Part ONE

AGS(HK) Technical Seminar Use of HDC to Identify Problematic Ground

14 August 2012 in Tunnel Projects
By Janice Tam
Introduction of New Ground Investigation Guideline
Horizontal Directional Coring (HDC) 1. Introduction
2. Considerations for HDC Planning
By
3. HDC for Geological Model Assessment
Bruce Cunningham
& Janice Tam

AGS (HK) Ground Investigation Guideline (2012)

G4.9 Horizontal Directional Coring
http://www.ags-hk.org/

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Part ONE
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1. Introduction

2
What is Horizontal Directional Coring?
Ground Investigation Technique developed in Norway, in late 80s.

Steerable coring along the planned trajectory.

Provide continuous core sample.

Used in petroleum & mineral explorations and tunnel project. Part ONE
2. Considerations for HDC Planning

Side-tracking Coring Steerable Coring along Tunnel Alignment

Why uses HDC in Tunnel Projects? When & Where should HDC be used?
Confirmed tunnel alignment.
Minimize the risk of unforeseen tunneling
conditions. Preliminary Geological Model.
Extent of problematic rock.
Target the Identified key areas of Geotechnical Hazards / Problematic Ground.
Natural groundwater inflow measurement. Vert. Vert.
BH BH
Continuous core near the tunnel level gives
a lot more information for design and for the
tenderers to price than can be obtained from
vertical boreholes at regular spacing.
HDC launching point can be positioned on
land for core sampling seawards and under
water. Proposed
Tunnel

Improve Ground Model Reduce Geological &

For Reliable Assessment Construction Risks

6 8
 Specification of HDC Technique Proposed HDC Trajectory
Max. bending angle: Designer should provide the proposed trajectory to the coring specialists
DV e.g. control points of coordinates & level.
9 deg/30 m (R=180 m).
Max. core-run: Tolerance Envelope
NQ
3 m in deviated section. Smooth launching & curvature to get optimum coring length.
3 or 6 m in straight section.
Core diameter:
DV size (31.5 mm) in deviated
section.
NQ size (47 mm) in straight
section.
Hole diameter:
Typically in N-size (76 mm). As-built alignment of HDC
Proposed trajectory of HDC
Primary steerable coring system was designed Tolerance envelope
for directional coring in competent rock. Steerable Barrel As-built corehole trajectory for recent completed Hong Kong tunnel project

9 11

Typical Working Areas Proposed HDC Trajectory

Proposed trajectory of HDC

HDC for ~1200 m
Works Area 25 m long & 20 m wide
Control Point
Tolerance envelope
DV coring & steering with curvature
HDC for ~600 m NQ coring in straight section
Works Area 15 m long & 10 m wide DV & NQ Coring within the Designed Envelope

10 12
Coring Duration What is Geological Model?

Coring length Examination of regional & local geological conditions

Characterizes the site focusing on
Tolerance envelope
Geological feature
Field test quantity Geomorphological feature
Hydrogeological feature
Characteristics relevant to the engineering project

Approx. Coring Tolerance Envelope Approx. Coring To anticipate variations in material properties and boundaries in 3D.
Remarks
Length (Dist. from trajectory) Duration (Months)

300 m 2m 2 Field tests

600 m 5m 5 Field tests

1200 m 5m 10 Field tests

1200 m 8m 6 No field test

Coring duration of HDC referring to the recent completed Hong Kong projects

13 15

Identify Problematic Ground for HATS 2A Design

HD04

Part ONE HD01

3. HDC for Geological Model Assessment HD05

HD02
HD03a

HD03

16
HDC passing through inferred Fault Zone HDC passing through Tai Tam Fault

Altered & highly

chloritized, medium
to coarse grained
GRANITE

Shear Zones
Causeway Bay
Typhoon Shelter
Granite with Basalt
Causeway Bay Dykes & Microfractured
HD03a Typhoon Shelter within the Tai Tam Fault
Zone

Basalt Dyke up to
HD03 120 m long

17 19

What we found in Tai Tam Fault? GI Data for Geological Model Assessment
Altered & highly
NR chloritized, medium to Vertical & Inclined BH
coarse grained GRANITE Rockhead Level
Continuous core sample of HDC With Consistent high
Geology along tunnel alignment Tai Tam Fault Zone Lugeon Test Value
Lugeon Tests
Rock Permeability
Water Inflow Tests
NR Water Ingress Prediction
Lab Tests - HD03a
Rock Mass Quality around tunnel level

NR
NR Fault Rockhead
Breccia Fault
Sheared Granite Breccia

Tunnel

Grade III-II, locally Grade III-II, highly Grade III-II, locally

sheared Basalt Dyke altered & chloritized NR, locally highly
Granite, with local fractured, altered
Strong, dark grey, striped Grade II Basalt Dyke, 120 m shear zones, quartz Granite
white, slightly apparent width with sheared III-IV vein and micro-
decomposed BASALT.. fractures

18 20
Potential Hydrothermal Alteration Zone along TKO-LTT Information from HDC

Altered rock in the TKO Line.

