ELK TR CKS clean impact
INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION
Taplin joins forces to tackle Michigan’s orphan well challenge
PFAS DECONTAMINATION
Strategic partnership allows Taplin to offer PFAS decontamination services
MULTIYEAR MEGA CLEANUP
Taplin makes huge strides on a legacy contamination landfill remediation project
OPEN HOUSE RECAP
Taplin welcomes a robust crowd to hallmark new facility grand opening
In an impressive display of teamwork and ingenuity, Taplin Group and Excel Site Rentals tackled one of Michigan’s most challenging well-plugging projects this year. The endeavor, conducted on a county park’s waters in Ottawa County, not only showcased technical expertise but also underscored the importance of collaboration in the oil and gas industry. The project’s completion ahead of schedule and under budget reflects the value of partnerships in addressing complex environmental and technical tasks.
Tim Tinker, owner of Excel Site
INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION
TACKLING MICHIGAN’S ORPHAN WELL CHALLENGE
FIRST APPEARED: MICHIGAN OIL & GAS NEWS
Rentals, and Steve Minella, COO of Taplin Group, have long been involved in Michigan’s orphan well-plugging efforts. Both companies are on the state’s approved list for these projects, but this particular challenge required something more—a joint venture. Tim explained, “We don’t have the heavy equipment, gravel trains, or other resources needed for a project like this. Partnering with Taplin made sense because of their expertise in areas we don’t cover.”
Their partnership began over lunch, where they discussed the opportunity. “We both realized
this project was a chance to combine our strengths,” Steve added. “Taplin brought the environmental expertise and resources, while Tim’s team handled the drilling and rig setup. Together, we made a great team.”
The project was unique for its location: two wells situated hundreds of feet offshore in water depths ranging from 8 to 12 feet. It required assembling a barge platform large enough to support a workover rig and other heavy equipment. “We had to build a pier at the county park to get the equipment onto the barges,” Steve shared. “Once assembled,
the platform included 14 or 15 barges, each carefully pinned together and leveled for stability.”
The water environment posed unique challenges. For example, the pipes protruding from the wells were bent, which required straightening before work could proceed. “Using an excavator on the barge, we carefully pulled the pipes straight and verified their integrity with an underwater rover,” Steve said. This submersible drone proved invaluable, allowing the team to inspect the underwater portions of the wells without requiring divers.
Safety and environmental considerations were paramount throughout the project. “All crew members working near the water wore flotation devices, and we surrounded the rig with a turbidity curtain and absorbent booms to prevent spills from spreading,” Steve noted. “On the barge platform, spill kits were readily available, and extra precautions were taken with the equipment to prevent any leaks.”
For Excel Site Rentals, this was their first well-plugging project on water. “We took extra measures to ensure everything was sealed up, from the rig to the equipment,” Tim said. “A drop of diesel or oil on water can spread quickly, so we learned to adopt an environmental mindset alongside our oilfield expertise.”
Despite careful planning, the team encountered some unexpected hurdles. “The water level kept declining, which made transporting equipment out to the platform more challenging,” Steve recounted.
However, their adaptability ensured these issues were resolved quickly. “Communication was key,” he emphasized. “With so many moving parts and teams working in different areas, staying in constant contact was crucial
for safety and efficiency.”
Tim echoed the sentiment, adding that overcoming challenges brought a sense of accomplishment to the entire team. “We adapted and worked through the unknowns. By the end, we were proud of what we’d achieved together.”
The project’s success didn’t go unnoticed. Bill Duley, a geologist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Orphan Well Unit, praised the team. “It’s not very often that we come in under budget on a contract, but Taplin’s preparedness—getting the right people, the right equipment, and even benefiting from good weather—made it happen.”
The efficiency of the project was also a point of pride for the team. “The Department of Interior was planning to tour the site, but we finished the job before they arrived,” Steve said with a smile. “It was a great way to close out a complex project.”
The partnership between Taplin Group and Excel Site Rentals is set to continue. “We’re already planning to work together on another plugging project next year,” Steve revealed. While the upcoming project will be landbased and less complex, the team is eager to build on their success.
Both companies are also open to future water-based projects. “This experience gave us confidence in our ability to handle these unique challenges,” Tim said.
Reflecting on the project, both leaders emphasized the importance of preparation and communication. “We learned to be over-cautious, especially in protecting the environment,” Tim noted. “It’s a lesson we’ll carry into future projects.”
Steve added, “The biggest takeaway is the power of teamwork.
By combining our expertise and maintaining strong communication, we were able to deliver exceptional results.”
