Laboratory Testing
Tests performed included direct shear, cyclic simple shear, and resonant column
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The Challenge
- Geotechnical study conducted to determine characteristics for anchor point design of new offshore buoys
Sonatrach, the national oil company of Algeria, planned for new development of offshore buoys and associated facilities at the Arzew, Bejaia and Skikda locations along North Africa’s Mediterranean coast. A comprehensive geotechnical study was carried out in order to establish characteristics over a sufficient depth interval and area of coverage to enable the design of the appropriate anchor points. A total of twenty-two borehole locations were investigated from June to July of 2003.
The Solution
GeoTesting Express’ (GTX) challenge was to support OPE Offshore International Ltd., who was awarded the offshore installation contract. Since GTX maintains a license with the United States Department of Agriculture, we were able to accept shipments of soil from outside the country. As a result, samples were allowed to enter the U.S. without delay. GTX performed a suite of dynamic laboratory tests on 8 undisturbed and remolded soil samples from the proposed sites. Dynamic testing was required to establish seismic response in the event of an earthquake.
The results of these analyses were later used to develop soil parameters required to perform linear dynamic analysis. Results of this analysis were used to develop dynamic modification factors which were applied to static pile design data.
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