GALORE CREEK MINE (NOVA GOLD)
ECO assessed drilling methods, borehole preparation techniques, grout formulations, holes spacing, grout plant capacity, etc. and cost for the contemplated grouting program to minimize seepage through the rock fissures below the future structure to the required levels.
MELTON VALLEY IN-SITU GROUTING PROJECT
Multiple pass, multiple hole permeation grouting program directed by ECO was implemented via driven, vertical, steel sleeve pipes inside the trenches, using cement based suspension grouts.
LNOS DOWNSTREAM CENTINELA SIPHON – SEWER REHABILITATION
ECO, as a sub-consultant to URS Corporation, designed a soil grouting program to stabilize the soils around a 100 year old large sewer tunnel.
STEWARTVILLE DAM: HOT BITUMEN GROUTING INTRODUCED IN CANADA TO STOP MAJOR SEEPAGE
Two high velocity water flows (22,500 l/minute on the South side & 21,500 l/minute on the North side) through fissures in the limestone formation beneath a concrete hydro dam structure were successfully stopped. For several years, grouting programs had been executed using regular cement based suspension grouts with a myriad of additives. These grouting attempts did not result in a reduction in seepage.
CRACK INJECTION WITH FLEXIBLE WATER REACTIVE POLYURETHANE GROUT TO STEM SEEPAGE INTO THE TUNNELS AT THE SAULT ST-MARIE LOCKS
ECO trained the maintenance crews of the US Army Corps of Engineers in Sault St-Marie in professional crack injection with flexible, water reactive polyurethane grout.
FROM TIME TO TIME, ECO IS INVOLVED AS EXPERT WITNESS IN DISPUTES, OR LITIGATION INVOLVING GROUTING OR GROUTING RELATED PROJECTS. ECO’S POSITION IS THAT IT IS ONLY INTERESTED TO ASSIST THE LEGAL COUNSEL
From time to time, ECO is involved as expert witness in disputes, or litigation involving grouting or grouting related projects. ECO’s position is that it is only interested to assist the legal counsel for parties with technical matters, based on the analysis and interpretation of factual information.
MOUNT ISA MINES: STOPPING WATER INFLOW INTO PILOT HOLES FOR RAISE BORE USING ACRYLATE GROUT
Pilot holes were drilled from surface to the mining horizon, approximately 1000 meters below surface. Inflows as high as 80 to 100 litres per second were encountered at a depth of 300 to 400 metres below surface.
SURFACE STABILIZATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH SHALLOW PERMEATION GROUTING TO PREVENT EROSION AND PRESERVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RELIC
In order to prevent erosion (wind & rain), grouting technology was used to stabilize and preserve a historical relic in Southern Japan. On this project, a non-yellowing, hydrophobic polyurethane was used to spray on the surface, in several passes, until the grout did no longer penetrate the crumbly, porous remnants of the earth-walls.
MINERA ALUMBRERA DCP GROUT CURTAIN REMEDIATION ACRYLAMIDE GROUTING PROGRAM
ECO was called to Alumbrera within 3 weeks of the scheduled completion of a grout curtain for the mine’s tailings management system. Upon completion of tertiary grout holes, it was determined that the curtain would not meet its 1 Lu residual permeability design criterion.
GROUND STABILIZATION & COMPENSATION GROUTING TO INSTALL NEW SARAH STREET SEWER TUNNEL BELOW RAILWAY
ECO was retained by Jay Dee Contracting Ltd. to design a soil grouting program to stabilize cohesionless sandy soil above the trajectory of a new sewer line tunnel and below CP’s railway tracks
SITE ENGINEERING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM FOR THE INSTALLATION OF MICRO PILES TO STOP SETTLEMENT OF A TALL STRUCTURE
In 1998 during the final stages of construction, the 850 million dollar Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas experienced severe settlement problems. These problems were further compounded when it was found the core of the building was settling at a much faster rate then the outer wings thus exhibiting enormous stresses throughout the building.
STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION OF A FOUNDATION WALL USING PERMEATION GROUTING AND UNDERPINNING WITH MICROFINE CEMENT BASED GROUT
The excavation of an underground parking and office building led to the rotation and cracking of an old massive, stone masonry foundation wall of a neighboring historic building. Years of gradual deterioration in the stone masonry foundation wall below had reduced this structural wall to a rubble stone wall.
PIER D43 STABILIZATION USING MICROFINE CEMENT AND POLYURETHANE GROUTS
ECO designed and supervised the execution of an emergency soil grouting program to stabilize the soil below the footing of pier D43 during the construction for the expansion of Terminal 3.
BWARI - SOIL GROUTING BELOW US23 CROSSING (PRE-EXCAVATION GROUTING)
ECO designed and directed a pre-excavation soil grouting program to stabilize the soils below the US23 artery (just South of Columbus) prior to tunneling.
CHASKA WEST INTERCEPTOR SOIL GROUTING PROJECT (PRE-EXCAVATION GROUTING PRIOR TO TUNNELLING)
ECO designed and directed a soil grouting program on behalf of EJM Pipe Services Inc. to consolidate the soil above the planned tunnel trajectory to protect an important road artery and underlying utilities.
NEWPORT TUNNELS: SOIL STABILIZATION PROJECT
ECO designed and directed a pre-excavation soil grouting program in order to bore a 4.5 ft diameter tunnel below three railway tracks and fiber optic cables without causing settlement. A multiple hole grouting operation was conducted in the soil above the crown of the tunnel.
ROCK GROUTING TO STABILIZE THE SWIFT RAPIDS DAM AND FACILITATE THE SAFE INSTALLATION OF PERMANENT ROCK ANCHORS
ECO provided direction and inspection services to PWGSC for the dam grouting and pre-grouting of the formation to facilitate the rock anchor installation program.
WATERTIGHT BULKHEAD CONSTRUCTION IN UNDERGROUND WORKINGS
A concrete bulkhead was constructed near the face of one of the Star Diamond mine drifts in order to stop a 500-600 GPM water inflow into the underground mine. ECO assisted its client with the design of the plug and the grouting under flow conditions.
COMPENSATION GROUTING AND BACKFILL GROUTING TO FACILITATE THE INSTALLATION OF TWO LARGE DIAMETER WATER DIVERSION TUNNELS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT
ECO designed and directed the compensation grouting and backfill grouting program conducted for the excavation of two 14’ diameter tunnels beneath a state highway in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
COMPENSATION GROUTING FOR THE EGLINGTON WEST SEWER RELOCATION
ECO designed and directed the compensation grouting program to install a new sewer tunnel below an existing subway.
NEW YUNG CHUNG TUNNEL: HOT BITUMEN GROUTING
The hot bitumen grouting program at the New Yung Chung Tunnel was undertaken for the Taiwan East Railway Improvement Engineering Bureau by JINES Construction with project design and on-site direction provided by ECO.
MILWAUKEE TUNNEL GROUTING
A tunneling contractor excavating a 1.2 meter diameter tunnel in soft ground in Milwaukee, U.S.A. encountered a collapse associated with heavy inflows of water. Several hundred cubic meters of sand and gravel were washed into the tunnel.
STRUCTURAL GROUTING USING PERMEATION GROUTING TECHNIQUES FOR THE REHABILITATION ON THE HISTORICAL LOCKS ON THE RIDEAU CANAL
ECO’s involvement in the design and supervision of successful grouting projects on the Rideau Canal is extensive, and includes treatment of the following locks and water retaining structures:
NORANDA: GECO DIVISION – GROUT CURTAIN FOR NEW TAILINGS DAM
A grout curtain 1050 m long and 13.5 m deep was installed for the construction of new tailings dam at the GECO Mine. It was constructed using regular Portland cement and microfine cement based suspension grouts.
