Tunnel Saz Machine Co. (TSM) proudly announces the successful completion of a critical Micro Tunnelling project for the construction of a 2000mm diameter seawater discharge pipeline at Sutrapada, Gujarat. The project involved excavating a 345-meter-long tunnel from land to sea, serving as a vital component of GHCL’s seawater outfall system.
GHCL (Gujarat Heavy Chemical Ltd.) planned to construct a seawater drain pipeline at Suterapada, opting for micro tunneling due to its precision and minimal environmental impact in sensitive coastal areas. This technology reduces surface disruption, handles challenging geology, and is ideal for installing utilities like sewer, water, and gas lines, ensuring eco-friendly, low-risk, and sustainable infrastructure development.
GHCL appointed Trenchless Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. as the contractor for the seawater discharge system, overseeing project implementation, installation, commissioning, inspections, and monitoring. Due to TSM’s proven expertise in submarine outfall projects, Trenchless Engineering hired personnels from Tunnel Saz Machine Co. (TSM) ensuring precise and efficient execution.
Tunnel excavation began with a 7-degree slope. Aiming to avoid deep shaft construction, which presents challenges in underwater environments, tunnel excavation then followed a positive vertical curve with a radius of 2000 meters that ended with a zero slope. To ensure precise guidance along the tunnel, advanced systems like the Gyro Navigation System (GNS) for the X-axis and Hydrostatic Water Leveling (HWL) for the Y-axis were implemented for the first time in India.
The geological condition of excavation route included layers of clay and coral stones. Low uniaxial compressive strength and loose sand mixed with stones causes increasing the risk of deviation of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
Additional hazards included the potential for machine buoyancy due to tunneling at 13 meters below sea level, and the external pressure of approximately 1.3 bar acting on both the machine and pipeline. These factors demanded meticulous planning and innovative technology to ensure safe and accurate tunnel excavation.
TSM’s successful execution demonstrates its expertise in complex underwater tunneling with precision and safety, reflecting a strong commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and environmentally sustainable solutions tailored for challenging infrastructure projects worldwide.
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