in this case). These aquitards United States (Solis, 1981; McGuiness, impede but do not prevent vertical flow. 1963). In the Houston-Galveston area, Heavy pumping from a leaky artesian as much as 500 million gal/day was system decreases the hydrostatic pressure pumped from these aquifers at average in the water-bearing sands, thus setting rates of 1,600 gal/min. Weaver and up a pressure gradient. Water from
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FIGURE 8. Hydrologic profile showing aquifers, principal zones of ground water withdrawal, altitudes of the potentiometric surfaces, and land-surface subsidence (Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975). --2--Line of equal subsidence In feet i\ \ \
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FIGURE 9. Land-surface subsidence in the Houston, Texas area from 1906 to 1978 (Harris- Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, 1981). adjacent higher pressured clays then Winslow and Wood (1959) determined migrates into the sands. Upon loss of that approximately 22 percent of the interstitial water, the clays collapse and ground water pumped from the these compact, thereby losing volume. This aquifers in the Houston vicinity was reduction in the volume of clay results in derived from clays. Gabrysch and subsidence at the surface (Muller and Bonnet (1975) estimated that 55 percent Price, 1979). Jorgensen (1975, p. 49) of the subsidence in southern Harris stated that, County results from compaction within the Chicot Aquifer. "the volume of water derived from By 1975 more than 9 feet of compaction of clay is very nearly subsidence had occurred along the equal to the volume of subsidence in Houston Ship Channel area (Fig. 9). The the Houston district because nearly Clear Lake area, including the Johnson all subsidence is related to ground Space Center, had lost over 4 feet of water pumpage from the Chicot and elevation and nearly all of the Houston- Evangeline aquifers." Galveston area had sunk at least 1 foot. The Harris and Galveston Coastal 10
Subsidence District was created in 1975 percent more land would be flooded in to control the use of ground water in the 1976 if a similar hurricane were to hit the two-county district. From 1978 to 1987 coast (Fig. 10). The inundation of this the eastern area of Harris County additional land would be due to the (including the Ship Channel area) subsidence which occurred between 1961 experienced less than 0.5 foot of and 1976. The author further predicted subsidence while a portion of northwest that an additional 10 feet of subsidence Harris County subsided in excess of 2 would inundate 50% more land than feet. The reduction in subsidence in Carla did in 1961 (Fig. 11). eastern Harris County has been brought Serious drainage problems about by conversion to surface water associated with freshwater flooding occur provided by the Trinity and San Jacinto in the Houston-Galveston area where Rivers. During the mid 1970s, total loss of elevation landward from the coast groundwater pumpage in the Houston- occurs. The Houston-Galveston area is Galveston area approached 500 million covered by impermeable clays which gal/day. In 1989 total pumpage was less produce high runoff rates, drained by than 360 million gal/day. This decrease tidally-influenced bayous which in groundwater pumpage has occurred in sometimes experience landward flow and spite of the industrial and population according to Solis (1981) the gradient is growth of the area. By 1973, water-level as low as 1.5 feet/mile. Subsidence in declines in the Chicot Aquifer had such an area accentuates the flooding reached 300 feet in the Ship Channel potential. area. Since 1977, however, water level increases of as much as 180 feet have been recorded in wells in the Ship Channel area. Major environmental impacts of subsidence include 1) loss of elevation, 2) activation of growth faults, and 3) activation of faults associated with the formation of salt domes. ? Loss of elevation in a low-lying coastal region creates problems of saltwater flooding due to coastal storms, unusually high tides or high winds.
"...[E]ach incremental loss of elevation subjects more coastal land along bays and estuaries to complete inundation from marine • Te_$ _ _n f l waters and intermittent inundation from both hurricane surges and unusually high tides" (Kreitler, 1976a, p. 1). FIGURE 10. Land inundated by In 1961, Hurricane Carla flooded 123 Hurricane Carla in 1961 and the land that square miles of the Houston-Galveston would be inundated by a Carla-sized area. Kreitler (1976a) estimated that 25 hurricane in 1976 (Kreitler, 1976a). 11
and Amsbury, 1975), pavements and buildings (Elsbury and Van Siclen, 1983), runways and railroad lines (Clanton and Verbeek, 1981; Elsbury et al., 1981) and other man made structures within the Houston-Galveston area (Fig. 12). Contemporary rates of movement on many of these faults is in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 cm/yr (Verbeek and Clanton, 1978). Everett and Reid (1981) suggested the rates of movement on many of the faults in Houston exceed 1.5 inches per year. Vertical displacements of as much as 0.8 in/year have been measured along sections of the Long Point Fault (Elsbury et al., 1981). Kreitler (1976a) noted that at least 150 miles of active faults with topographic escarpments are present in the Houston- 6 EsT_mo_e(_subsidence(si_r.e196i) (ft) Galveston area. According to Elsbury and Van Siclen (1983), however, Harris County alone is crossed by 205 miles (330 FIGURE 11. Land that would be km) of known active or potentially active inundated by a Carla-sized hurricane if an surface faults. additional 10 feet of subsidence occurred As previously discussed, subsidence since 1961 (Kreitler, 1976a). has been implicated in the activation of both growth faults and local faults associated with salt domes. Kreitler In addition to both marine and (1976b) observed that, in turn, faults can freshwater flooding hazards, ground work to compartmentalize subsidence, water pumping and the accompanying thus forming structurally controlled subsidence has been tied to the subsidence basins. The author cited the activation of regional Tertiary growth Texas City area which has experienced faults and local faults associated with salt over 5 feet of subsidence as an example. domes (Brown et al., 1974). Subsidence in this case, according to Kreitler, has been confined on two sides Faulting by fault control. On the northern side, More than 60 years ago, Pratt and an extrapolated subsurface fault with no Johnson (1926) described fault activity topographic escarpment controls the associated with oil production at the lateral migration of subsidence. The Goose Creek oil field in Baytown. southern side is controlled by a fault with However, it has only been the last 20 a mappable scarp. This fault prevents years or so that faults in the Houston- the migration of subsidence in Texas City Galveston area have been recognized by to the Galveston area. the public as an important geologic hazard (Everett and Reid, 1981). Today, extensive active faults are damaging subsurface utilities (Clanton 12
[ HOUSTON / _-
I ] J_NCTION : CEDAR POINT
IJ_KE _ ) - s_uER,OGE .f +'++;
FIGURE 12. Map of known and suspected faults in the Houston area (Verbeek and Clanton, 1981).
Expansive Soils 1988) and emplacement of utility lines in Softs in the southern half of Harris the subsurface. According to Williams County are predominantly Vertisols that (1965), damage is the result of have formed on the Beaumont differential vertical movement in the clay Formation. Cracked foundation slabs, as moisture levels in the clay adjust to buckled pavement, undulating road new environmental conditions. surfaces, broken curbs and tilted utility Expansive soft movements are greatest poles are evidence of the expansive near the ground surface and generally nature of these soils (Gustavson, 1975). diminish to nothing between 5 and 30 Millions of dollars are spent each year in feet underground (Jones and Holtz, attempts to remediate damages resulting 1973). In addition to vertical from expansive softs. displacement at the surface, cycUc According to Olive et al. (1989) expansion and contraction of the soft and environmental/engineering problems in localized heaving also produce damage areas underlain by expansive softs are in manmade structures (Lamar and caused by volume changes in swelling Laier, 1988; Gustavson, 1975). clays resulting from human activities that Mathewson et al. (1975, p. 276) modify the local environment. Such stated, activities include construction of slab foundations (Mathewson et al., 1975; "the average total yearly loss from Mustafayev, 1988), basements (Chen and earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, Huang, 1988), airport runways, canal and floods is only half that from finings and pavements (Christodoulias expansive softs." and Gasios, 1988; Livneh and Ishai, 13
According to a National Science Precautions homeowners can take Foundation (1978) study only riverine to minimize damage from expansive soils floods surpass the average annual losses include: 1) maintaining proper drainage due to expansive soils. Jones and Holtz to prevent ponding of water near the (1973) have set the annual losses at house; 2) preventing desiccation of soil approximately $2.3 billion. These by trees (Perpich et al., 1965); and 3) investigators stated that, within the maintaining moist soil conditions around United States, annual loss to single- and under the foundation at all times. family homes due to structural damage Watering the foundation of a home in from expansive soils has been the Houston area takes precedence over approximately $300 million. Loss due to watering vegetation. Loss of moisture expansive soils was estimated by Griggs around the periphery during the dry and Gilchrist (1983) to be $7.2 billion season will cause shrinkage and annually. Chert (1988) stated that the contraction, resulting in cracking and projected annual loss, by the year 2000, settlement of the edges of the slab. in the United States due to expansive Conscientious homeowners commonly soils will exceed $4.5 billion. Regardless lay soaker hoses around the foundation of the precise figure, the costs associated in an attempt to keep the perimeter of with remediating damages incurred as a the slab from drying and shrinking result of expansive soils is several billions (Mathewson et al., 1975). of dollars annually.
