Creating a level foundation with Neoloy Tough Cells walls was the most cost-effective solution with the highest engineering value.
As part of a major refinery’s $150 million expansion of its hydrocarbon refinery, three huge storage terminals were constructed at the port facility to increase LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) storage capacity by 400,000 barrels (33%).
Neoloy Tough Cells were chosen to erect the large retention wall to create a level working platform for the hydrocarbon storage tanks.
More cost-effective than any alternatives, Neoloy Tough Cell walls offer strong, durable support for high static loading, as well as high resistance to seismic movement and corrosion from the nearby sea.
A conventional concrete retaining wall was considered. However, the high seismic activity in the area and high PGA (Peak Ground Acceleration) necessitated an enormously thick oversized wall, which dramatically increased the project budget.
A gabion wall was another option as it is corrosion resistant due to the site’s proximity to the sea. However, the nearest available quarry for stones required to build the gabion baskets was 90 km away.
Tough Cells were an excellent alternative. However, only Neoloy had the material properties to ensure that the geocells would maintain their 3D geometry without significant volumetric change throughout the wall’s design life (75+ years) under static loads of hundreds of tons.
Neoloy has a much higher resistance to permanent deformation (<3% over 75 years per SIM test), higher modulus strength (DMA > 525 MPa @60°C), and higher tensile strength (>19 kN/m per wide-width tensile test) than any other cellular confinement system available on the market today.
The flexibility of the Neoloy Tough Cell mattress provides a high seismic resistance factor essential to this site.
Neoloy is also highly resistant to environmental factors and impervious to salty water from the adjacent sea.
Eight rows of Neoloy were used to construct a free-standing gravity wall measuring 300 m in length and 3–6.5 m in height.
Granzote quarry waste material was used for backfill, providing both a sustainable and economical advantage.
Construction was completed within the scheduled three-month timeframe.
Native vegetation planted after the tank construction was completed will provide an attractive, natural green earth fascia for the facility.
The PRS Neoloy Tough Cells are a fast, durable, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for the LNG terminal platform.
PRS Geo-Technologies (www.prs-med.com) is a global engineering, manufacturing, and technology company providing the innovative Neoloy® Tough Cells 3D mechanical soil stabilization technology.
Since its establishment in 1996, PRS has implemented thousands of successful projects in more than 80 countries worldwide.
