At a depth of 40 metres, a series of platform piles stick out of the seafloor. SUBMAR was awarded the scope of removing these piles but there is a problem. The piles have been cut over a metre above the seafloor and are packed with bone-hard grout.
Before we can cut these piles, with a size of 54inch and 2,5inch wall thickness, 3 metre below the seafloor we first need to break and remove the installed bone hard grout. For this purpose, the engineers at SUBMAR have developed a grout milling machine. Using the hydrodemolition technique, the grout is pulverised and sucked out of the pile. We will launch this grout milling machine with the help of our engineered Pile Catcher as guiding tool.
The Pile Catcher is a hopper that will guide the grout milling machine precisely into the centre of the pile. It also has to absorb all reaction forces that occur during the hydrodemolition process. These forces are produced by sea currents but also, and above all, reaction forces of the grout milling machine during operations. During hydrodemolition operations, the Pile Catcher undergoes lateral, vertical and torsional forces. To hold the Grout Cutter in place, a clamping force of over 20 tonnes is produced on the walls of the Pile Catcher.
The Pile Catcher is lowered on top of the pile and then hydraulically centralized and clamped on the pile wall with over 20-tonne clamping force.
Last week, the Pile Catcher was delivered and the hydraulics installed. Soon, the tool will undergo several important FAT’s.
We will keep you posted