REFERENCES
Aronow, S. (1971) Nueces River Delta plain of Aronow, S. (1990) Quaternary geology of Trinity the Pleistocene Beaumont Formation, valley field trip area: review of the Corpus Christi region, Texas. American Pleistocene sequence, especially the Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, Beaumont Formation and Deweyville 55:1231-1248. Terraces. In H. Freedenberg and R. B. Aronow, S. (1976) Geology [of Harris County] in Rieser (eds.), Environmental geology and Ground-water resources of Chambers and genetic sequence analysis of the Trinity River- Jefferson counties, Texas: Texas Water valley delta region, Chambers and Liberty Development Board Report 133, p. 43-45. Counties, Texas: Field trip guidebook, Aronow, S. (1988) Surficial post-Tertiary geology Houston Geological Society, Nov. 17, 1990, of eastern Harris County. In Environmental 115 p. geology of East Harris County: Field trip Bernard, H. A. and LeBlanc, R. J., Jr. (1965) guide book, AAPG-Houston Geological Resume of the Quaternary geology of the Society, March 19, 1988, Houston, Texas, 88 northwestern Gulf of Mexico province. In H. p. E. Wright, Jr., and D. G. Frey (eds.), The Quaternary of the United States: Princeton University Press, p. 137-185. 14
Bernard, H. A., Major, C. F., Jr., Parrott, B. S., Everett, J. R., and Reid, W. M. (1981) Active and Le Blanc, R. J., Sr. (1970) Recent faults in the Houston, Texas area as sediments of southeast Texas. A Field Guide observed on landsat imagery. In E. M. Etter to the Brazos alluvial and deltaic plains and (ed.), Houston area environmental geology: the Galveston barrier island complex. Surface faulting_ ground subsidence, hazard Guidebook No. 11, The University of Terns liability: Houston Geological Society, 164 p. at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 132 Fisher, W. L., McGowen, J. D., Brown, L. F., and p. Groat, C. G. (1972) Environmental geologic Brown, L. F., Jr., Morton, R. A., McGowen, J. H., atlas of the Texas coastal zone--Galveston- Kreitler, C W., and Fisher, W. L. (1974) Houston area: The University of Texas at Natural hazards of the Texas coastal zone: Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 91 p. University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Gabrysch, R. K. (1991) Land-surface subsidence Economic Geology, 13 p. in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas. In Bruce, C. H. (1972) Pressured shale and related J. C. Holschuh, Land subsidence in Houston, sediment deformation: A mechanism for Texas, USA, Field trip guidebook, Fourth development of regional contemporaneous International Symposium on Land faults, Corpus Christi: Geol. Soc. America, Subsidence, May 12-17, 1991, Houston, 12,no.9,p. 4-5. Texas. Chert,F. H. (1988) Current statuson legalaspects Gabrysch R. IC, and Bonnet, C. W. (1975) Land- of expansivesoils.In Proceedingsof the 6th surface subsidence at Seabrook, Texas: U.S. InternationalConferenceon Expansive Soils, Geological Survey Water-Resources v.1,Dec. 1-4,1988,p.353-356. Investigations 76-31, 53 p. Chen, F. H., and Huang, D. (1988) Lateral Griggs, G. B., and Gilchrist, J. A. (1983) Geologic expansion pressures on basement walls. In hazards, resources, and environmental Proceedings of the 6th International planning (2nd ed.): Belmont, CA., Conference on Expansive Soils, v. 1, Dec. 1-4, Wadsworth publishing company, 502 p. 1988, p. 55-59. Gustavson, T. C. (1975) Microrelief (gilgai) Christodoulias, J., and Gasios, E. (1988) structures on expansive clays of the Texas Investigation on the motorway damage due coastal plain Their recognition and to expansive soil in Greece. In Proceedings significance in engineering construction: of the 6th Intemational Conference on The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Expansive Soils, v. 1, Dec. 1-4, 1988, p. 241- Economic Geology Geological Circular 75-7, 245. 18 p. Clanton, U. S., and Amsbury, D. L. (1975) Active Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District faults in southeastern Harris County, Texas: (1981) Subsidence '81, District Office, Environmental Geology, 1, 149-154. Friendswood, TX. Clanton, U. S., and Verbeek, E. R. (1981) Holzer, T. L., and Bluntzer, R. L. (1984) Land Photographic portrait of active faults in the subsidence near oil and gas fields, Houston, Houston metropolitan area, Texas. In Texas: Ground Water, 22, 450-459. Houston area environmental geology: surface Jones, D. E. Jr., and Holtz, W. G. (1973) faultin_ ground subsidenc_ hazard liability: Expansive soil - the hidden disaster: Civil AAPG-Houston Geological Society, 164 p. Engineering, 43, 49-51. Deflache, A. P. (1980) The subsidence problem: Jorgenson, D. G. (1975) Analog model studies of Houston Engineer, April, p. 20-23. ground-water hydrology in the Houston Elsbury, B. R., and Van Siclen, D. C. (1983) district, Texas: Texas Water Development Dealing with active surface faulting in Board Report 22, 23 p. Houston: ASCE, Oct. 17-21, 1983, Houston, Kreitler, C. W. (1976a) Fault control of Texas, 42 p. subsidence, Houston-Galveston area, Texas: Elsbury, B. R., Van Siden, D. C., and Marshal, B. The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of P. (1981) Living with faults in Houston: In Economic Geology Research Note 5, 16 p. Soundings, Fall 1980-Spring 1981, 9 p. 15
Kreitler, C. W. (1976b) Lineations and faults in National Science Foundation (1978) Building the Texas coastal zone: The University of losses from natural hazards: Yesterday, Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic today and tomorrow: The Wiggins Company Geology Report of Investigations 85, 32 p. Report, 20 p. Kreifler, C. W., Guevara, E., Granata, G., and Olive, W. W., Chelborad, A. F., Frahme, C. W., McKa_ps, D. (1977) Hydrogeology of gulf Shlocker, J., Schneider, R. R., and Schuster, coast aquifers, Houston-Galveston Area, R. L. (1989) Swelling clays map of the Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, coterminous United States: U.S. Geological Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Survey Map 1-1940. Circular 77-4, 89 p. Perpich, W. M., Lukas, R. G., and Baker, C. N., Jr. Lamar, J. H., and Laier, J. E. (1988) Construction (1965) Desiccation of soil by trees related and maintenance problems on expansive to foundation settlement: Canadian soils: In Proceedings of the 6th International Geotechnkal loumal, 2, 23.39. Conference on Expansive Soils, v. 1, Dec. 1-4, Pratt, W. E., and Johnson, D. W. (1926) Local 1988, 495 p. Subsidence of the Goose Creek Oil Field Livhen, M., and Ishai, I. (1988) Israeli experience (Texas): Journal of Geology, 34, 577-590. with runway pavements on expansive days. Ratzlaff, K. W. (1982) Land-surface subsidence in In Proceedings of the 6th International the Texas coastal region: Texas Department Conference on Expansive Soils, v. 1, Dec. 1-4, of Water Resources Report 272. 1988, p. 247-252. Richmond, G. M., and Fulletron, D. S. (1986) Mathewson, C.C., Castleberry, J. P., II, and Introduction to Quaternary glaciations in the Lytton, R. L. (1975) Analysis and modeling United States of America. In Quaternary of the performance of home foundations on glaciations in the northern hemisphere, expansive soils in central Texas: Bulletin of Pergamon Press, New York, p. 183-196. the Association of Engineering Geologists, 17, Russell, R. J. (1940) Quaternary history of 275-302. Louisiana: Geol. Soc. America, 51, 1199- McGuiness, C. L. (1963) The role of ground water 1233. in the national water situation: U. S. Geol. Solis, R. F. I. (1981) Upper Tertiary and Survey Water Supply Paper 1800, 1121 p. Quaternary depositional systems, central Morton, R. A. and McGowen, J. H. (1980) coastal plain, Texas--Regional geology of the Modern depositional environments of the coastal aquifer and potential liquid-waste Texas coast: The University of Texas at repositories: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology Report Guidebook 20, 167 p. of Investigations 108, 89 p. Morton, R. A., and Nummedal, D. (1982) Van Siden, D. C. (1985) Pleistocene meander- Regional geology of the N.W. gulf coastal belt ridge patterns in the vicinity of Houston, plain. In D. Nummedal (ed.), Field trip Texas: Transactions of the Gulf Coast guidebook." Sedimentary processes and Association of Geological Societies, 35, 525- environments along the Louisiana-Texas 532. coast: Geological Society of America, Verbeek, E. R., and Clanton, U. S. (1978) Map Annual Meeting, October, 1982, p. 3-25. showing surface faults in the southeastern Muller, D. A., and Price, R. D. (1979) Ground- Houston metropolitan area, Texas: U.S. water availability in Texas: Texas Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-797, Department of Water Resources Report 238, 20p. 77p. Verbeek, E. R., and Clanton, U. S. (1981) Mustafayev, A. A. (1988) The design of Historically active faults in the Houston foundatiOns on swelling soils with due metropolitan area, Texas. In E. M. Etter regard for the peculiarities of their (ed.), Houston area environmental geology: deformability. In Proceedings of the 6th Surface faultin_ ground subsidence, hazard International Conference on Expansive Soils, liability: Houston Geological Society, 164 p. v. 1, Dec. 1-4, 1988, p. 171-176. 16
