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Geotechnical investigation generating highly accurate and reliable data
- Technology previously unavailable in Australia
- Over 3,500 samples collected
The Ichthys Project is expected to be the largest oil and gas development in Australia’s Northern Territory. It will produce around 10m tonnes of gas a year and 100,000 barrels of condensate a day.
Arup conducted geotechnical investigations to confirm the suitability of a site for offshore gas processing. The firm’s services included geotechnical site investigation, geological modelling, seismic assessment, foundation engineering for gas plant components and interpretive reporting.
Drilling in soft ground
Performing ground investigations in dense mangroves is typically avoided because site restraints can lead to the use of inadequate techniques which yield limited information. Safely performing ground investigations in soft soil without compromising sensitive ecosystems or the accuracy of information is also a challenge for engineers.
This project presented Arup with an opportunity to overcome these challenges using the innovative Mangrove Buggy – an environmentally sensitive mobile platform designed to operate on soft ground.
The Mangrove Buggy
Owned and operated by J&S Drilling, the Mangrove Buggy enabled Arup to gather quality information safely and cost-effectively whilst maintaining the environmental integrity of the site.
The low pressure the Buggy exerts on the ground allows it to operate in soft conditions with little disturbance to the soil, greatly reducing the threat of producing acid sulfate soils which pollute the environment.
The Buggy acted as an amphibious elevated platform supported by buoyant pontoons. This allowed drilling and cone penetration tests to be carried out safely and independent of the tides.
Onsite laboratory
An onsite laboratory performed soil classification, testing and environmental field screening tests. Much of the testing ran alongside the field investigation, saving time and avoiding the need for a third party laboratory.
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