New-generation concrete admixtures from BASF Construction Chemicals are being used to build a 40-km-long causeway at a new port in Saudi Arabia.
The causeway, over the shallow waters of the Gulf, is part of the Manifa Oil and Gas Export Facilities Port, which is being constructed at Manifa in the Eastern Province for Saudi oil major Aramco.
BASF Construction Chemicals says its Saudi team won the contract to supply its admixtures for the causeway – which will need an estimated 320,000 cu m of concrete – against stiff competition with the proven capabilities of BASF’s Glenium range.
The causeway includes bridges connecting the 27 oil and gas loading facilities on manmade islands located on both sides of the causeway and at its end in the deep Gulf sea water.
JDN of Belgium, the main contractor for the port project’s infrastructure started dredging work in 2006, appointing STFA of Turkey as a sub-contractor to carry out the construction of causeway, including the bridges. STFA ran trials to select the concrete and admixtures it needed.
Says Hatim Hinno, business development manager of BASF Construction Chemicals Saudi branch: “Al Kifah Ready Mix Company (RMC) conducted numerous trials using various types of concrete mixes, including BASF’s Glenium 51, Rheobuild 1100 and Pozzolith LD 25. They came up against stiff competition. However, the performance of the Glenium 51 solution levelled the field and Al Kifah and the BASF products were selected.”
The fact that STFA was familiar with Glenium products was a major factor in the decision to use Glenium in this project, Hinno points out.
He continues: “Also, the fact that the Saudi BASF team in the Eastern Region manage a project tracking database for oil, gas and petrochemical plant projects, positions Saudi BASF as a leading supplier of construction chemicals in this market sector. We deal with major international contractors from the US, Europe, Japan, Korea, Turkey, as well as large local contracting companies and readymix customers. This gave STFA and Aramco the confidence that we, together with Al Kifah RMC, could deliver a high standard of services.”
Three concrete batching plants installed on site are being operated by Al Kifah RMC. The main plant is on the mainland project site and produces concrete for precast and in-situ concrete. The second plant located on a sea barge mixes, transports and casts concrete at sea, while the third plant is located offshore on a manmade island.
Precast elements for the causeway and connecting bridges are presently being produced on site using high-quality concrete with water-cement (W/C) ratio of 0.32 using Glenium 51. Site batched concrete is produced with W/C ratio of 0.40 using Rheobuild 1100 and Pozzolith LD 25, states the company.
Over 600,000 litres of Glenium 51 is being supplied to the project between 2007 and 2009 in addition to 700,000 litres of Rheobuild 1100 and 300,000 litres of Pozzolith LD 25.
The causeway, when complete, would have consumed an estimated 320,000 cu m of concrete.