Verbeek, E. R., Ratzlaff, IC W., and Clanton, U. Wood, L. A., and Gabrysc.h, R. K. (1965) An S. (1979) Faults, Houston metropolitan analog-model study of ground water in the area, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey, Houston district, Texas: Texas Water Department of Interior Field Studies Map Commission Bull. 6508, 103 p. MF-1136. Woodbury, H. O., Murray, I. B., Jr., Pickford, P. Weaver, P. and Sheets, M. M. (1962) Active J., and Akers, W. H. (1973) Pliocene and faults, subsidence, and foundation problems Pleistocene depocenters, outer continental in the Houston, Texas, area. In Geology of shelf, Louisiana and Texas: Am. Assoc.. the gulf coast and central Texas: Houston Petroleum Geol. Bull., 57, 2428-2439. Geological Society guidebook, p. 254-265. Winker, C. D. (1979) Depositional phases in late Pleistocene cyclic sedimentation, Texas coastal plain and shelf, with some Eocene analogs. In B. F. Perkins and D. K. Hobday (eds.), Middle Eocene coastal plain and new'shore deposits of East Texas: A field guide to the Queen City Formation and related papers: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Gulf Coast Section, May 10-11, 1980, p.46-66. Winslow, A. G., and Wood, L. A. (1959) Relation of land subsidence to ground-water withdrawals in the upper Gulf Coast region, Texas: Mining Engin., 11, 1030-1034. _7
LEG 1
EXPANSIVE SOILS IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: LAKE CHARLES AND MIDLAND SERIES
Douglas W. Ming NASA Johnson Space Center
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS square miles. The majority of the county The city of Houston resides in is urban land. Harris County, which is located in the The climate of Harris County is southeastern part of the state (Fig. 1-I). predominantly marine. Prevailing winds The population of the county is over 2 are from the southeast and south, except million and the county covers 1,765 in the winter when high pressure systems
EL PASO
I
FIGURE 1-1. Location of Harris County in Texas. 18
ORIGINAL PAGE COLOR PHOTOGRAPH
_t CO_SEPVAr_ON_mviCl
GENERAL SOIL MAP ItARRI_ C,OUNTY, T_XA_
FIGURE 1-2. General soils map of Harris County, Texas.
move down from the north and bring at on this field trip fall into this category prevailing northerly winds. The climate (Fig. 1-2). This group makes up about 39 of the county is influenced by the close percent of the county. They have a proximity of the Gulf of Mexico, which clayey or loamy surface layer and clayey results in fairly mild winters and underlying layers. The soils that have abundant rainfall (mean average of 46 clayey surfaces layers (predominantly inches annually). Summers are warm Vertisols) have large cracks on the and humid. surface when dry. The clayey underlayer The soils of the county have been has a high shrink-swell potential. grouped into four general landscapes: (i) The soils on the nearly level, clayey nearly level, clayey and loamy, prairie and loamy, prairie landscapes have soils; (ii) nearly level, loamy, prairie severe limitations for urban use. soils; (iii) nearly level to gently sloping, Nevertheless, a large portion of these loamy, forested soils; and (iv) nearly soils in the county lie within the city of level, forested, bottom land soils (Soil Houston. These soils are covered by Conservation Service, 1976). The buildings, streets, and large industrial landscape group of greatest concern for complexes. The greatest management its environmental hazards due to clays is concern for these soils is the high shrink- the nearly level, clayey and loamy, prairie swell potential. Cracked foundation soils. The two expansive soils (Lake slabs, buckled pavement, broken curbs, Charles and Midland) that we will look and tilted utility poles are common in the 19
...... _,...... _.._._
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Z'_
0
OZ Z O_ lla Z o 2: 0 8
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o 20
southern part of the county where these profile. Undisturbed areas of these soils softs are found. It is also difficult to have gftgai microrelief. These soils are establish gardens and lawns because of somewhat poorly drained and runoff is the high clay content of these softs. slow. Because of their high clay content, these softs have very low permeability. STOP 1-1 Lake Charles Clay The mineralogy of the coarse fractions of the Lake Charles soft is The Lake Charles series soil is predominantly quartz with minor located on the grounds of the University amounts of feldspar. The lower horizons of Houston-Clear Lake (Fig. 1-3). The contain calcium carbonate which reflect soft is a Vertisol and classified as Typic the calcareous parent material in which PeUudert (Table 1-1). The Lake Charles these softs have formed (Fig. 1-4). The series consists of deep, nearly level to clay fraction of the Lake Charles soil is gently sloping, clayey softs on upland predominantly smectite with minor prairies. Because they are Vertisols, amounts of mica and kaolinite present these softs are clayey throughout the (see Figs. 1-5 & 1-6). There is very little profile and have wide cracks when dry. variation in clay mineralogy within the These soils are also characterized by profile. intersecting slickensides within the
I
MIDLAND SOIL
LAKE CHARLES Whole Rock Whole Rock 1
BIT /_.
B21TG /%
_ A2.
l
,,c t L_
10 14 18 22 2_ 30 3t 38 4| 0 10 14 IB 22 20 30 _ 3_ t2
2 THETA 2 THETA
FIGURE 1-4. X-ray diffractograms of whole soils for the Lake Charles and Midland soils (Cu-Ka radiation). The coarse fractions of these soils is predominantly quartz with minor amounts or feldspar. Carbonates are present in the lower horizons. 21
TABLE 1-1. Profile description for the Lake Charles soil
SOIL SERIES: Lake Charles clay CLASSIFICATION: F'me, montmorillonitic, thermic Typic Peiludert LOCATION: Harris County, Texas; from the junction of Bay Area Boulevard and University Drive in far Southeast Houston, 0.1 miles southeast on University Drive, 0.1 miles southwest on paved road, 0.2 miles southeast through parking lot G of the Arbor Building on the campus of the University of Honston-Clear Lake, 250 feet south of parking lot in a clearing in wooded area. DRAIN. & PERM.: Poorly drained; very slow runoff; very slow permeability. GEOLOGIC UNIT: Beaumont Formation, Tertiary SAMPLED: July 20, 1987 SAMPLED BY: D. Ming, T. Garcia REMARKS: Soil is located on level broad upland area. Elevation is about 15 feet. HORIZON DEPTH PEDON DESCRIPTION (cm) Allc 0-53 Dark gray (10YR 4/1) day;, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate fine blocky and subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm; few fine and medium roots; shiny pressure faces; many thin continuous clay films; few free brown, black, and red concretions; slightly acid; diffuse wavy boundary. A12c 53-117 Dark gray (10YR 4/1) day;, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; common large wedge-shaped peds have long axis tilted 15 to 50 degrees from the horizontal and bordered by large intersecting slickensides parting to moderate medium blocky and subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; shiny pressure faces; many fine black, brown, and red concretions; slightly acid; diffuse wavy boundary. ACc 11%137 light gray (2.5Y 7/2) day;, gray (2.5Y 6/2) moist; common medium distinct brown, yellowish brown, and mottles; common large wedge-shaped peds have long axis tilted 15 to 50 degrees from the horizontal and bordered by large intersecting slickensides parting to moderate medium blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; shin pressure faces; many free and medium black and brown concretions; common fine pitted strongly cemented CaCO 3 concretions; mildly alkaline; diffuse wavy boundary. 2C 137-160 Reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) da)r, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; few dark gray (10YR 4/1) vertical streaks to 2 cm wide that are apparently filled cracks; structureless massive; extremely hard; very firm; many fine to coarse pitted strongly cemented CaCO 3 concretions; alkaline and calcareous. 22
LAKE CHARLES MIDLAND SOIL
<0.2, Air Dry <0.2, Air Dry
# ! I I
VI
/
6 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 _2 2 8 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 35 42
2 THETA 2 THETA
FIGURE 1-5. X-ray diffractograms for the < 0.2 .m Mg-saturated clay fractions for the Lake Charles and Midland soils (Cu-Ka radiation).
