Eolian sand control

Oil-field operations in desert or semi-arid areas of the world are inevitably faced with the problems of sand encroachment and accumulation. Not only is this a serious hazard to equipment, but the labor of removing sand is a constant drain on manpower and transportation resources. The cost of eliminating or stabilizing sand becomes then a frequently recurring charge against operations. Fortunately in recent years, engineering-geology studies on sand control have advanced sufficiently to prove that drifting sand can be effectively and permanently trapped and retained. Eolian sand control has four fundamental objectives: (1) the destruction or stabilization of sand accumulations, such as dunes, in order to prevent their further migration and encroachment on operational sites; (2) the diversion of wind-blown sand around buildings or areas; (3) the direct and permanent stoppage or impounding of sand before the location or object to be protected; and (4) the rendition of deliberate aid to sand movement so as to avoid deposition over a locale. In order to achieve these objectives, the following methods can be employed singly or in combination: (a) transposing, (b) planting, (c) paving, (d) panelling, (e) fencing, and (f) oiling. A theoretical treatment of the sand-control objective is presented in Part I. The practical implementation and relative evaluation of each control method are discussed in Part II.