In March 2013, Visser & Smit Hanab | Drilling Technologies realised a spectacular drilling project in the densely populated city centre of Rotterdam. The project challenges included over 1,500 metres of drilling, an angular displacement of 60 degrees and a depth of 60 m below sea level.
Our engineers designed an innovative solution. To realise this, the 100-tonne drilling rig was set up on Wilhelmina Pier in the centre of Rotterdam, while the 450-tonne rig was set up on Brielselaan. Both drilling rigs drilled towards each other in an angular displacement of 60 degrees. At a distance of 1,000 meters from the 100-tonne drill, the 450- tonne drill rig intercepted the other bore head by using GST radar. By meeting in the middle, the pilot bore of 1,500 m was achieved.
After the reamers prepared the borehole for the DN 400 pipeline, this steel-in-steel pipe was easily withdrawn.
This drilling is part of the De Nieuwe Warmteweg project which concerns the design, construction and maintenance of a unique heating network in the Rotterdam region. Along a 26 km long route, residual heat generated by industry in the Rotterdam port is reused in local district heating networks.
Click HERE to see a time lapse movie of this project.
Click HERE to see a video/animation of this project.
In the April 2013 issue of the magazine Trenchless International published an article about this unique project. Click to read it.
The unique HDD drilling Visser & Smit Hanab performed in the center of Rotterdam is rewarded with the Tytan Award 2013...