Proud to share the successful completion of a not-so-straightforward HDD canal crossing. Carried out with SYSTRA, on behalf of project owner RTE, the crossing will now enable the connection of Khulmann’s site in northern France.
The environment for installing the 225 kV – Ø 450 mm link beneath the canal demanded precision engineering — OPTIMUM delivered from design through construction, thanks to a deep understanding of the geotechnical and operational challenges.
Key challenges
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- Entry and exit points near the canal bank, with limited available space
- Keeping site traffic to a minimum
- Deep steel sheet piles on both sides of the canal
- A thick layer of unstable peaty silt, unfavourable for drilling
- Alternating over- and under-consolidated chalk substratum
Solutions ?
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- 30‑metre long casing to reach the chalk layer, more favourable for steering and drilling
- 400‑metre long HDD, passing 21 metres under the canal bed to go beneath the sheet piles
- Tool adjustments during drilling to match the changing chalk consolidation
- Optimised entry and exit points to ensure alignment and simplify cable connection
- Mud return line to reduce equipment movement
- OPTIMUM engineers onsite given the complex geology
A project that showcases precision, anticipation, and collaboration. Well done team !