Across MTRC Black Hills tunnels at about 200 m deep.
Encountered unexpectedly, caused collapse & programme delay of the TKO Line.
GI indicated a RH depression in the area of veins on geological map.

TKO Line

Tuff
HDC

Hydrothermally
Altered Rocks Greisenised Granite
& Pegmatite
Greisenised Tuff
Granite
Granite
Black Hills Tunnel Incident

HDC
Granite Tuff & Granite Contact
at about 555m depth
Tuff (+33mPD)

21 23

Information from Vertical Borehole Summary

BH offset 70m
Tuff & Granite Contact
Tuff & Granite Contact at +3mPD
Tuff & Granite Contact
at +69mPD at +18mPD Engineering Parameters used for the
Assessment
Rock Types & decomposition grades
Identification of Problematic Ground
Rockhead Level
Rock mass classification (Q-value)
Rock permeability (Lugeon Value)
Lab test results

More Detailed Ground Model such Key of Geological Model Assessment

HDC Estimation of Rock mass quality
as adopting the HDC Technique Determination of rock permeability
with Field tests in HDC Prediction of groundwater ingress

More Reliable Assessment & Estimation of Tunnel Construction Performance

Granite Greisenised Granite Tuff Rates of production
Reduced Construction & Temporary support requirements
Geological Risks Measures to reduce inflow of groundwater

24
22
 Route 8 Eagles Nest Tunnel

Road Tunnel at Construction Stage

Part Two
Project References and HDC Technique HDD/NP/1, March 04 to Sept. 04
By Bruce Cunningham HDD/SP/1, Dec. 04 to Jan. 04
Tolerance envelope of 8 m radius

1. Project References
2. HDC Technique
HDD/SP/1
3. Typical Field Tests in HDC (550 m)

4. Tunnelling Though Fault Zone HDD/NP/1

(1152 m)

25 27

Route 8 Eagles Nest Tunnel

HDC Setup at North Portal

Northbound
Tunnel
Part TWO
1. Project References Working area
of HDC

Southbound
Tunnel

28
Route 8 Eagles Nest Tunnel Po Shan Road Drainage Tunnel
Site Formation at South Portal Drainage Tunnel Design & Construction
2 nos. of HDC HDC along Tunnels
Nov. 05 to Jan. 06
Tolerance envelope of 2 m radius

Setting up HDC at the rear of

South Portal
Tunnel
Alignment

PS-HDC/01
252 m

PS-HDC/02
310 m

29 31

Route 8 Eagles Nest Tunnel Po Shan Road Drainage Tunnel

HDC at South Portal Site Setup of HDC

HDD/SP/1

Working Platform for PS-

PS-HDC01 (252 m)

Coring rig for PS-

PS-HDC02 (310 m)

32
30
 Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A
Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A
Ap Lei Chau

HD03 HATS 2A Site Setup of HDC

North Point (655m)
Aberdeen
HD03a Wa Fu

(795m) Wan Chai East

HD02 Cyberport

(610m)
Sandy Bay
Central

HDC01 at Sai Ying Pun(1250 m) HDC02 at Central (610 m) HDC03 at Wai Chai East (655 m)
HD01 Sai Ying Pun
HD05
(1250m) (700m)
HD04
(1085m)
Trajectory of HDC

HATS 2A the Pioneer Project in Hong Kong for:

First sub-sea level application with HDC.
Deepest core (reaching target zone at -160mPD) with
HDC.
HDC03a at Cargo Area (795 m) HDC04 at Stonecutters Island (1085 m) HDC05 at Kennedy Town (700 m)
Stonecutters Island Longest continuous samples below Victoria Harbour
(i.e. over 1000m from HD01 & 04).
33 35
In-situ Groundwater Inflow Measurement in sub-
horizontal hole under sub-sea condition.

Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A

Details of HDC in HATS 2A

Level of Nos. of Nos. of Nos. of

HDC Duration Length Horizontal Inflow Packer
section Test Test IP Test

HD01 10 months 1250 m ~140 mPD 10 13 20

HD02 5 months 610 m ~145 mPD 4 4 4

HD03 6 months 655 m ~145 mPD 6 12 12

HD03a 5 months 795 m ~150 mPD 5 10 0

HD04 8 months 1085 m ~135 mPD 0 8 24

HD05 5 months 700 m ~135 mPD 5 9 4

34
36
Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A

37 39

Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point

Sheung Shui

Fanling
BCP

NE NT

38 40
Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Tseung Kwan O Lam Tin Tunnel

Tai Mo Shan Geology

HDC Layout
HDC1: Formation
1,200m

Shing Mun Formation HDC:

946 m

HDC3:
HDC2: 1,000m
950m

HDC6:
470m

Drilling of HDC5 & 6 completed.

