Industrial Sand Barge to Truck Loadout Facility

Completion: June 2013

Location: Illinois

Project Description:

The most common forms of transportation for frac and industrial sand are by truck and rail. These forms of transportation both have unique advantages and disadvantages. But in a market where transportation costs account for a large portion of the potential cost outlay, efficient and economical shipping methods are always in demand. This project was implemented to allow the client to employ an extremely cost effective mode of shipping long distances, river barges.

This unique facility was designed to support material transfer from dump trucks to silo storage, and ultimately to load river barges. The handling system consists of (3) 110’ tall, 1300 ton, bolted silos which were filled utilizing a truck unload conveyor and 150’ tall bucket. The silos discharged onto a series of above and below ground covered belt conveyors to the barge load out point. A standard river barge can hold 1300 tons, so each silo was designed to support storage of a specific sand type capable of filling an entire barge.

Redpoint provided a turn-key system design of an industrial sand storage and barge load out facility.   Redpoint’s scope included project and construction management covering all project aspects including system design, permitting assistance, foundations, equipment procurement, installation, and start-up support. In addition to the management items, Redpoint Builders was responsible for design/supply/installation of the large mat-style foundation with a 12’ wide x 50’ long x 14’ deep truck unload pit, adding up to approximately a 450 cubic yard pour. The unload pit was housed in an 18’ x 24’ metal building designed, supplied, and installed by Redpoint. To meet the local, state and federal environmental air quality regulations, Redpoint designed a dust control system, complete with a large free standing dust collector and interconnecting piping between all required dust pick up points. To allow proper function of the dust collection, the unload pit was fully covered and utilized a baffle system.  This unique project provided opportunities for Redpoint to showcase innovative material handling solutions, design capabilities, and installation services, tailored to very specific, client driven requirements.