SUBMARINE GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE PROJECT

SINGAPORE PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Client: Singapore Power Gas Angsana Drive, Jurong Island 238164 Singapore Value of Contract: EUR 13.8 million Share: 100% Construction Period: 01/2011 12/2012 Zblin Singapore Branch was awarded the 13.8 million Submarine Gas Transmission Pipeline Project by Power Gas Ltd., Singapore in January 2011 with a contract duration of 24 months. The scope comprised sinking of two deep shafts and an ID2000mm reinforced concrete tunnel. The tunnel has a record length of 1.55 km, crossing beneath the busy shipping lanes of the West Jurong Channel. Following the construction of the tunnel a DN700 mm high pressure gas transmission pipeline will be installed inside. Temporary jacking and receiving shafts were constructed with circular 1m thick diaphragm walls of ID14 m and ID7.5 m respectively with depths over 30 meters. Due to the highly variable geological conditions, a Dual Mode TBM was deployed to operate in both earth pressure balance and slurry modes, thereby providing greater flexibility, safety and efficiency during tunneling. Zblin designed and produced all jacking pipes used on the project at its own quality accredited pipe factory in Thailand. The tunnel design provided for 9 intermediate jacking stations to assist with the pipe jacking process over the 1.55 km drive. An effective lubrication system was in place to overcome the high skin friction, and this further eliminated the need to use all 9 Inter-Jack stations during the drive. A major challenge for this project was the tunnel alignment control survey. Accuracy in terrestrial survey was achieved through an innovative vertical bob plumb-down system. Precision in the TBM guidance was guaranteed through a Universal Navigation System (UNS). The north-seeking gyro-compass system controlled and monitored the horizontal alignment, and a hydrostatic water level system monitored the tunnel elevation.Constant checks and monitoring saw the tunnel vertical alignment at 28 mm and the horizontal alignment at 113 mm at breakthrough, well within the acceptable tolerances for a long single drive tunnel. The tunneling operations were completed in 123 days with an average rate of 12.6m/day, some 32 days ahead of schedule with no lost time injuries and major safety incidents. As a result of implementing a well-planned project and skills of highly trained professionals a record-breaking tunneling milestone was achieved safely, ahead of time and within budget.

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