|
Andrew E. Sparks, PE, senior geotechnical engineer in GeoEngineers’ Springfield office, presented the paper, “
Targeted Horizontal Directional Drilled (HDD) Design Under Levees to Reduce Potential for Hydraulic Fracture and Inadvertent Returns
,” during the Underground Construction Technology (UCT) International Conference & Exhibition held January 19-21 in Tampa, Florida.
Sparks discussed how the engineering design of
HDD pipeline crossings often requires evaluating the potential for hydraulic fracture—or drilling fluid leakage—into the soil through which an underground drilled crossing passes. This potential can be an important engineering design factor if the pipeline crossing passes beneath a critical structure such as a regulated levee. If a crack in the soils causes the drilling fluid to seep to the ground surface, the resulting drilling fluid may create crevices for water seepage or cause damage to the levee’s foundation. For these reasons, regulating agencies like the US Army Corps of Engineers require a very detailed evaluation of the hydraulic fracture potential for HDD crossings. Sparks’ paper compared the results of hydraulic fracture models for two HDD crossings beneath regulated levees in southern Louisiana.
For more than 15 years, the UCT International Conference & Exhibition has brought the underground utility construction and rehabilitation markets together. Attendees, including engineers, contractors, manufacturers and utility owners, choose from 75 educational sessions like the one Sparks presented. In 2009, the conference drew 2,400 attendees from 44 states and 16 countries.
GeoEngineers, founded in 1980 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is an integrated earth science and technology firm with 15 offices in Missouri, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, and Louisiana.
GeoEngineers specializes in crafting unique geotechnical, environmental, and ecological solutions for the energy, transportation, water and natural resource, federal, and development sectors. The
GeoEngineers’ Springfield, Missouri office specializes in geotechnical investigations and engineering design projects, trenchless technologies, geophysical evaluations, and construction observation services. In fact, GeoEngineers is currently ranked as one of the top 25 trenchless design firms in the nation having c
ompleted hundreds of HDD and microtunneling projects throughout the United States and as far away as Africa.
For more information, please contact Drew Sparks.
|