<0.2. Glycol
B21TG
6 10 14 18 22 26 30 34, 38 42 e 10 14 18 22 2e 30 34 38 42
2 TBETA 2 TJETA
FIGURE 1-6. X-ray diffractograms for the < 0.2 um Mg-glycol clay fractions for the Lake Charles and Midland soils (Cu-Ka radiation). The clay fraction is predominantly smectite with minor amounts of kaolinite and mica present. 23
STOP 1-2 Midland Clay content in the argillic horizon, these soils The site of the Midland series soil is have high shrink/swell characteristics also located on the grounds of the and therefore, this series has severe University of Houston-Clear Lake (Fig. limitations for urban development. 1-3). The soil is an Alfisol and is The mineralogy of the coarse classified as a Typic Ochraqualf (Table fraction of the Midland soil is nearly 1-2). Similar to the Lake Charles soil, identical to that of the Lake Charles soil the Midland soil has a high clay content; (Fig. 1-4). The coarse mineralogy is however, the Midland has a loamy dominated by quartz with minor amounts surface horizon and a very well of feldspar. Small amounts of carbonates developed argillic horizon. The argillic are present in the BC and C horizons. horizon does have some distinct The clay mineralogy is predominantly slickensides that do not intersect. These smectite with minor amounts kaolinite soils are also poorly drained and have and mica present (Figs. 1-5 & 1-6). The very slow surface runoff. Permeability is Midland soil has very little variation in very slow. Because of the high clay mineralogy throughout the profile.
REFERENCES
Soil Conservation Service (1971) Soil Survey of Harris County, Texas. USDA SCS, Harris County, Houston, Texas. 24
TABLE 1-2. Profile description for the Midland soil
SOIL SERIES: Midland variant CLASSIFICATION: Fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Typic Ochraqualf LOCATION: Harris County, Texas; from the junction of Bay Area Boulevard and University Drive in far Southeast Houston, 0.5 miles southeast on University Drive, 0.5 miles northeast on Bayou Road, 0.1 miles east on paved road, 0.3 miles southeast on dirt road; 40 feet north of dirt road in a clearing in wooded area. DRIAN. & PERM.: Poorly drained; very slow runoff; very slow permeability. GEOLOGIC UNIT: Beaumont Formation, Tertiary. SAMPLED: August 5, 1987 SAMPLED BY: D. Ming, T. Garcia REMARKS: Soil is located on level broad upland area. Elevation is about 15 feet. HORIZON DEPTH PEDON DESCRIPTION (cm) A 0-18 Dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable; fine distinct dark brown mottles; many free and medium roots; moderately acid; smooth clear boundary. BAc 18-51 Dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty day;, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm; common free and medium roots; few free brown and black concretions; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. Btgcl 51-64 Grayish brown (10YR 5/2) day;, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; few fine roots; few fine brown and black concretions; common distinct reddish brown mottles; common thin continuous clay films; slightly alkaline, noncalcareous; gradual smooth boundary. Btgc2 64-79 Gray (10YR 5/1) day;, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; moderate medium subangtdar blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; few fine roots; few free black and brown concretions; common distinct reddish brown mottles; common thin continuous clay fdms; slightly alkaline, noncalcareous; gradual smooth boundary. Btgc3 79-94 Light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) day;, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; few fine roots; few fine black and brown concretions; common fine distinct dark brown mottles; common thin continuous clay films; distinct slickensides 10 era across that do not interest; few dark gray (10YR 4/1) vertical streaks to 2 cm wide that are apparently filled cracks; few fine strongly cemented CaCO 3 concretions; slightly alkaline, noncalcareous matrix; gradual wavy boundary. BCtgc 94-114 Light gray (10YR 7/2) day loam; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; weak coarse angular blocky structure; extremely hard, very firm; few black and brown concretions; common medium gray mottles; few dark gray (IOYR 4/1) vertical streaks to 2 era wide that are apparently filled cracks; distinct slickeusides 10 cm across that do not interest, common fine and medium strongly cemented CaCO 3 concretions; slightly alkaline, calcareous; gradual wavy boundary. C 114-145 Light gray (10YR 7/1) day loam; light gray (10YR 7/2) moist; structureless massive; very hard, very firm; many fine to coarse pitted strongly cemented CaCO 3 concretions; calcareous; slightly alkaline. 25
LEG 2
NASA LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER*
BACKGROUND they worked in temporary facilities while In May 1961, President John F. construction of the new center Kennedy challenged the Nation to an progressed. On July 4, 1962, Houston ambitious space program that would put threw the biggest parade and barbecue in a man on the Moon before the end of the its history to honor the arrival of the decade. NASA's Space Task Group at seven original astronauts. The Manned Langley Research Center, Virginia, Spacecraft Center officially opened in needed more room to do the job of September 1963, and was renamed in turning the dream into reality. By July, honor of the late President Lyndon B. NASA had drawn up the criteria for a Johnson in February 1973. new space center. The site had to The facilities are designed and built provide these essentials: availability to to house the wide variety of technical and water transport, a convenient military scientific disciplines required for the base, a commercial jet airport, an Center's mission. JSC is organizationally established university specializing in divided into several directorates, with science and space-related research, a each directorate responsible for a major telecommunications network, a specific function, such as, spacecraft pool of contractor and industrial support, development, astronaut training, or space adequate water and energy supplies, a flight planning, for example. The system mild climate year round, a culturally is flexible and the directorates are active community, and at least four frequently realigned to keep pace with square kilometers to build on. the changing directions and dimensions After an investigation of many of manned space flight. Some of the prospective locations around the United original JSC directorates have States, a 1620-acre site near Houston, reorganized, merged, or split into Texas, was selected. In September 1961, separate groups; new directorates are it was announced that the Manned created as needed. Directorates are Spacecraft Center should be built on responsible to the Center Director who, prairie land 25 miles southeast of in turn, is responsible to the Office of downtown Houston, Texas, near Space Flight at NASA Headquarters in Ellington Air Force Base, and on the Washington, D.C. shore of Clear Lake, an inlet of Today, more than 95 astronauts are Galveston Bay. Much of the land had among the 3500 Federal employees at been donated to NASA by Rice JSC. Another 10000 contractor University. personnel work at or near JSC to support Personnel of the Space Task Group Center operations Fig. 2-1). began moving to the Houston area where
*NASA Facts, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 26 ORIGINAL PAGE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAP_-_
FIGURE 2-1. Aerial view of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center located on the shore of Clear Lake in far southeast Houston, Texas (NASA Photo $89-41404).
