WorldWide Drilling Resource

Innovative Solution for Seawater Intake Adapted from Information Provided by Ramboll Ramboll, an engineering, design, and consultancy company completed the com- plex and demanding task of implementing a seawater intake at Norway’s new National Museum located in central Oslo. A state-of-the-art drilling solution helped avoid what could have been a messy and chaotic situation. The seawater intake was designed to pump water from the Oslo Bay for heat- ing and cooling of the new museum building. Additionally, two stormwater pipelines were installed for flood-risk mitigation to lead rainwater away from the roof and surrounding site. To avoid disruption with expansive digging, directional drilling was implemented for the seawater intake. It had to be performed underground and below sea level in mixed soil conditions ranging from rocks to clay. So contractors could work in dry areas below sea level, special “habitats” were fabri- cated from steel boxes which were lowered into the sea. This solution benefitted the city as four large pipelines were installed without disturbance to citizens. The museum site brought even further challenges since it is located on a former landfill. According to Ramboll Civil Engineer, Vegard Svendsby, “The landfill site made it hard for us to predict what we would encounter when drilling. We were in risk of encountering some- thing the drill could not pass.” The solution was to drill a pilot hole to test conditions. Many varying tech- niques were customized to dri l l holes for this complicated project. Fortunately, these techniques can be transferred to future projects in Norway, as well as other countries. 65 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JUNE 2016 WWDR ’ s August issue is right around the corner! DEADLINES: Space Reservation: June 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: July 1 st