Corporate Social Responsibility is not just about looking ahead and towards the future to determine how to drive your business. For a company like DONG Energy (Denmark’s largest energy provider) it also involves taking responsibility for the past. 10 years ago, DONG Energy initiated a remediation project. Not because they were required to, but rather, because they had an ambition to preserve clean drinking water in Denmark.
Torrential rainfalls have become part of everyday life in Denmark, due to climate changes. However, our cities are not dimensioned for heavy rain. Therefore, it is necessary to develop our cities and make them more resilient against the still escalating volumes of water. Randkløvehuse, a housing association in Tårnby, has previously struggled with large volumes of water in the basement after torrential rainfalls. In order to prevent future floodings, green storm water infiltration solutions, which are able to absorb large volumes of water, have been installed. The climate proofing solutions applied to the project contribute to a sustainable city development.
Copenhagen is booming with various construction projects – transforming the city into a modern metropolis. One of the largest projects has been the construction of the Metro Cityring. In close cooperation with Metroselskabet, Geo has undertaken the largest and most comprehensive geotechnical site-investigation ever, in order to ensure the best possible foundation of the metro line.
Interxion is a leading European provider of cloud- and operator neutral data centres. For Interxion sustainability is in focus, which is why a deliberate choice has been made to pursue energy efficiency and green solutions, wherever possible. 100% of the company’s energy consumption stem from renewable sources such as hydro energy, solar energy and wind power. However, why stop there?
The Munkholm Bridge is an important link across the Isefjord. Many lightweight- and heavy vehicles cross the bridge on a daily basis, making the Munkholm Bridge essential for commuters, among others. With its three simple concrete arches, the 114-metre long bridge connects the Holbæk area with the Hornsherred peninsula in an idyllic landscape. However, below the bridge’s eastern abutment the idyll ends. Throughout the lifespan of the bridge, the eastern abutment has settled more than 0.5 metres, causing significant strain to the bridge.
Up until the 1980s, it was common practice in Denmark to use former gravel pits as landfill sites for residual waste. Among others, the waste consisted of organic household waste, which over time degrades to landfill gas (LFG,) which contains methane and other gasses. The LFG is able to migrate into buildings and poses the risks of choking and explosion. At the landfill ‘Stengaarden’ in Hvalsoe, the Region of Zealand has installed a remediation plant to manage the migration of LFG. Geo has participated in the installation of a plant, which manages the gasses that are posing a risk.
In many Danish cities, construction has changed severely over the last years. We build taller and taller and the buildings often include deep basements with several floors. Deep excavations and dewatering systems are required. However, in a few Danish cities an underground of plastic clay complicates construction even further and influences costs considerably.
In China, the rate of urbanization has embarked on a fast track and old contaminated industrial areas are vacated in order to make space for residential development.
Numerous challenges present themselves during the construction of offshore wind farms. Detailed mapping of the seabed as well as knowledge about the foundation properties are the key to a successful project. These aspects are important in order to design and build the best and most cost effective foundation for the wind turbines. Choosing the proper site investigation methods and equipment from the beginning, is crucial in order to optimise the entire foundation solution.
Denmark can be self-sufficient with energy for decades to follow, if it is possible to produce the very large oil- and gas deposits, which still exists deep below the seabed. So far, it has been too expensive and complicated to recover oil from great depth, why new technology is required, in order to make this possible. The success of the project can dramatically alter the future energy supply of Denmark.
Ranking amongst the top 10 elite universities in Europe requires a high-level of ambition – an ambition, which is present at The Technical University of Denmark (DTU). To perform high-level research and education of the engineers of the future is, however, an energy-consuming task – also literally speaking. This is why DTU determinedly seeks to implement sustainable solutions to e.g. the field of energy consumption, in which the cooling of super-computers and laboratories make up for one of the largest entries in the overall energy score. However, why look ‘far and wide’ for new innovative technology, if the solution can already be found below the surface?