MISSION specialists and training of As the focal point for America's payload specialists; manned space flight programs, the JSC -participation in the areas of mission includes: medical, scientific, and engineering experiments. -design, development, and testing of spacecraft and associated As part of its responsibility for the systems for manned space Space Transportation System (STS), JSC flights; operates a Customer Integration Office -a major role in the development for managing the integration of the of a permanently manned space customer's payload into the STS. The station; customer may be NASA, the Department -selection and training of of Defense, or commercial organizations. astronauts and mission A payload integration manager is 27
assignedto each customer to serve as a power building which houses generators single point of contact between the and air-conditioning equipment for use if customer and the STS for technical regular power fails. integration. In the event of some unforeseeable JSC maintains aircraft at nearby but catastrophic failure that prevents the EUington Field for astronaut training, Houston control center from continuing research programs, and administrative its support of the flight, an emergency travel. The space center also operates facility at the White Sands Ground the White Sands Test Facilities at Las Terminal in New Mexico is activated. Cruces, New Mexico, where propulsion The emergency center provides only systems tests are conducted. limited capability, incorporating just The scope of the Space Shuttle enough equipment to let the controllers program is a worldwide project. support the flight to its conclusion. The Hundreds of contractor and key mission command and control subcontractor firms throughout the position is the Hight Director, who is United States and Canada provide Space responsible for conduct of the overall Shuttle hardware and software. Space mission and real-time decision making. Agencies in Europe develop certain The Ascent/Entry Hight Director directs experiments and equipment. Other the ascent and entry portions of the NASA centers with Space Shuttle flight. The On-orbit Flight Directors are responsibilities include the John F. responsible for the phases of the mission Kennedy Space Center in Florida for such as payload deployment, experiment launch and recovery facilities, and operations, and other mission objectives. Marshall Space Hight Center in Focal points of the Mission Control Alabama for main engines, booster Center are the Flight Control Rooms rockets, and external tanks. (Fig. 2-2). Here flight controllers get information from television-like screens FACILITIES on the consoles and rear-projected Of the over 100 buildings that displays that fill the wall at the front of comprise JSC, many contain equipment the room. One Flight Control Room is unique to spacecraft and manned space on the second floor and one is on the flight programs. Several of these third floor. Only the third floor Flight buildings will be visited during the field Control Room is used for missions trip. carrying Department of Defense payloads. STOP 2-1. Mission Control Center Either Hight Control Room can be (Building 30) used for mission control, or they can be Mission Control Center is a three- used simultaneously to control separate story building at JSC. In it are some of flights. At times, one team of flight the most sophisticated communication, controllers may conduct an actual flight computer, data reduction, and data in one Flight Control Room while a display equipment available. During second team is going through a Space Shuttle flights, operations are simulation mission for a future supported 24 hours daily by teams of operation. engineers and technicians with a wide The Hight Control Rooms occupy scope of specialized skills. Mission only a small portion of the Mission Control is supported by an emergency Control Center. A cadre of support 28
FIGURE 2-2. Flight Control Room located inside the Mission Control Building at the Johnson Space Center (NASA Photo $79-26821).
personnel are located in nearby support communications center, and rooms where data on the mission are management interface area for payload monitored and analyzed in detail. customers and their support staffs who Multipurpose Support Groups are headquartered here throughout a representing separate support disciplines mission. All decisions about payload perform planning and support functions. operations are made in coordination with Each room houses personnel that the customer in the customer support support the lead discipline controller, rooms. who is located in the Flight Control Free-flying payloads that are Room. These groups provide technical deployed, retrieved, or serviced in Earth expertise for planning and real-time orbit by the Orbiter are monitored by operations, responding quickly to any in- Payload Operation Control Centers at flight contingency. other locations such as the Goddard Operating in conjunction with the Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, JSC Mission Control Center are the Maryland. Payloads with distant customer support rooms. Here the destinations, such as those exploring owners of payloads, or other scientific other planets, are controlled from the experiments carried in the cargo bay of Payload Operation Control Center at the the Orbiter, can monitor and manage Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, their payloads. It is a command post, California.
ORiG;NAL P?,_£ BLACK AND WHITE P_-4_-_:"GqAP),-t 29
STOP 2-2. Lunar Sample Building purpose for the Lunar Sample Building. (Building 31N) Equally important, however, is making Between 1969 and 1972, six Apono the collection available for scientific spacecraft brought back 382 kg (842 study and education because it is these pounds) of lunar rocks, core samples, activities that give the samples their true pebbles, sand, and dust from the lunar value (Fig. 2-3). As methods of research surface. The six space flights returned continue to improve and as knowledge is 2000 separate samples from six different gained, previously unformulated exploration sites on the lunar surface. questions arise that require new studies. The Lunar Sample Building is the chief Enough of the samples must be repository for the ApoUo samples. preserved so that material will remain Protection and preservation of the available in unaltered condition to make Apollo collection is one important such new studies possible.
FIGURE 2-3. This sample is one of many collected on the lunar surface (approximately 382 kg of lunar samples were collected) and brought back to Earth during the six Apollo missions. The majority of the Apollo samples are stored in the Lunar Sample Building located at the Johnson Space Center (NASA Photo $82-26777).
ORIGINALS PAGE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPI-t 30 ULACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH
FIGURE 2-4. The lunar Sample Building is the chief repository for the Apollo samples (NASA Photo $83-42819).
The Lunar Sample Building consists vaults close automatically if there is any of storage vaults for the samples, disturbance in the building such as fire or laboratories for sample preparation and intrusion. Two vaults are used, one to study, a vault for all sample data and store samples that have never been out records, and the machinery to supply of the sample laboratories, and the other nitrogen to the cabinets and to maintain for those that have been returned by the clean environments of the sample investigators after their analysis. In that laboratories and vaults (Fig. 2-4). The way, "pristine" samples can never become vaults are designed to protect the mixed with "used" samples. collection of samples against theft, and Adjacent to the sample laboratory is from damage by natural hazards such as a special experiment room, for tests and tornados and hurricanes. Thick walls of measurements on particularly large or reinforced concrete are lined on the rare lunar specimens. Visiting scientists inside by welded steel plates to keep out working with these specimens can take moisture. The heavy vault doors remain advantage of the Lunar Sample closed except for removal or storage of Building's unique environmental samples. All pipes and openings into the controls, as well as the assistance of 31
people experienced in the care of lunar addition, the first floor contains materials. In the past, visiting scientists simulation laboratories in which have measured the heat conduction procedures and techniques can be tested through unopened core tubes to before they are used on actual lunar determine the rate of cooling of the samples, and in which new techniques Moon's interior and have measured the can be developed for use with samples light reflected from soils and rocks. The yet to be coUected from other parts of values for the reflected spectra can be the solar system, such as Mars, comets, compared with similar measurements by or asteroids. telescopes from Earth and thus compositions of lunar areas that we have STOP 2-3. Space Shuttle and Space not sampled can be estimated. Station Freedom Mockups (Building 9A On the first floor below the sample & B) vaults is the data vault where the records In the Space Shuttle and Orbiter on the samples are assembled, stored, Mockup and Integration Facility, and used. Also, the many photographs astronauts train in full-scale space shuttle needed to record the work done on the mockups (Fig. 2-5). The Orbiter Crew lunar samples are stored there. In Compartment Trainer is a high fidelity
FIGURE 2-5. The Shuttle Mockup and Integration Laboratory is a facility frequently used by astronauts in training and by planners of in-space activities ($81-34843).
_._,.,.,_:-_,7:,-:_,]i.g 32
representation of the interior of the Japanese and European Space Agency Orbiter crew station. It is used primarily modules, a logistics module that will for in-orbit crew training and engineering house surplus food and equipment, and a evaluations. The Orbiter Full Fuselage crew escape and return vehicle. Four trainer includes a high-fidelity crew connecting resource nodes will serve as station and payload bay. The facility airlocks between docking vessels and the supports numerous engineering modules in addition to housing command evaluations and crew training sessions. and control equipment. The Manipulator Development Facility provides a realistic simulation of the STOP2-4. Visitor Center (Building Remote Manipulator System for 2) and Gift Shop (Building 3)-Optional development of payload operation, Stop procedures, and hardware. Actual and replica rockets, The Space Station Mockup and spacecraft, space suits, and memorabilia Trainer Facility contains a full-scale from every facet of the Nation's space mockup of the modules and nodes that program fill the Visitor Center (Fig. 2-6). will comprise Space Station Freedom. A gift shop is located in Building 3 where The mockup will contain the crew visitors may purchase gifts and NASA habitation quarters, the laboratory, the mementos.
FIGURE 2-6. This is just one example of the variety of actual and replica rockets, spacecraft, space suits, and other memorabilia from the Nation's space program on display in the Visitor Center at the Johnson Space Center ($79-35665).