This successful collaboration serves as a model for Michigan’s oil and gas industry. By pooling resources and expertise, companies can tackle even the most daunting projects. For Taplin Group and Excel Site Rentals, the experience was not only a technical achievement but also a testament to the value of partnerships in meeting the state’s environmental goals.
As Michigan continues to address its orphan well challenges, this project stands as a shining example of what can be accomplished when industry leaders work together.
JOINING FORCES TO DESTROY PFAS
TAPLIN SEES OPPORTUNITY AMID REGULATORY CHANGES
Taplin has partnered with Enspired Solutions technology to address the pressing issue of PFAS contamination. This collaboration aims to provide advanced decontamination services, including specialized solutions for firetrucks and firefighting equipment. We are excited to add this cutting edge technology to our service offerings.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in various products for their water- and stain-resistant properties. Commonly found in firefighting foams, nonstick cookware, and water-repellent fabrics, PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. They accumulate in soil, water, and living organisms, posing significant health risks such as cancer, hormonal imbalances, and developmental issues in children. Firefighting equipment, particularly firetrucks and suppression systems, have historically used aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) containing PFAS. Residual PFAS in these systems can lead to environmental contamination and health hazards. Effective decontamination is essential to prevent ongoing PFAS exposure and to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
The collaboration between Taplin and Enspired Solutions combines extensive experience in environmental remediation with cutting-edge PFAS destruction technology. Enspired Solutions’ proprietary PFASigator™ system employs photo-activated reductive defluorination (PRD) to dismantle PFAS molecules into non-toxic components such as water, fluoride, and simple carbon compounds.
A key aspect of this partnership is the decontamination of firetrucks and firefighting systems. The new service offering utilizes a closedloop system that circulates a specialized solution through all components of the fire suppression system, including pipes, hoses, valves, and storage vessels. This process effectively removes PFAS residues, with real-time monitoring to ensure complete decontamination. The system minimizes
water usage and treats the rinsate on-site, reducing waste and environmental impact. Taplin provides the onsite access to Enspired Solution’s patented technology and manages the equipment and process for effective utilization.
The benefits of this service are many and will make safe and affordable PFAS decontamination available to not only fire departments and public safety personnel but also municipalities and beyond.
• Regulatory Compliance Benefit: Services are designed to meet or exceed current federal and state PFAS regulations, aiding clients in maintaining compliance.
• Environmental Stewardship: The unique on-site destruction of PFAS using the PFASigator technology eliminates the need for off-site disposal, reducing potential environmental liabilities, unlike other PFAS decontamination services on the market.
• Resource Efficiency: The closed-loop decontamination process conserves water and minimizes waste generation.
As awareness and regulatory scrutiny of PFAS contamination increase, the demand for effective remediation solutions is expected to grow. The strategic partnership between Taplin Group and Enspired Solutions positions them at the forefront of this critical field, offering innovative and sustainable decontamination services that protect public health and the environment.
Providing permanent destruction of PFAS to protect water sustainability for all
Enspired Solutions is a women-owned, women-led remediation company focusing on eliminating forever chemicals.
Our technology implements EPA-award winning and patented chemistry to destroy toxic per and polyfluoroalky substances (PFAS) in water and return them to non-toxic molecular components without the need for off-site disposal.
Taplin is currently in year 3 of a multi-year superfund legacy contamination project located in Kalamazoo, MI. The original papermill located on the site was constructed in the 1890’s and Allied Paper was formed in 1921. The former landfill site is approximately 71 acres.
Paper residuals were deposited throughout the site. PCB’s were first manufactured in 1929 and continued until they were banned in 1979. Non-carbon paper once contained PCB’s. When the non-carbon paper
FORMER PAPERMILL AND LANDFILL SUPERFUND SITE
PCB SOIL REMOVAL AND GEOSYNTHETIC CAPPING IN A MONUMENTAL MULTI-YEAR PROJECT
came back to the papermills for recycling, the PCB’s found their way into the effluent from the mills. Contaminated paper residuals were then placed in the landfill. The residuals were pumped from the papermill to the landfill and deposited in various lagoons. Although over time the residuals dewater somewhat, they remain high in moisture. This moisture precludes them from being able to bear load.
The primary purpose of the project is to consolidate wastes from around the site and pull the
limits of said waste back from Portage Creek. The goal is to construct a landfill that possesses geotechnically stable slopes whereby a geosynthetic and soil cap can be placed over the waste. Site restoration construction will include:
•Removal of all steel sheet piling along Portage Creek
•Restoration of a meandering stream bed for Portage Creek
•Creek bank enhancements and in stream riffles
•Restoration of a wetland alongside Portage Creek
During the early stages of the project, it became known that the moisture content of the paper residuals was very high. Even mixing the paper residuals with granular soil would not yield a product that could meet the strength requirements to construct the slopes of the landfill.
