El Sobaco mountain hike

Eurohinca has developed a under-mountain pile-driving project in the area of El Sobacousing advanced technology for the installation of a subway pipeline in a geotechnically complex environment. Thanks to the tunnel boring machine DN1200 HydroshieldThe excavation was completed with precision, guaranteeing ground stability and minimizing the impact on the surface.

Location and context of the project

The work was carried out in a mountainous area, where the layout required drilling through rock formations and shale and sandstone soils. The intervention was key to the improvement of infrastructure, allowing the installation of a subway conduit without the need for open excavations that could compromise the integrity of the natural environment.

Characteristics of the work

Construction method: Hydroshield DN1200 remote-controlled thruster
Total length of the tunnel: 202 meters
Geology of the terrain: Shales and sandstones
Environment: Crossing under mountain with presence of rock formations.

Technical challenges

One of the main challenges of this project was the excavation in high geotechnical strength conditionswhere the presence of compact rock and the lack of surface access complicated the execution. In addition, the intervention had to guarantee the stability of the rock mass, avoiding displacements that could compromise the tunnel structure.

Another important challenge was the excavation face pressure managementThe project will ensure a controlled advance that will avoid the generation of overloads in the surrounding terrain.

Solutions implemented

To meet the challenges of the project, Eurohinca applied various strategies:
✔️ Hydroshield Tunnel Boring Machine DN1200designed for drilling in rock and hard ground.
✔️ Real-time geotechnical monitoringThe rock mass stability is guaranteed during excavation.
✔️ Efficient management of debris and extracted materialoptimizing digging performance in demanding conditions.
✔️ Trenchless drilling techniquesavoiding alterations to the surface and preserving the natural environment.

Results and benefits

The project was successfully completed, with the installation of the subway pipeline. without affecting the stability of the mountain. Thanks to the application of advanced technology, the work was carried out efficiently, reducing execution times and guaranteeing the structural safety of the tunnel.

This project demonstrates that the remote-controlled driving is an effective solution for tunnel construction in mountainous terrain.The project has been designed to modernize infrastructures with no negative impact on the environment.

References of executed works

In Eurohinca we are specialists in the execution of tunnels for pipelines with tunnel boring machines. Since its foundation in 1996 Eurohinca has executed different types of works:

International Experience