Contributing to France’s decarbonization strategy means taking on exceptional technical challenges.
A priority trenchless project for RTE – just finished in eastern France – had it all: a river, a canal, a road, high-speed rail lines and wetlands… all on the same drill path.
With only a few months to develop the solution, the constraints were tough:
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- Inaccessible wetland on the western side
- A drinking water catchment area on the eastern side
- An 8-week window to complete the works, with no possibility of extension or delay
After assessing six scenarios, the selected solution was a 348-meter-long HDD crossing, designed with casings on each end, an intersect under the canal and a geomembrane to isolate the drilling operation from the drinking water. With drilling beneath railways, safety remains the highest priority:
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- 24/7 onsite monitoring by OPTIMUM engineers during drilling works under the tracks
- Continuous control of drilling pressures and drilling fluid returns
- Real-time monitoring of railway platform stability
When unexpected ground behaviour was detected, our response was immediate: more people, more modelling, more analysis, additional alert systems, and constant dialogue with both RTE and the SNCF to support our client in making informed decisions without compromising safety.
A great example of what HDD projects are really about. Not just drilling. Solving problems, giving technical expertise, and keeping critical infrastructure moving safely.
