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C ExxonMobil Global Services Colony Shale Oil Project ESR Reclamation Studies Weighing Lysimeter Performance 1990-2003 Project No. 353 Page 23 5.0 RECAP OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS Conclusions from this compilation of the observations at the weighing lysimeter for the years 1990- 2003 are summarized below. Percolation Canture and Consumption 1) The "A" Treatment, nominally 20.22" native topsoil over a 6-inch thick mixed wne of 2 parts native topsoil to 1 part raw un-leached ESR combusted shale, over loosely placed ESR combusted shale, appears capab]e of capturing and consuming all summer rainfall water that does not runoff, regardless of the maturity of the plant cover. In the early years before the reclamation cover is mature, the consumption appears to be carried out by hydration of percolation water as it enters the yet-to-be-hydrated ESR combusted shale. After the reclamation vegetation cover is mature, summer rainfall appears to be captured and consumed in the plant root zone, as Wymore (1974) suggested might indeed occur in thissemi-arid climate. 2) The "A" Treatment with an immature native species reclamation plant cover (1990.YE 1993) can capture and consume spring melt but only until the mineral hydration capacity of the relatively thin (39 inches) combusted ESR shale layer has been satisfied. After that, the mechanical capillary capacity of that 39-inch layer combusted shale will continue to retain infiltrating moisture, but once its capillary capacity is exczeded, additional spring melt water that reaches the ESR combusted shale will continue deeper into the pile. In this experiment, because of the practical limitation of lysimeter tub depth, the infiltrating percolation water is removed and collected after passing through only 39" of ESR combusted shale. In a prototype pile, it would require proportionately longer time to satisfy the hydration capacity and the capillary capacity of the thicker combusted shale zone. LACHEL FELICE & Associates