GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION
The Geology of Kuwait is varied, with rocks ranging in age from early Miocene to Recent being exposed at the surface throughout the State, and generally with the Dibdibbah Formation overlying the Lower Fars Formation, which in turn overlies the Ghar Formation: these formations are known as the Kuwait Group. Surface deposits range from sands formed from reworked sandstones from the Kuwait Group which lie over much of the country, to extensive deltaic and tidal mudflats composed of clay and silts which lie at the north-east of the State. Because of the presence of such varying geological conditions, it is essential that the physical and chemical qualities of the sub-surface structure are understood before any construction takes place.
The Geotechnical Investigation Department of WES, recognising the importance of the careful exploration and categorisation of sub-surface conditions and the subsequent provision of accurate geotechnical data to designers, maintains a fleet of drilling rigs, and holds specialist field instrumentation to collect samples of the soil and water, and to record data on the characteristics of the sub-surface strata. The Department uses B57 rotary drilling rigs manufactured by Mobile Drill International Inc., mounted on Mercedes 4×4 trucks, with built-in SPT and CPT capability, to collect the necessary samples required for later testing and analysis.
The Company also deploys track-mounted rigs manufactured by Geomil to undertake Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) which allows the determination of the bearing capacity of the underlying formations. All the drillers and operators of the drilling rigs and the CPT rigs are fully qualified, with many years previous experience in Kuwait.
The Company is also equipped to carry out a number of Geotechnical Field Tests. These include:
- Electrical Resistivity Testing
- Plate Load Testing
- The performing of Field CBR tests
- Thermal Conductivity Testing
- In-situ Permeability Testing
- Field Density Testing
- Cross-hole Seismic Testing
- In-situ testing of concrete and asphalt.
- Installation of piezometers
- Pressure meter testing
For all field testing activities, the Company deploys teams of trained, skilled and experienced Field Testing Technicians.
The Geotechnical Investigation Department of the Division is located at the Operations headquarters at South Subahiya, thus facilitating close cooperation with the Laboratory Testing and Analysis Department and with the Survey Department, which are also located in the complex. The geotechnical crews liaise with the Survey Department for the locating of the positions for the drilling and field testing, and all samples recovered by the field crews are passed back to the laboratory for the testing.