Taplin proposed the use of a pugmill in order to amend the paper residuals with a dry, cementitious powder. Paper residuals delivered to the pugmill location would be loaded into the pugmill mixing chamber, through a hydraulic grizzly screen, utilizing an excavator.
Silos containing the dry, cementitious powder convey their content into the mixing chamber. Within the mixing chamber, twin mixers combine the wet paper residuals with the dry powder to manufacture a structurally competent material. Prior to the amendment process the off-road dump trucks could not traverse the paper residuals mixed with granular soils without leaving 2’ deep ruts. Once the amendment process was introduced, the trucks could traverse over the paper residuals with minimal indentation.
In addition to the pugmill, Taplin purchased an Allu mixer to stabilize the paper residuals in situ. The goal was to utilize both the pugmill and the Allu to increase production and reduce project schedule. Although field testing operations produced a product that was suitable for placement, the process has not yet been initiated.
The Allu, combined with the GPS technology on the excavator, is able to distribute a prescribed amount of amendment to a given area in order to be as precise as possible in delivery.
SAFETY SPOTLIGHT:
HARDHAT STICKERS FOR SAFETY
Since 2021 Taplin has utilized a Safety Award program in the form of a hardhat sticker denoting recognition of excellence. Employees who earn stickers are eligible for year-end prizes.
The Taplin safety award program recognizes and rewards employees who consistently use safety best practices that help reduce losses and prevent injuries.
The purpose of the program is to acknowledge safe habits and to promote quality work and adherance to Taplin’s safety protocols.
Updating JSA’s, stop work instances that prevent a potential loss, and quality LPO’s written by field staff all earn recognition.
Since its inception, Taplin has awarded nearly 200 stickers to employees for various safe acts and habits preventing loss and injury.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2025
• ARFF Leadership Symposium - January 1316, 2025 in Port Charlotte, FL
• MWEA Wastewater Administrators Conference - January 23-24, 2025 in Frankenmuth, MI
• Battelle Sediment Conference - January 2730, 2025 in Tampa, FL
• MWEA Joint Expo - February 4-5, 2025 in Lansing, MI
• Great Lakes Environmental Response & Management Conference - February 11-12, 2025 in Novi, MI
• MACDC Winter Conference - February 1214, 2025 in Kalamazoo, MI
• Michigan HazMat Responder Conference April 22-24, 2025 at Boyne Mountain (MI)
THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR EVERY JOB: new tech and taplin equipment ready to serve you
TREKK 360° VIRTUAL INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY AND BIN WHIP SILO CLEANING
Taplin has acquired our own MSI unit, and also a new piece of inspection technology called theTrekk 360° that will not only be beneficial for UI manhole structures, but can also be utilized for silo inspections for IS clients.
From the manufacturer:
“Revolutionize your exploration experience with TREKK360, a unique system offering crystal-clear visuals and unrivaled flexibility to go where other inspection cameras cannot. You’re no longer just observing the infrastructure… you’re conquering field efficiency, all while reducing the need for confined space entry. Our system is the pinnacle of affordable, flexible, innovative inspection technology to effortlessly capture everything from manholes and storm inlets, to
culverts and even pump stations. If you can reach it, and you can see it, you can inspect it.
TREKK360 requires no advanced software to learn, nor complicated settings to master. Field deployments are intuitive, training needs are minimal, and the ability to setup and breakdown is fast and efficient.
Get high-resolution 360-degree panoramic images and videos, even in low-light conditions. See every detail with the help of our nimble and stackable 1500-lumen lighting system, with a minimal footprint to maximize your field of view.”
Our brand new 12,500 gallon stainless steel vacuum tanker. (left)
Taplin was pleased to host our first ever client appreciation open house on Friday, October 11th, 2024. It was a terrifc day and a great opportunity to shake hands with the people who already know and trust us to tackle even their most complex challenges as well as a chance to meet new faces and showcase what we bring to the table.
THANK YOU to everyone who came out! We had beautiful weather and enjoyed showcasing our new fleet maintenance facility and offering some service capability equipment demos for those in attendance.
NEW FLEET MAINTENANCE FACILITY OPEN FOR OPERATIONS
If you weren’t able to join us this time, we hope to see you at the next one!
Many thanks to our equipment vendors and partners who helped us pull off an awesome event centered around clients, capabilities and Taplin’s long standing tradition of excellent customer service.