Year: 2010-2015
Client: Amager Ressourcecenter
Scope and Geo’s role: Geo managed the geotechnical, hydrogeological and environmental (soil & groundwater) fields of the project concerning the construction of a new incineration plant at Amager Ressourcecenter. Geo has planned and conducted the geotechnical preliminary investigations, excavations, retaining walls and piles, planned soil works and designed the dewatering system. Furthermore, Geo has performed supervision with the elements above – including regulatory procedures concerning the groundwater and management of excess soil.
Partner: Moe in Joint Venture MBG JV
Onshore Geotechnical Consultancy, Environmental Consultancy, Groundwater Engineering, DrillingYear: 2012-2013
Client: Region Hovedstaden, Koncern Miljø
Scope and Geo's role: The scope of Work included remediation of chlorinated solvents under a building. Works included commissioning and operations of a thermal remediation unit using Electric Resistance Heating (ERH), followed by decommissioning and site re-establishment. This was the second ERH project completed in Denmark. Geo was also responsible for the first ERH project in Denmark. The remediation unit was turned on March 2013, and heating of the soil to 100°C continued until November 2013. In total, 32 kg trichloroethylene was removed during this period.
Partners and subcontractors: CES (USA) and Nocon (Holland)
Environmental ConsultancyYear: 2009-2011
Client: Femern Bælt A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: The project comprised more than 200 advanced laboratory tests in relation to the preliminary geotechnical investigation for the Fehmarn Fixed Link. The test program included static and cyclic tests on high plasticity paeleogene clays, clay till and chalk. Geo’s laboratory was in charge of the overall project management as well as establishing the methods and test procedures prescribed for all future advanced tests on the Fehmarn project.
Partners and subcontractors: Deltares (The Netherlands), NGI (Norway) og Fugro (Houston, US)
Laboratory Tests and ConsultancyYear: 2010-2012
Client: Per Aarsleff A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: For correlation purposes, a 80 m borehole, and an adjacent DTH-CPT (Down The Hole-Cone Penetration Test) to the same depth, was performed through layers of high plasticity clay on the existing northern embankment at the Fehmarnsund-Brücke between the island of Fehmarn and the German mainland. East of Rødbyhavn, 10 near shore 30 m geotechnical boreholes and 10 onshore 30 m geotechnical boreholes, for a possible production plant for tunnel elements, was drilled. DTH-CPT testing to 30 m below surface at selected locations adjacent to the onshore alignments on Lolland and Fehmarn.
Drilling, Offshore Investigations, Laboratory Tests and Consultancy, Onshore Geotechnical ConsultancyYear: 2010-2012
Client: Per Aarsleff A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: The investigations aimed to clarify how soil and structural elements in the near shore area would behave, due to the very high plasticity clay of Palaeogene origin. A vast number of different field tests at water depths up to 20 m were carried out, ranging from Trial excavations, Pile and plate load tests (vertical, horizontal + passive), Block Sampling to CPT and high resolution multi-beam surveys. Geo designed an offshore plate load testing setup and a Block Sampler to collect undisturbed samples with a diameter of 30 cm. Furthermore, Geo installed 9 pcs. of extenso-piezometers in depths of up to 25 m below seabed.
Partner and subcontractors: Per Aarsleff A/S, NGI (Norge)
Drilling, Offshore InvestigationsYear: 2010
Client: Novo Nordisk A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: As the turnkey contractor on the project, Geo conducted detailed planning, delivered and implemented an extensive groundwater cooling system for Novo Nordisk’s production facilities in Hillerød.
The project included drilling and completion of six deep wells for abstraction of cold groundwater for cooling and storing of the heated water, including all technical installations such as piping, power supply, heat exchangers and SCADA-solution for data collection and operation of the system.
The system is designed and built to manage a groundwater flow up to 180 m3/h, equivalent to a cooling effect of 1.6 MW.
Partners and subcontractors: Grundfos A/S, A-Control A/S
Groundwater Engineering, DrillingYear: 2014-2015
Client: EjendomsSelskabet Norden and Züblin A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: Geo has participated in the project as consultant to EjendomsSelskabet Norden A/S conducting geotechnical investigations and design of a groundwater control system for the 16 m deep underground parking facility in the centre of Copenhagen.
Subsequently Geo was selected as groundwater-contractor, concerning the installation and management of the extensive dewatering, consisting of a large number of well test pumping as well as an equivalent number of reinfiltration wells, water treatment, simple dry keeping of the pit and regulatory procedures.
Partners and subcontractors: Grundfos A/S, Brødrene Dahl A/S
Groundwater Engineering, DrillingYear: 2014-2015
Client: Barslund-CG Jensen
Scope and Geo’s role: As turnkey supplier to Barslund-CG Jensen Geo handled design, regulatory procedures and the implementation of an extensive dewatering solution for a deep cut-and-cover tunnel for the high-speed tracks intersecting the Holbæk-motorway near Hvidovre and Brøndby. Geo has analysed the need for dewatering, conducted detailed planning of the location and design of the wells, 3D modelling of the dewatering and impact analysis of the surroundings, including the optimum design for the system for minimising the risk of impact of the closely located drinking water resource. Furthermore, Geo has conducted the complete technical design of the dewatering system, as well as performed close to 100 pumping- and reinfiltration wells, including all installations.
Partners and subcontractors: Grundfos A/S, Brødrene Dahl A/S
Groundwater Engineering, DrillingYear: 2013-2015
Client: MJ. Eriksson A/S and Züblin GmbH
Scope and Geo’s role: As sub-consultant to Atkins Danmark A/S in turnkey contract consortium with MJ. Eriksson A/S and Züblin GmbH, Geo performed geotechnical consultancy for the tracks, bridges and intersecting roads. Geo also conducted several geotechnical investigations, which the consultancy and design for: Foundations, dams, piled structures, road structures and dewatering and soil works, was based upon. The consultancy has also included management of excess soil, chalk stabilisation, optimum slope inclination for dams and excavations, as well as specifications for execution methods for compressing, pile-driving and sheet piles. Geo conducted quality assurance and control concerning part of Atkins’ project design, as well as geotechnical supervisions of excavations and assessments of pile driving and PDA-measuring.
Onshore Geotechnical Consultancy, Groundwater Engineering, DrillingYear: 2010-2014
Client: Havneinvest A/S and MT-Højgaard A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: Geo conducted environmental and geotechnical investigations as well as consultancy, during the planning and construction of stages 1-3 of Lighthouse* at Aarhus Harbour. Geo has conducted the planning, execution and reporting of investigations with drillings and CPT, consultancy and calculations of foundation and application method concerning e.g. piling, dewatering, draining and sheet piling. Additionally, Geo has prepared environmental history and soil management plans, regulatory procedures and §8- and §19 applications. During the construction, Geo performed site supervisions, consulting in relation to test- and production piles, as well as sorting and management of excess soil.
Onshore Geotechnical Consultancy, Environmental Consultancy, Groundwater Engineering, DrillingYear: 2012-2013
Client: Aarhus Vand A/S
Scope and Geo’s role: Geo was commissioned to perform environmental site investigations related to construction of two roads and five rainwater basins with associated cables. In relation to this Geo was responsible for contaminated soil delineation, risk assessment and applying to the relevant authorities for a chapter 5 approval for reuse of contaminated soil in noise barriers and for terrain adjustments. In addition, Geo was responsible for submission of impacted soil transport notifications and environmental site supervision related to excavation of contaminated soil (e.g. arsenic and hydrocarbons).
Environmental ConsultancyYear: 2007-2013
Client: Metroselskabet and Copenhagen Metro Team (CMT)
Scope and Geo’s role: Geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations for the Copenhagen Metro Cityring, comprising 16 km bored twin tunnels, 17 new underground stations and 4 deep shafts. The entire investigation resulted in more than 600 boreholes equalling more than 15 km of vertical drillings, 10 km of geophysical logging, pumping tests, Lugeon tests, advanced laboratory testing and reporting.
Partner: Per Aarsleff A/S in Joint Venture Geo Aarsleff JV
Drilling, Groundwater Engineering, Laboratory Tests and Consultancy, Onshore Geotechnical ConsultancyYear: 2011-2015
Client: DTU (project management), Højteknologifonden, Mærsk Olie & Gas and DONG (sponsors)
Scope and Geo’s role: The objective of the NEXTOIL project is to facilitate and improve oil recovery from HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) reservoirs. Geo’s Rock Mechanics laboratory and workshop develops and tests new test equipment for measuring at temperatures up to 200 deg. Celcius and pressures up to 60 MPa. During testing the acoustic velocity as well as strength and stiffness properties are determined.
Partners and sponsors: DTU (project management), Højteknologifonden, Mærsk Olie & Gas and DONG (sponsors)
Laboratory Tests and ConsultancyYear: 2012-2014
Client: Joint Chalk Research 7 (group of 16 oil companies)
Scope and Geo’s role: The project studies how the strength and stiffness of chalk is affected by the chemical composition of the pore fluid. Geo’s laboratory has established a database of advanced rock mechanics tests, including trendlines and models for quantifying the effect of pore water chemistry and temperature on the strength and stiffness properties. The data is provided by University of Stavanger.
Partners and sponsors: University of Stavanger (project manager), Petroleumsdirektoratet and Joint Chalk Research (sponsors), GEUS (partner)
Laboratory Tests and ConsultancyYear: 2012- ongoing
Client: Region Nordjylland, Soil contamination
Scope and Geo’s role: Geo performed supplementary environmental site investigations primarily on sites historically used for tarring fishnets. Further to this, Geo was responsible for preparation of tender documents, contracting and follow-ups with the contractor, in addition to supervision of contaminated soil excavation works, collection of verification soil samples and reporting. Prior to remediation works, Geo was responsible for registration of the state of the gardens, pavement and buildings as well as performing a 1-year inspection after completed remediation works.
Environmental ConsultancyYear: 2008
Client: Platina Resources Limited
Scope and Geo’s role: Exploration for Gold, Platinum and Palladium in the Skærgård intrusion in Kangerlussuaq Fjord at 68° N in Southeast Greenland. Core drilling was performed through up to 200 m of glacial ice to a maximum depth of 950 m. Four borings, with a total of 2.400 drill meters, were carried out.
DrillingYear: 2013
Client: Iberdrola Renovables Offshore Deutschland GmbH
Scope and Geo’s role: Detailed geotechnical investigations for offshore wind farm in German Baltic Sea at water depths between 29 and 37m. In total 22 geotechnical boreholes with sampling and in situ testing (DTH-CPT and PS logging) to depths of 63 m below seabed was performed with Geo’s Marine Heave Compensated Drilling rig on the DP2 vessel Blue Beta. Extensive advanced laboratory test program and reporting.
Partner: Blue Star Line A/S
Offshore Investigations, Drilling, Laboratory Tests and ConsultancyYear: 2012-2013
Client: Region Hovedstaden, Koncern Miljø
Scope and Geo's role: Geo was commissioned to undertake a phase II site assessment for chlorinated solvents. The scope of works included measurements of soil vapor, direct push bores with collection of cores and depth specific groundwater samples, Geoprobe sampling with MIP-measurements in addition to drilling of traditional soil bores. Following site investigations, Geo performed risk assessments for groundwater, recipient, land use and indoor climate, in addition to mass estimates and flux calculations. In connection with the site investigations, a conceptual model (GeoScene3D) was continuously updated, in order to illustrate the results.
Environmental Consultancy