Scenario:The issue with constructing bored piles at the Safaga Port project originates from conducting site investigation boreholes far from where the proposed piles are intended to be installed.
Create my version of this story
The issue with constructing bored piles at the Safaga Port project originates from conducting site investigation boreholes far from where the proposed piles are intended to be installed.
Ahmed ElHawary
He is a construction engineer responsible for the Safaga Port project. He is experienced, determined, and cautious. Ahmed oversees the construction of bored piles and is challenged by discrepancies between borehole data and actual site conditions. He takes charge when unexpected geological surprises occur during construction, ensuring the project's continuity while prioritizing safety. Despite challenges, he remains focused on completing the project on time and within budget.
Khaled
He is a senior engineer involved in the design and planning of the Safaga Port project. He is knowledgeable, assertive, and detailoriented. Responsible for ensuring the project's technical feasibility, Khaled provides engineering solutions to Ahmed during construction. His expertise is crucial in addressing construction hurdles and maintaining the project's timeline and budget. His interactions with Ahmed ensures a seamless integration of design theory into practice.
Mohammed
He is a young construction worker working under Ahmed's supervision. He is enthusiastic, observant, and ambitious. Mohammed assists in monitoring the construction process and reports any changes or concerns to Ahmed. He is eager to learn from Ahmed's experience and works diligently to ensure the project's success. His close relationship with Ahmed strengthens their collaboration throughout the project's challenging phases.
When I joined the Safaga Port project, everything looked fine and dandy.
The site investigation report was there, the design was completed, and the contractor was ready to start.
However, as soon as we began constructing the bored piles, things turned out not as expected.
We encountered our first big problem when we found that the soil conditions at the borehole locations were different from what we actually found at the pile locations.
The boreholes were about 200 meters away from the proposed piles, which is quite far given the nature of the soil in this area.
As a construction engineer, I know very well that even a 1-meter distance can make a huge difference in terms of soil type and layering.
What happened next was not surprising at all: our drill bit encountered a rock layer much shallower than predicted.
We were expecting a 5-meter layer of sand to be followed by 15 meters of clay before reaching the rock, but it turned out that only 2 meters of sand were above the rock.
I gathered all the site documents and headed to the site office, where Mohammed was already reviewing the drilling logs from our morning work.
I spread the borehole records across my desk and dialed the geotechnical engineer's number.
As I waited for him to answer, I compared the actual soil samples we collected with the predicted stratigraphy.
The call connected, and I explained our situation.
"We were expecting a 5-meter layer of sand to be followed by 15 meters of clay before reaching the rock," I said.
"But we encountered rock at 2 meters."
He asked me to hold on for a minute, so I did.
Mohammed came in with fresh soil samples from the newest pile location and placed them beside our documentation.
I spread the soil samples across my desk while holding the phone.
They were dark and coarse, which meant they were clay.
Mohammed arranged them in sequence and marked each one with its depth.
The difference between these samples and the borehole logs was impossible to ignore.
What we were finding was completely different from what we planned for.
"Are you still there?" the geotechnical engineer asked.
"Yes, I'm here," I replied.
"Can you send me the drilling logs and soil samples?"
"Of course," I said, "but I need your advice on what to do next."
"I'll call you back after reviewing the data," he said before hanging up.
I hung up and turned to the site map.
Using a red marker, I circled three critical spots between the existing boreholes and our pile locations.
"Mohammed, get me the surveyor's number," I said, already drafting a formal request for additional soil investigation in my mind.
The stakes had just been raised, and I knew we were racing against time.
I pulled up the surveyor's number on my phone while Mohammed handed me a piece of paper with the contact information.
I put the soil samples into labeled containers and placed them in the fridge to keep them fresh for further testing.
Mohammed helped me prepare a site sketch, marking the three spots where we needed immediate testing.
The call connected, and I explained our situation to the surveyor.
"We need additional soil investigation," I said.
"The borehole data doesn't match what we're finding."
He hesitated, mentioning that he needed more notice, but I emphasized the urgency of the project.
"We can't afford delays," I said.
He agreed to send someone tomorrow morning, and I hung up.
I grabbed a red spray paint and headed out to mark the testing locations.
I sprayed each spot with red paint and placed physical markers so they would be visible for tomorrow's investigation.
While I was marking the third location, my phone buzzed.
I answered, and the surveyor informed me that his morning job had been cancelled.
He could send a team right away.
I thanked him and hung up.
I waved Mohammed over from the site office and briefed him on the change of plans.
"We need to get these locations ready for investigation," I said.
"Run to the storage container and get safety barriers and warning signs."
Mohammed ran to the storage container while I called the site foreman to clear all equipment from the marked areas.
I checked my watch; it was 2 PM.
The afternoon sun beat down on us as we worked.
I measured the exact coordinates of each spot, double-checking them against my site sketch.
