Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geotechnical assessment of a landslide along a natural gas pipeline for possible remediations (Karacabey-Turkey)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

A new natural gas pipeline with a 0.90-m diameter is under construction to provide a gas connection between Turkey and Greece as well as to create a gas ring for southern Europe. The new pipeline route lies next to an existing small diameter gas pipeline broken by a landslide that occurred in February 2006 near Karacabey (Bursa). Although the existing pipeline has been temporarily repaired, either the pipeline route should be relocated or the landslide should be stabilized. The geological survey conducted in the study area reveals that relocation is not feasible due to the existence of other landslides in close vicinity to the site. In order to investigate the causes of the landslide and to suggest possible remedial measures, geotechnical investigations including surface geological mapping, trial pitting, drilling with field tests, inclinometer measurements, laboratory testing, and limit equilibrium analyses were conducted. The investigation revealed that the unconsolidated clayey soil slid on claystone along a non-circular failure surface. Based on the gathered data, possible remedial measures including partial removal of landslide material and construction of toe buttresses, slope flattening, lowering the pipeline, and surface drainage systems were evaluated. These are suggested to prevent the reactivation of the landslide, and thus to establish a safe route for both the existing and the new pipelines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramson LW, Lee TS, Sharma S, Boyce GM (2001) Slope stability and stabilization methods, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, 736 p

  • ASTM (1990) Standard test method for soundness of aggregates by the use of sodium sulphate or magnesium sulphate. C88, Annual book of ASTM standards. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp 37–41

  • ASTM (1992) Classification of soils for engineering purposes. D 2487, Annual book of ASTM standards, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp 325–335

  • Boore DM, Joyner WB, Fumal TE (1997) Equations for estimating horizontal response spectra and peak accelerations from western north American earthquakes: a summary of recent work. Seismol Res Lett 68(1):128–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bromhead EN (1992) The stability of slopes, 2nd edn. Blackie Academic & Professional, London, 411 p

  • BSI (1999) Code of practice for site investigations. British Standards Institution, London, 192 p

  • Campbell KW (1997) Emprical near-source attenuation relationships for horizontal and vertical components of peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity and pseudo-absolute acceleration response spectra. Seismol Res Lett 68(1):154–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cevik E, Topal T (2004) Relocation of a problematic segment of a natural gas pipeline using GIS-based landslide susceptibility mapping, Hendek (Turkey). In: Hack R, Azzam R, Charlier R (eds) Proceedings of the 1st European regional IAEG conference on engineering geology for infrastructure planning in Europe: a European perspective. Springer, Berlin, pp 265–274

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler RJ (1977) Back analysis techniques for slope stabilization works: a case record. Geotechnique 27(4):479–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornforth DH (2005) Landslides in practice. Wiley, Hoboken, 596 p

  • Duncan JM, Wright SG (2005) Soil strength and slope stability. Wiley, New York, 297 p

  • Erdik M, Sesetyan K, Demircioğlu MB, Durukal E (2005) Assessment of earthquake hazard for Bakirköy, Gemlik, Bandırma, Tekirdağ and Körfez. Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit, Marmara Earthquake Emergency Reconstruction (MEER) Project: A3 Component, Ankara, 61 p

  • Ergül E, Öztürk Z, Akcören F, Gözler MZ (1980) Balıkesir ili-Marmara Denizi arasının jeolojisi. MTA Rapor no: 6760, 57 s, Ankara

  • ISRM (1981) Rock characterization, testing and monitoring. In: Brown ET (ed) International Society for Rock Mechanics suggested methods. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 211p

  • KGM (1995) Zemin arastirma isine ait teknik sartname. Karayollari Genel Müdürlügü, Ankara

  • KOERI (2008) Kandilli seismological data search. Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Istanbul. http://barbar.koeri.boun.edu.tr(28.01.2008)

  • Marcuson WF, Franklin AG (1983) Analysis and remedial measures to improve the stability of existing dams. In: Howard TR (ed) Seismic design of embankments and caverns. ASCE, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • MTA (2003) Atlas of North Anatolian Fault, Izmit-Hersek Delta

  • Ontigao JAR, Sayao ASFJ (2004) Handbook of slope stabilization. Springer, Berlin, 478 p

  • Rocscience (2000) SLIDE 4.0 - 2D slope stability analysis for soil and rock slopes. Rocscience Inc., Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadigh K, Chang CY, Egan JA, Maksidi F, Youngs RR (1997) Attenuation relationships for shallow crustal earthquakes based on California strong motion data. Seismol Res Lett 68(1):180–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sancio RT (1981) The use of back-calculations to obtain shear and tensile strength of weathered rocks. Proceedings of the international symposium on weak rock, Tokyo, pp 647–652

  • Seed HB (1979) Considerations in the earthquake-resistant design of earth and rockfill dams. Geotechnique 29(3):215–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teoman MB, Topal T, Isık NS (2004) Assessment of slope stability in Ankara clay: a case study along E90 highway. Environ Geol 45(7):963–977

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TS699 (1987) Dogal yapi taslarinin muayene ve deney metodlari. Türk Standartlari Enstitüsü, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner AK, Schuster RL (1996) Landslides-investigation and mitigation. Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Special Report 247. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 673 p

  • Wyllie DC, Mah CW (2004) Rock slope engineering-civil and mining, Spon Press, New York, 431 p

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge MESCIOGLU Construction and BORFEN for their support in the field, and for permitting the data to be published. The authors also thank Margaret Sonmez and Samad Joshani-Shirvan for their comments on the use of language.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), 06531, Ankara, Turkey

    Tamer Topal & Muge Akin

Authors
  1. Tamer Topal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muge Akin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tamer Topal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Topal, T., Akin, M. Geotechnical assessment of a landslide along a natural gas pipeline for possible remediations (Karacabey-Turkey). Environ Geol 57, 611–620 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1330-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1330-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation