Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project – Secant Shaft Installation, QLD
Caporn Piling delivered advanced secant piling solutions for the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project, a groundbreaking 250MW renewable energy facility designed to generate power for the national grid using a pumped hydro storage process.
Project Scope
Cable/Access Shaft:
32 secant piles (750mm diameter, depths ranging from 9.3m to 13.6m).
Ventilation/Exhaust Shaft:
34 secant piles (750mm diameter, depths ranging from 9.5m to 15.0m).
Equipment Utilised
Bauer BG28 drill rig for precision piling operations.
Manitowoc M12000 service crane for lifting and support.
Client
McConnell Dowell John Holland Joint Venture
Project Details
During raisebore operations, the shafts encountered extremely weathered rock in the top 20m of ground, posing risks of ground squeeze, ravelling, and instability. To mitigate these risks, Caporn Piling installed circular secant piled rings as part of an advanced presink activity.
Secant piling forms an overlapping ring of piles that stabilises the upper shaft zone, preventing collapse during reaming operations.
The secant piled rings enabled the raisebore machine to operate safely, providing a secure platform with negligible differential movement during operations.
Project Challenges & Innovations
The need for presink piles arose following comprehensive geotechnical investigations, identifying areas of unstable ground not originally accounted for in the scope.
Innovative piling solutions ensured the raisebore operations could proceed without risking shaft instability.
At Caporn Piling, we specialise in delivering innovative and dependable piling solutions for complex projects. Our work on the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project ensured critical ground stability, supporting the successful delivery of one of Australia’s leading renewable energy initiatives.
Caporn Piling delivered advanced secant piling solutions for the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project, a groundbreaking 250MW renewable energy facility designed to generate power for the national grid using a pumped hydro storage process.
Project Scope
Cable/Access Shaft:
32 secant piles (750mm diameter, depths ranging from 9.3m to 13.6m).
Ventilation/Exhaust Shaft:
34 secant piles (750mm diameter, depths ranging from 9.5m to 15.0m).
Equipment Utilised
Bauer BG28 drill rig for precision piling operations.
Manitowoc M12000 service crane for lifting and support.
Client
McConnell Dowell John Holland Joint Venture
Project Details
During raisebore operations, the shafts encountered extremely weathered rock in the top 20m of ground, posing risks of ground squeeze, ravelling, and instability. To mitigate these risks, Caporn Piling installed circular secant piled rings as part of an advanced presink activity.
Secant piling forms an overlapping ring of piles that stabilises the upper shaft zone, preventing collapse during reaming operations.
The secant piled rings enabled the raisebore machine to operate safely, providing a secure platform with negligible differential movement during operations.
Project Challenges & Innovations
The need for presink piles arose following comprehensive geotechnical investigations, identifying areas of unstable ground not originally accounted for in the scope.
Innovative piling solutions ensured the raisebore operations could proceed without risking shaft instability.
At Caporn Piling, we specialise in delivering innovative and dependable piling solutions for complex projects. Our work on the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project ensured critical ground stability, supporting the successful delivery of one of Australia’s leading renewable energy initiatives.