SETTLEMENT CONTROL USING PERMEATION GROUTING TECHNIQUES AT THE MINERAL STREET SEWER PROJECT
A new 84 inch diameter sewer tunnel was to be installed beneath an existing railway track embankment. Settlement of the active railway lines had to be minimized during the excavation of the tunnel in order not to interrupt CP Rail's operation.
MINERA ALUMBRERA DCP GROUT CURTAIN REMEDIATION ACRYLAMIDE GROUTING PROGRAM
ECO was called to Alumbrera within 3 weeks of the scheduled completion of a grout curtain for the mine’s tailings management system. Upon completion of tertiary grout holes, it was determined that the curtain would not meet its 1 Lu residual permeability design criterion.
MINE PLUGS AND BULKHEADS
ECO has designed and supervised the construction of several mine plugs and permanent flood bulkheads. The plugs have been used to seal underground works after the ore has been depleted or to seal off areas of a mine where the water inflow impaired the operation of another part of the mine. Plugs (or bulkheads) are designed to be water tight and have a long life expectancy.
IONA SHAFT GROUTING
For the construction of an underground shaft, a low strength, inflammable backfill grout had to be designed to prevent direct load transfer from a squeezing rock formation, preventing it from exerting excessive pressure on the shaft liner. The annular space between the formation and the liner needed to be filled with compressible foam with an unconfined compressive strength (U.C.S.) of less than 200 p.s.i. to avoid direct load transfer from the formation to the liner.
REFORESTATION TEST PROGRAM
Grouting techniques can also be used to prevent wind erosion and keep moisture in the soil. A four acre miniature forest was grown in the Sahara desert (southern Tunesia) using a specially developed solution grout. It was sprayed on the sand after small Acacia Cyanaphylla trees were planted.
HOT BITUMEN GROUTING STOPS MAJOR INFLOW
Hot bitumen injection, in conjunction with regular cement based suspension grouts, was employed to stop a major tailings flow, which peaked at approximately 7,000 l/sec (111,000 usgpm).
SOIL GROUTING THROUGH SLEEVE PIPES ENABLES SHAFT SINKING IN DRY CONDITIONS
Piping below large primary clarifiers was replaced by sinking shafts in silty soil below the water table. For environmental reasons, no dewatering was allowed. A multiple pass soil grouting program created a stable, low permeability conglomerate through which the shafts were excavated.
CEMENT FOAM BACKFILL
Regular cement based suspension grout used for mine backfilling operations have low cohesion values and migrate downwards through the shotrock for the duration of a backfilling operation. Cement foam produces a much more homogenized and stable grouted fill.
DORCHESTER ROAD SEWER REHABILITATION
Man accessible, leaking concrete sewer joints, located below the water table beneath a roadway, triggered an internal soil erosion process resulting in the formation of major sinkholes that posed danger to local traffic. An immediate remedy was necessary to restore safety to the public and provide extended life to the sewer system.
SEEPAGE CONTROL FOR THE DETROIT WINDSOR CAR TUNNEL
The underwater portion of the Detroit River Car Tunnel, constructed in 1930, continually experienced water infiltration problems, causing extensive concrete and pavement deterioration. The multi-year restoration program, resulting in the near elimination of the infiltration, entailed multiple injection phases.
STRUCTURAL REPAIR TO CP’S INTERMODAL TERMINAL USING GROUTING TECHNIQUES
Two 660 meter long concrete strip footings support three large gantry cranes at the CP Vaughn Intermodal Terminal. The existing steel bearing plates between the footings and crane rail created a point-loading situation, leading to rapid and extensive cracking, deterioration and settlement.
REHABILITATION OF HISTORICAL MURNEY TOWER COUNTERSCARP WALL
Murney Tower, built in 1846, is one of four historic Martello Towers in Kingston. The tower is surrounded by a moat supported by a counterscarp wall. Grouting was employed to remediate the existing, long-term degradation of the wall mortar and the fill behind the wall.
© 2002 ECO Grouting Specialists Ltd.
Site design and hosting by PairoWoodies
