Challenge

Pipeline construction and maintenance in Siberia is possible only during the summer when the top soil layer (sand, silt and peat bogs) is not covered with ice and snow. When the snow melts in spring, the tundra is filled by marshes, lakes and overflowing rivers. In addition, large ice flows carried by spring floods threatened the pipelines and required protection. Gazprom needed access roads to new drilling sites as well as pipeline protection from ice floes in flood plains. The solution had to be implemented using local soil for infill, as aggregate is unavailable in Siberia.

Old Approach

Conventional “roadways” to drill sites and for constructing pipeline routes were laid out with continuous 14 cm thick, reinforced 6×2 m concrete plates. Subject to severe heaving and buckling from yearly thaws, a “road” that was passable for more than one season was considered successful.

Neoloy Tough-Cell Solution

Gazprom turned to PRS for the solution. Millions of square meters were easily transported and quickly deployed in remote terrain during the available summer months each year. Hundreds of km of Neoloy Tough-Cell sections were infilled with local sandy soil, eliminating the need to import aggregate to Siberia. Impervious to freezing, thawing and moisture, Neoloy Tough-Cells also enable excellent drainage.

The result was smooth and stable road surfaces that maintain their integrity in the extreme conditions of Siberia. In addition, Neoloy was used to reinforce earth berms that support the pipeline in areas subject to breakaway ice floes. These protect the pipeline and help channel the floodwaters. As a result, Neoloy Tough-Cells were selected as the preferred supplier for soil confinement road reinforcement.

The result was hundreds of kilometers of smooth and stable road surfaces that support Gazprom’s exploration activities season after season. In addition, Neoloy was used to reinforce earth berms that elevate the pipeline in areas subject to breakaway ice foes. These protect the pipeline and channel the floodwaters.