ROCKS & PIPE AUGER ANCHORS

BKW became involved in the stabilization of a 36" pipeline located in Illinois and Wisconsin.  The pipeline crossed several miles of soil consisting of sugar sand and flotation became a problem.

BKW performed a soil survey using a Cat 330 backhoe and installed and tested anchors in the problem areas.

A coarse sand clay soil was encountered below the sugar sand that provided good hold down for auger anchors.   As a result of the survey, several miles of pipe were anchored using auger anchors instead of concrete set-on weights, thus saving the pipeline company several million dollars.

The auger anchors provide the Contractor with more flexibility than concrete set-on weights because set-on weights require a deeper and wider ditch. When the Contractor digs the ditch and it is determined stabilization is required, the Contractor must re-dig the ditch to accommodate set-on weights.

If auger anchors are available, the Contractor can lay the pipe without re-digging and install auger anchors post lay. This flexibility, along with lower initial cost, will provide the pipeline Company considerable cost savings.