O,_iGINAL F:}",CE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAP_ 33
LEG 3 SUBSIDENCE AND SURFACE FAULTING AT SAN JACINTO MONUMENT, GOOSE CREEK OIL FIELD, AND BAYTOWN, TEXAS
Theron D. Garcia University of Houston-Clear Lake
INTRODUCTION ship channel area. The water is pumped Subsidence and surface faulting are under the ship channel via nine-foot two of the major environmental concerns diameter conduits. These large pipes run of the upper Texas Coast caused by the subsurface across the Park grounds in a high clay contents in the Beaumont northeast-southwesterly direction to Formation. This Leg of the field trip will deliver water to the industrial and examine some of the most dramatic municipal centers along the channel and evidence of subsidence and surface as far as the west end of Galveston faulting in the Houston area. Locations Island. of the Stops are illustrated in Figure 3-1. Through the 1970s, maximum subsidence in the metropolitan area had STOP 3-1. San Jacinto Monument State centered along the ship channel in Park Pasadena and the Monument area, and The San Jacinto Battleground was at the Exxon Refinery and Goose Creek the site of the decisive battle of April 21, Oil Field in Baytown. With the 1836 in which the Texan army led by exception of the oil field, the subsidence General Sam Houston (camped on the in this area has been caused by excessive west side of Texas Highway 134) withdrawal of ground water from the defeated the Mexican army led by the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers for President of Mexico, Santa Anna industrial and municipal purposes. (camped to the east) and won Texas' According to Weaver and Sheets (1962), independence from Mexico. Originally, prior to 1940, all water supplies in the the battleground was a State park of 450 Houston area were from wells. acres. However, subsidence on the order Subsidence in the area had been less of 8-9 feet in the park since the than 1 foot until the early '40s when the monument was constructed in 1937-38 war effort increased industrial output has caused almost 30% of the original along the channel. Nine feet of acreage to be lost due to inundation. subsidence was recorded in this same We will take the elevator to the top area from the early 1940s to 1980 of the Monument. From this vantage (Holschuh, 1991). point we can contrast the land/water Understanding the local, regional, distribution in Figure 3-2 (1964) and the and national importance of the Houston present day view. To the north, the view Ship Channel is essential to from the Monument also affords an understanding the threat subsidence excellent view of the canal that brings posed to this area. The Port of Houston freshwater from the Trinity River to the 34
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/ ORIGINAL P;_GE 35 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTGGRAPI"I
FIGURE 3-2. Aerial view of the San Jacinto Monument area in 1964. is accessible to the Gulf of Mexico According to a publication of the through this man-made channel. The Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence Houston Ship Channel is a 25 mile (40 District (1981, p.2), kin) long complex of diversified industries and shipping facilities valued "In the last four decades alone, the at over 15 billion dollars. Local revenue figures have steadily escalated to generated from activity along the ship more than 4,500 square miles of channel has been estimated to be about 3 land that have succumbed to one billion dollars annually (Holschuh, 1991). foot or more of subsidence. At Holschuh stated further (1991, p.6) that, present, over 1,000 square miles of Harris and Galveston Counties face "[i]t has been estimated that the the continuing threat of being total capital cost of relocating dock inundated by flood or hurricane facilities, constructing hurricane surge. As a result of subsidence, levees and rectifying drainage over 20,000 acres in the Houston problems due to subsidence would and Galveston area are now below exceed $120,000,000 at just two of the waters of Galveston Bay." the refineries along the Houston Ship Channel (these figures in 1976 The diversion and use of surface dollars)." water supplies in east Harris County has been a major factor in water level rebound in the Chicot and Evangeline 36
aquifers and the subsequentslowing of lowered the eastern end of the pool by subsidence in this area. West Harris five feet and the western end by only County, however, is not yet using surface three feet. water and ground water pumpage has We will take the Lynchburg Ferry caused the bowl of subsidenceto now across the Houston Ship Channel. center around Highway 290 near Jersey Notice that the road has been built up Village. several times to keep the road passable. In addition to the effects of The loading docks for the ferry have also subsidence evident at the Monument been raised several times; eventually area, there are other environmental abandonment and relocation of older concernspresent. SinceNovember 1936 docks was required. The tenuous stretch when the foundation was laid, the of land occupied by the ferry landing is Monument has settled over 12 inches kept above sea level solely by human (Fenske and Dawson, 1984.) (Weight of efforts. the Monument is estimated at 35,000 Upon exiting the ferry we will travel tons). According to these investigators, parallel to the water impoundment the trend in present data indicates facility (Lynchburg reservoir) which settlement will continue. In 1938 about stores surface water for use by industry five inches of settlement was predicted and municipalities. The reservoir has a for the Monument with a projection of capacity o_ about 1.5 billion gallons (5.7 7.35 inches in 800 years. Possible million m'_). The canal which diverts explanations for this settlement, water from the Trinity River is also according to Fenske and Dawson (1984), visible to the west, running parallel to the include secondary consolidation road. Near Trinity, Texas, water from following disturbance of the soil the Trinity River is lifted 50 feet by structure. pumps and discharged into the 22 mile The Monument is faced with a long canal which brings the water to the native Texas stone known as Cordova Lynchburg reservoir and pump station. Shell. The rock is Cretaceous in age and From there the water is pumped under is quarried near Austin, Texas. This type the ship channel to be distributed to of stone, unfortunately, is a poor choice industries and municipalities along and for building stone in this area. Moisture, south of the channel. To the east, fence combined with atmospheric pollutants posts in the bay denote boundaries of (particularly sulfur dioxide) has formed former pasture land (summarized from acid rain which is taking its toll on the Holshuh, 1991). limestone. Follow the road from the ferry Upon leaving the Monument area, through Lynchburg. Turn right (east) on we will travel roughly parallel to the Decker Drive (Spur 330). At the reflection pool (Park Road 1836). Near intersection of Decker Drive and Bayway the east end of the pool, the road crosses Drive, turn south on Bayway traveling 1.7 ridge and swale topography. Kreitler miles from the intersection to Rolling (1976b) suggested that this feature is Stop 3-2. produced by an active fault which crosses the area. Evidence to support this view ROLLING STOP 3-2. Wooster Fault includes: 1) an apparent lineation visible This fault appears to be related to on a 1956 Edgar Tobin aerial photo; and the Goose Creek Oil Field. Surface 2) uneven subsidence which, by 1974, had vertical displacement along this fault is 37
BtJ_K _t:,;._ '41HITE.i>i"iO_f:?G_A_H
FIGURE 3-3. Residence that straddles the Wooster fauh in Baytown. about four feet. Continue a short uninhabitable as the doors and windows distance south on Bayway to North refused to open and the roof began to Street. We will turn east on North break up. Street, traveling on the downthrown side The Wooster Fault disappears into of the fault. The scarp of the fault is the bayous to the west. Eastward, it visible to the north as the scarp cuts the continues into the Exxon Refinery area streets perpendicular to North Street. At where it forms one of the surface faults the end of North Street we will turn across the north flank of the Goose north. The Wooster Fault now lies Creek Oil Field (Sheets, undated). The directly to the north of North Street. Go surface fault on Hogg Island is on the one block, turn left (west) and follow the south flank of the field, and together the fault to the next intersection. The house two faults form an east-west graben. on the northeast corner has been Return to Bayway Drive and continually shimmed up under the front continue south to Cabeniss. Turn right portion to prevent the house from being on Cabeniss to Brownwood Street. Turn torn apart by the fault (Fig. 3-3). These onto Brownwood and follow it into the efforts to overcome the effects of the Brownwood Subdivision and Stop 3-3. fault have not been entirely successful. (Route may differ due to possible Until 1989, the northwest corner of this impassible roads in the subdivision). intersection was the site of a home. Unfortunately, no efforts to compensate STOP 3-3. Brownwood Subdivision for the fault were undertaken at this site The history of Brownwood and the house eventually became Subdivision is a dramatic example of how 38
humanshave operated in a way that has Differential subsidence across a fault is accelerated natural subsidence and have to be expected and much of the reaped the consequences of these environmental hazard associated with actions. Over the years the homes in this faults occurs on the downthrown side. subdivision were periodically flooded by A total of over 8 feet of subsidence storm surges, high tides, and high winds has occurred since 1938 when building (Fig. 3-4). Extensive flood and storm first began in the Brownwood damage occurred in this subdivision Subdivision. Elevation at that time was during Hurricane Carla in 1961. By the about 10 feet (3.3 m) above sea level. At late 1960s, many Brownwood times in the past the rate of subsidence in homeowners had either turned their this area was measured in inches per homes into rental properties, abandoned year. By 1961 when Hurricane Carla hit them, or moved them to higher ground. the Houston area the subdivision had lost This subdivision is located on the 4 feet of elevation. Homeowners fought downdropped side of the Wooster Fault periodic flooding due to high tides, high which has undoubtedly contributed to the winds, and storm surges until 1983 when rapid subsidence of the area.
