Ground Improvement Using Band Drains at Onshore Gas Terminal Near Kakinada (AP), India

Abstract

The Paper presents the construction of a major Gas Processing Facility for Gujarat State Petrochemical Corporation (G S P C) at Mallavaram near Kakinada in AP State. The Project involves reclaiming of 15 ha of land for On - shore Gas Terminal (O G T); this included dredging of 1.5 million cubic m of sand from Godavari - Gautami River, hydraulic transporting over a distance of 4 km, depositing and reclaiming the land. The work was performed by Dharti Dredging & Infrastructure Limited (D D I L), and monitored by Engineers India Limited (E I L).

Detailed Geo technical investigations were undertaken for designing Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVD), to accelerate the vertical and radial consolidation of 12 m thick soft clay bed. Dissipation of pore water pressures was ascertained by using large scale Static Cone Penetration Tests (S C P T) in the field.

The Paper also describes the modern technology in Ground Engineering, viz. Prefabricated Vertical Drains, wrapped in Geo textile filter jacket of non - woven, spun - bonded material, to retain fine particles, based on three – dimensional consolidation theory. This has considerably accelerated the settlements so as to ensure the safe construction of structures over the reclaimed land.