Tunnels | SNF Group

Civil Engineering involves the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operations of the infrastructure surrounding our daily environment. Geotechnical engineering focuses on analyzing existing subsurface conditions and materials before designing deep foundations as Bored Piles, barrettes, Diaphragm walls for tall buildings, tunneling for sewages, metro lines,… Specialist contractors for tunnels construction and pipe jacking are using specific drilling fluids to complete projects. Successfully completing an excavation or a drilling at best cost depends on the properties of the drilling fluids to achieve several purposes as :

SNF hydrosoluble polymers are used extensively as performant additives in these applications to boost properties of slurry, foam, disposal muck, backfill and injection grouts.
Maintain continuous support of the excavation.
Carry cuttings to the surface and permit separation.
Reduce friction and improve lubrication.

Compatible with other construction materials as concrete, reinforcement steel bars.
Cause no pollution of the ground and groundwater and no harm to site operatives.

In the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) technologies, using Slurry Shields or EPBM machines, there is an ever growing demand for innovative additives to enhance production output while limiting at same time impact on the environment.

SNF PRODUCT RANGE

FLOPAM & FLOQUAT: Flocculants and coagulants for all types of water treatment and sludge dewatering.

FLOFOAM: products are designed to reduce foaming actions.

FLOBENT: Bentonite extenders and modifiers are synthetic polymers varying in anionic charges and molecular weight to bring low grade bentonites into or above API required specifications.

FLOSPERSE: Thinners, dispersants to function as a deflocculant to reduce attraction of clays and drilled solids, which produces high viscosity and gel strengths.

AQUASORB & FLOSET TH: powder or liquid water retainers used to absorb large quantity of water or to reduce fluid losses directly at front face, in the chamber or in the screw conveyor.

FLOSET CE: Long chain, high molecular weight polymers used either to encapsulate drilled solids to prevent dispersion and coat shales for inhibition, increase viscosity and reduce fluid loss or to increase foam stabity.

FLOSET GEL: chemical grouting products for sealing and stabilization.

For more information, contact directly our dedicated sales and service team at civilengineering@snf.fr