.J
FIGURE 3-4. Submerged house in the Brownwood subdivision, Baytown, Texas.
BLACK h_F_ WHITE F'HOTOGN;a,pH 39
,, " ", Hurricane Alicia hit the area. Hurricane in 1983-84 and the area was closed to all Alicia virtually wiped out the remaining except permitted investigators and inhabited homes in this once affluent residents salvaging their belongings. subdivision. Speculation on further use Three hundred homes and numerous of this area includes a park, golf course, vacant lots were affected by the ruling. nature preserve, etc., certainly more Federal offers to the owners for their appropriate uses of the land than a property averaged about $2,000. The subdivision. owners also collected an average of The perimeter road on which we are $45,000 on their insurance. The federally driving has been built up several times to acquired property was turned over to the act as a levee to protect the interior City of Baytown with the stipulation that homes from tidal waters. The road is the land be used for open space. now at an elevation of 4.6 feet. Five Demolition contractors dug pits behind pumps were installed in 1961 following the remains of the homes and buried Hurricane Carla to pump out impounded some 230 houses, along with their waters that collected behind the foundation slabs and fallen trees (Sadik- perimeter road. Hurricane Alicia Macdonald et al., 1988). destroyed three pumps located on the The progressive subsidence of perimeter road. Brownwood is clearly demonstrated by The Government declared comparing the aerial photo in Figure 3-5 Brownwood unfit for human habitation with the present view. In the 1940s, a
FIGURE 3-5. Aerial view of the Brownwood subdivision in 1964.
BLAGK, AND WHIT_ PHOTOGRAPH 40 ORIGINAL .,'-;AGE BI..ACK AND WHITE PHO]OGRAPr_
FIGURE 3-6. Land subsidence away from the wellhead located near the Burnett School in Baytown, Texas.
strip of land separated the Houston Ship district supply well. The base of the well Channel from Crystal Bay. In 1964, parts casing, 500 feet below the surface, has of the strip of land were inundated with experienced much less subsidence, water. By the 1980s, the imervening land relatively speaking, than the land had been almost completely submerged. surrounding the wellhead causing the Also of note is the position of the wellhead to protrude several feet above perimeter road in the subdivision relative ground level (Fig. 3-6) (Holschuh, 1991; to the shoreline. Sadik-Macdonald, 1988). Exit Brownwood Subdivision, turn The gymnasium of Burnett School is right (south) on Bayway Drive. Take being held together by steel rods and next left (east) on Arbor Street and next reinforcing corner braces. The structural right into the parking lot of Bumett failure of the school is not directly School to Stop 3-4. related to subsidence which is a general lowering of elevation over a rather large STOP 3-4. Burnett School/Baytown surface area. Most likely the failure is Alternative High School Wellhead due to activity in the expansive soils Casing which underlie the area. Structural This area is also on the downthrown problems (of a geologic nature) in the side of the Wooster Fault. Differential Houston-Galveston area are generally compaction across the fault produces a related to faults or expansive soils. greater loss of elevation on the Continue south on Bayway Drive 1.5 downthrown side. Located in the miles to Rolling Stop 3-5. pasture across the fence is an old utility 41
MARKET STREET
"h "_
Topoqrophi_ town Community Fault
FIGURE 3-Z Topographic map of the Baytown Community Center showing a fault running between the Community Hall and the City HaiL
ROLLING STOP 3-5. Exxon Tank ROLLING STOP 3-6. Baytown Storage Field Community Center This is not the Wooster Fault but This is an example of the proper another well-recognized fault crossing way to engineer around an active surface Bayway. Movement along this fault has fault. An active fault runs between these been slow but steady. This is the same two buildings. The fault was recognized fault we will see at rolling stops 3-6 and before the center was built and 3-7. The fault is visible in the broken development of the center was planned curbs that have recently been repaired. so that no major structures were located Go straight ahead following on the fault (Fig. 3-7). Wisconsin Street. At Market Street turn The scarp of the fault offsets the right (east). Continue to the Baytown ground surface from 7 to 14 inches and Civic Center and Rolling Stop 3-6. 42
the width of the fault zone is 15 to 100 barrels of oil (AAPG-HGS guidebook, feet. About 1500 feet west of this site, at 1988). Note the partially submerged Airhart Drive, movement is estimated to facilities in the middle of the estuary and be about one inch per year. McClelland south and east in Tabbs Bay (Fig. 3-8). Engineers conducted the investigation of When the field was established in 1916 the fault and recommended that no by Humble, the present estuary was structures be built within a 150 foot wide mostly dry and the marshy Gaillard zone centered on the fault (AAPG-HGS Peninsula extended into Tabbs Bay. In Field trip, 1988). 1918 production had reached 9 million Follow Market Street to Lee Drive. barrels of oil per year and it was Turn fight on Lee Drive to Rolling Stop becoming increasingly clear that Gaillard 3-7. Peninsula and other nearby lowlands were being submerged (AAPG-HGS ROLLING STOP 3-7. PeUey Fault guidebook, 1988). Ten years of extensive (Optional Stop) pumping from this field produced three After turning right on Lee Drive feet of subsidence along an east-west axis watch for a large fault after the second coinciding with the area of heaviest set of railroad tracks. Just before the production. Pratt and Johnson (1926) fault, turn right on Nazro Street. The estimated that the fault can be seen running parallel to Nazro Street to the south. Turn left on "aggregate v_olume of oil, gas (at Yupon Street and proceed over the fault. 1,000 lbs/in'_ pressure), water, and In the early to mid 1900s, this area sand removed from Goose Creek comprised the community of Pelly. In since 1917 will exceed 100 million 1916, large-scale oil production began in barrels, or about 500 million cubic the Goose Creek Oil Field and large feet". cracks appeared in the ground. The south side of the fault (downthrown to When the low-lying producing areas the oil field) dropped 16 inches or more became submerged, the State of Texas within a few days of the start up of ruled that the field was now in State pumping in the field. In 1918 this fault water bottom land and the State sued moved abruptly about 16 inches creating Humble, claiming title to the field and its a very small earthquake (Pratt and oil and gas production. The State also Johnson, 1923). The fault has continued sought to recover from Humble the value to move steadily, causing damage to of the oil and gas removed from the streets, houses and businesses in the premises subsequent to the time when area. the land became submerged. Not only Turn left on Main Street and then did Humble stand to lose in the State suit right on Lee Drive. Continue south on but the landowners would be deprived of Lee Drive and proceed across Highway their now submerged land. The case 146 to Stop 3-8. went to court and Humble won the suit because in Texas at that time, no man STOP 3-8. Goose Creek Oil Field (Humble) could operate in such a way as (Optional Stop) to deprive another man (landowners) of This oil field was developed on the his due property (Pratt and Johnson, Goose Creek salt dome. Cumulative 1926). By 1978, total subsidence at the production (1916-1985) is 136 million field was nine feet in comparison with six 43
ORIGINAL PAGE BLACK AND WHITE PHO-I:OGI_APJ,1
FIGURE 3-8. Submerged oil wells in the Goose Creek Oil Field near Baytown, Texas. These wells were once located on dry ground until subsidence in the oil field left them in their current, partially-submerged state. feet maximum subsidence in Baytown. surface of the ground on the side of Faulting accompanied early the cracks toward the oil field. The development of the field. In fact, the changes in elevation resulting from only earthquake in the Houston area felt these movements amounted to 16 by humans occurred in this area during inches or more in places. The the early development of the field (Pratt movements were accompanied by and Johnson, 1926). According to these slight earthquakes which shook the authors (p.578-581), houses, displaced dishes, spilled water, and disturbed the inhabitants "...cracks appeared in the ground generally". running beneath houses, across After leaving the Goose Creek Oil Field, streets, and through lawns and turn left on Highway 146 and continue gardens. These cracks persisted, south 34.1 miles to the Campbell Bayou and recurrent movement along Facility (see map, Fig. 4-3). them resulted in dropping the 44
