The completion of the first jet grouting project in Saudi Arabia saw Keller Saudi work closely with Keller Poland to deliver a truly innovative solution in challenging conditions.
The project itself involved the construction of a complex Housing area located in Al Khobar in the Eastern Provence on the coast of the Persian Gulf. During the build phase, signs of settlement and cracks began to show, so the developer was forced to take quick action and use various methods to reduce this settlement. This included using lightweight blocks and changing the slab levels, but unfortunately none of these techniques had the desired impact.
Challenging conditions
Keller proposed an unconventional solution – the application of Soilcrete® using jet grouted columns. This optimised, value-engineered approach reduced the cost by 30% and the project duration by 35%. Due to limited height inside the buildings, 50% of the columns were done from the outside using a larger KB0 rig, accelerating project completion to one-month ahead of schedule.
‘’With challenging temperatures reaching nearly 50°c and 80% humidity – something we are not used to in Poland – I’m really proud we still managed to double our efforts and hand over the project to our client five weeks ahead of schedule,’’ says Kamil Górnicki, Project Manager.
Opening new doors
‘’Using jet grouting for settlement control for the first time in the Middle East will open new doors in the market. It will also assure our clients we can offer innovative solutions that can be both economical and very effective,’’ says Munawar Zaman, Project Director. ‘’I believe this was a win-win situation for all parties involved. It was the first intercompany joint venture for Keller Saudi and we successfully launched a new product.’’ adds Muhammad Ali, General Manager Saudi Arabia.
