Dredging and backfilling for the zeepipe pipelaying project on the Belgian Continental shelf of the North Sea, part I
Potvliege, P.; Leys, E. (1993). Dredging and backfilling for the zeepipe pipelaying project on the Belgian Continental shelf of the North Sea, part I. Terra et Aqua 51: 9-20
The Zeepipe Project represents one of the most significant offshore pipelaying works ever executed. Both the length of the pipe (809 km from the Norwegian gasfield Sleipner to Zeebrugge, Belgium) as well as the diameter of the pipe (more than 1 m) are remarkable . But the most remarkable aspect of the project was the scope of the so-called "seabed preparation" which took place before the pipe was laid. Both the dredging works and the backfilling activities in the three primary areas on the Belgian Continental Shelf, i.e., the Scheur, the Wielingen and the Landfall, where the pipe IS linked to the shore. will be discussed. Both dredging and backfilling activities were successfully completed on time. This was because of the simultaneous use of a large number of dredgers, because of several newly developed computer programmes for regulating the work of these vessels, and because of the enormous dedication of the crews on board and office staff on shore who worked day and night. seven days a week for several months. The year-long preparatory investigations done before the project was actually begun were also invaluable to its ultimate success. Part I of this article is published here for the first time and is based on lectures and presentations given by the authors . Part II will be published in the next issue of Terra et Aqua.
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