REFERENCES
AAPG-Houston Geological Society Field Trip Sadik-Macdonald, H. (1988) Burnett Guide Book (1988) Environmental geology school/Baytown alternative high school in of East Harris County:. Houston Geological Efivit0alnental geology of East Harris Society, March 19, 1988, 89 p. County:. AA.PG-Houston Geological Society Fenske, C. W. and Dawson, R. F. (1984) Field Trip guidebook, March 19, 1988, p. 31- Settlement of the San Jaeinto Monument: a 34. 44 year study. In McClelland Engineers, Sadik-Macdonald, H. and Committee (1988) Soundings, Winter, 1984, p. 14-17. Brownwood subdivision in Environmental Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District geology of East Harris County:. AAPG- (1981) Subsidence '81, District Office, Houston Geological Society Field Trip Guide Friendswood, TX. Book, March, 19, 1988, p. 31-34. Holshuh, J. C. (1991) Land subsidencein Sheets, M. M. (undated) Oil fields, subsidence Houston,TexasUSA: Fieldtripguidebook, and surface faulting in the Houston area: Fourth InternationalSymposium on Land Houston Geological Society guidebook, 20 p. Subsidence,May 12-17,1991. Weaver, P., and Sheets, M. M. (1962) Active Kreitler,C. W. (1976b) Lincatiousand faultsin faults, subsidence and foundation problems the Texas coastal zone: The University of in the Houston, Texas area: In Geology of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic the gulf coast and central Texas, Houston Geology Report of Investigations 85, 32 p. Geological Society guidebook, p. 254-265. Pratt, W. E. and Johnson, D. W. (1926) Local subsidence of the Goose Creek Oil Field (Texas): Journal of Geology, 34, 577-590. 45
LEG 4 GULF COAST WASTE DISPOSAL AUTHORITY CAMPBELL BAYOU FACILITY
Lisa Kay Tuck Sterling Chemicals, Inc. Texas City, Texas
GULF COAST WASTE that separate industries could join DISPOSAL AUTHORITY together for regional treatment of their The Gulf Coast Waste Disposal wastewaters. Authority (GCA) was created in Later GCA expanded to solid (i.e. February, 1970, by the Sixty-first other-than-liquid) wastes. One of GCA's Legislature of the State of Texas to own solid waste treatment facilities, the and operate waste treatment facilities. Campbell Bayou Facility, will be the last Its original mission was the treatment of stop on this field trip. wastewater. During the late 1960's, the Houston Ship Channel had become STOP 4-1. GCA's Campbell Bayou known as "one of the most polluted Facility waterways in the world". Industries and The Campbell Bayou Facility is municipalities along the Channel were located at the junction of Interstate 45 then discharging some 425,000 pounds and Texas Highway 146 just south of per day of biochemical oxygen demand LaMarque, Texas (Fig. 4-1). The facility (BOD) into the water, turning it black is a 200-acre tract of land permitted by and nearly eliminating all marine life. the Texas Water Commission as a Class I The Ship Channel waters eventually industrial solid and hazardous waste entered Galveston Bay and, many landfill. The facility receives hazardous experts believed, threatened the bay's and non-hazardous waste from four local very existence. Farsighted business and industries. political leaders recognized these A landfill is essentially a burial pit dangers and called for governmental that confines residues from materials controls. Hence the creation of the that cannot be reused, incinerated, or GCA. otherwise disposed. One of the primary GCA immediately began to requirements for a landfill is that the revolutionalize the wastewater treatment natural geologic repository have a industry. They pioneered regional permeability (i.e. hydraulic conductivity) wastewater treatment by signing five of 10 "_ cm/s or less. The Campbell different industries to their Washburn Bayou Facility is well located; it sits atop Tunnel Facility. This milestone proved the Beaumont Formation clay, which is 46
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J I¢ 47 known for its very low permeability. active cell at the GCA facility is lined Even if the natural geologic medium with a combination of high-density meets this requirement, however, polyethylene (HDPE), clay, synthetic regulations generally require that drainage net, and geotextile fabric (Fig. landfills be lined with some material to 4-2). The hazardous waste cells have two prevent migration of the waste into the layers of this combination liner; the non- substrate and thus protect the hazardous cells have one layer. groundwater from contamination. The Submergeable pumps remove hazardous most commonly used material for landfill and non-hazardous leachate as well as liners is clay, combined with a synthetic groundwater from the cells. Hazardous liner material. waste waters are biotreated off site. All The landfill itself is divided into other waters are treated at a GCA sections called "cells". Having various wastewater treatment plant. cells in a landfill allows for the Construction photographs of a cell separation of incompatible wastes. Each appear in Figures 4-3 and 4-4.
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FIGURE 4-2. The GCA landfill is lined with a combination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), clay, synthetic drainage net, and geotextile fabric. Submergeable pumps remove leachate and groundwater from collection systems in the liner. 48 ORFG!/\'Ai_ FACE COLOR ?t-IOTOGRAPH
FIGURE 4-3. A cell at the GCA landfill. The in-situ strata is composed of approximately 1 m of topsoil, underlain by 3 or 4 m of yellowish marine clay. Below this lies the reddish Beaumont Formation clay.
FIGURE 4-4. A layer of Beaumont Formation clay is being added to the liner system. 49
The ground surface at the Campbell fraction contained some mica and Bayou Facility is covered by kaolinite as well as quartz and approximately one meter of topsoil plagioclase feldspar (Fig. 4-5). The clay underlain by 3 or 4 m of yellowish marine fractions (2 _ m to 0.2 t_m and < 0.2 _ m) clay. Below this lies a reddish clay of the contain predominantly smectite with Beaumont Formation to depths of 50 m smaller amounts of mica, kaolinite, and or more. The mineralogy of the quartz (Figs. 4-6 & 4-7). Beaumont Formation clay from this site has been described by Tuck (1991). TABLE 4-1. Particle size distribution of Approximately 81% by weight of the Beaumont Formation clay from GCA's Beaumont Formation material at this site Campbell Bayou Facility (Tuck, 1991). is clay sized (<2 t_m); over 18% is silt- sized particles (2 _m to 50 _m); and the remainder is greater than silt-sized Particle Diameter Percent (Table 4-1). The large percentage of clay _m wt.% particles in this soil very likely accounts >50 0.7 for its low permeability. X-ray 50 to 20 2.2 diffractograms run for each of the sand 20 to 2 16.1 and silt fractions revealed that the sand 2 to 0.2 25.3 fraction was composed of quartz and <0.2 55.7 some plagioclase feldspar. The silt
a '_ • -s -s 0" G" ° _ • -s t_ =r ® E E Beaumont Formation Clay •-, "_ C C E "" "¢ _- ( 50--2 pm ) " E _ ¢_ I'_ =- o') _. m -.s t_ o_'o!- '! O t_Oi J E c/-. I _i C Ig' i . '
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t_ D elf v Beaumont Formation Clay
FIGURE 4-6. X-ray diffractograms of Mg-saturated clay-sized fractions of the Beaumont Formation clay from GCA's Campbell Bayou Facility. For the Mg-samrated and glycerated fractions, the 2.0 um to 0.2 _rn diffractogram revealed smecfite, kaolinite, mica, and quartz peaks. The diffractogram of the < 0.2 t_m fraction showed a large smectite peak, with lesser peaks for kaolinite, mica, and quartz. The peak located at 1.42 nm expanded in both clay fractions when glycerated to 1.82 rim, indicating smectite (Tuck, 1991).
The cation exchange capacities assistance in preparing this paper and for (CECs) of the 2#m to 0.2#m and <0.2 allowing the opportunity for members of _m fractions are 2_ cmol c (+) kg "1 and this field trip to visit the Campbell Bayou 66 cmolc (+) kg "1, respectively (Tuck, Facility. 1991). REFERENCES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tuck, L. IC (1991) Adsorption of cadmium and I thank Mr. Joe Teller and Mr. Steven lead by clay liner material amended with the LeBlanc of the Gulf Coast Waste zeolite clinoptilolite. M.S. Thesis, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston. Disposal Authority for their valuable 51
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3000 C_"//_ ___/I
110 o C....J/ l, k_ l ,,ocS
FIGURE 4-Z X-ray d!f_.,actograms of K-saturated clay-sized fractions of the Beaumont Formation clay from GCA s Campbell Bayou Facility. Heat treatments of K-saturated clays indicated the presence of smectite, kaolinite, mica, and quartz (Tuck, 1991). 52
NOTES 54
NOTES 53
NOTES