The Challenge
A petroleum tank farm development in Rivers State required a stable, high-bearing-capacity sub-base for large-diameter steel storage tanks on a site characterised by soft, saturated alluvial soils with inadequate natural bearing capacity for the imposed loads.
Our Solution
A biaxial geogrid reinforcement layer was installed across the tank pads and access aprons to distribute load and confine the granular sub-base, achieving the required bearing capacity without deep piling or extensive soil replacement. A woven geotextile separation layer was placed beneath the geogrid to prevent subgrade migration into the sub-base.
The Outcome
The reinforced sub-base met the bearing capacity requirement for the tank loads, reducing the volume of imported fill required and completing ground preparation ahead of the structural programme without differential settlement during the first operational season.