Others in progress. HDC5:
HDC5 completed in 2 months. 400m Drilling of HDC completed in June 12.
HDC6 completed in 2.5 months. Testing in progress.
Tolerance Envelope of 8 m radius. Duration: Approx. 6 months.
HDC4: Tolerance Envelope: 5 m radius.
530m

41 43

Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Tseung Kwan O Lam Tin Tunnel

HDC3 Proposed length 1000 m HDC of 945 m

Tolerance envelope of 8 m radius Tolerance envelope of 5m radius

42 44
 Coring Procedure of HDC
Procedure of HDC
Planning
Trajectory along the tunnel horizontal alignment
Targeting to pass through the expected fault zones
Part TWO Coring
Steerable within planned trajectory.
2. HDC Technique
Steerable Coring Barrel

Surveying
Regular surveys to ensure the HDC remained within the planned
trajectory envelope. Borehole surveying tool

47

Coring Procedure of HDC HDC Specialist

Survey
during Corhole
Coring Survey
Coring

Connect the
Set
innertube Survey
toolface -
and through out
orientation
surveytool. the bit for
and Core
with Read azimuth
Steerable orientation reading.
Coring and
Tool. inclination.

Extension
Rod

Peewee
Tool

46
48
HDC Steerable Barrel Borehole Surveying Tool
The 3 main components of a steerable barrel
Locking Piston to provide a locked position for the barrel. Corehole Surveying Tool PeeWee EMS Corehole Survey

Packer Assembly to maintain the toolface position during the streering A miniature electronic multishot that is used Survey
through out
process. for surveying of borehole profile. the bit for
azimuth
Adjustable Eccentric Housing to adjust the bending angle. Length of 0.975 m. reading.
Diameter of 30 mm.
Dogleg /
To provide orientation of a borehole.
Bending Angle
Extension
Rod

Toolface /
Rolling Angle
Peewee
Tool

49 51

2. HDC Steerable Barrel HDC Working Procedure

LOCKING PIN HDC Working Procedure in HATS 2A CORING RIG

ADJUSTABLE
ECCENTRIC GROUND
HOUSING
1. INSERT CASING INTO ROCK HEAD
2. STEER HDC DOWN AND LEVEL OUT TO TUNNEL HORIZON
3. DRILL OUT HORIZONTAL CORING IN 50m STAGES WITH SPECIALIST
STEERING AND WITH PUMP DOWN PACKER WATER INFLOW
TESTING
4. COMPLETE HORIZONTAL CORING THROUGH EXPECTED
GEOLOGICAL FEATURE AND TO INVESTIGATE ALONG TUNNEL
ALIGNMENT
5. COMPLETE WATER ABSORPTION TESTING WITH DOUBLE PACKER
160m ALONG SELECTED LENGTHS OF HDC BORE
HARD ROCK 6. GROUT AND BACKFILL HDC BORE

PACKER
CORING BIT PROPOSED SEWAGE
A
CONVEYANCE TUNNEL

SECTION A-A
50 52
 HDC Working Procedure HDC Working Procedure

HDC Working Procedure in HATS 2A HDC Working Procedure in HATS 2A

CORING RIG CORING RIG

GROUND GROUND

HARD ROCK HARD ROCK

PROPOSED SEWAGE PROPOSED SEWAGE

CONVEYANCE TUNNEL CONVEYANCE TUNNEL

53 55

HDC Working Procedure HDC Working Procedure

HDC Working Procedure in HATS 2A HDC Working Procedure in HATS 2A

CORING RIG CORING RIG

GROUND GROUND

HARD ROCK HARD ROCK

1200m1100m 1000m 900m 800m 700m 600m 500m 400m 300m 200m

PROPOSED SEWAGE PROPOSED SEWAGE

CONVEYANCE TUNNEL CONVEYANCE TUNNEL

54 56
 Operation Principle Operation Principle

Steerable Core Barrel Bending Angle

Soft Ground Hard Rock

Soft Ground Hard Rock

ADJUSTABLE ECCENTRIC HOUSING
ANTI ROTATION
SHOE

LOCKING PIN CORING BIT

2. Adjustable Eccentric Housing to adjust the bending angle.

57 59

Operation Principle Operation Principle

Non-Rotating Outer Barrel Rotating Inner Barrel

ECCENTRIC
BEARING

Soft Ground Hard Rock Fixed

CORE BARREL &

Soft Ground Hard Rock INNER DRIVE SHAFT

Circulation
Pressured Fluid

1. Non-rotating, stationary outer barrel, by packer inflation, controls the directional setting. 3. Rotating inner barrel comprises an outer casing and an inner tube for core collection.
It is for maintaining the toolface angle, i.e. the coring orientation.

58 60
 Operation Principle Progress Diagram for HD/01 at Sai Ying Pun

Corehole Survey

Soft Ground Hard Rock

SURVEY TOOL

4. Borehole profile is surveyed using PeeWee EMS,

which is a survey tool of miniature electronic multishot.

61
63

Working Principles

Define the trajectory and

tolerance
Straight section -
Conventional Wireline
Coring
Part TWO
Curve section - Steerable
Coring System
3. Typical Field Tests in HDC
Navigation by toolface &
dogleg angle
Borehole surveying (i.e.
to get the azimuth and
inclination)

Steering System:
Non-rotating outer barrel: Slides in a set toolface while coring
Rotating inner corebarrel: Drive the bit
Non-rotating innertube: Collect the core
62
Water Absorption (Lugeon)Test in HDC Water Inflow Test by PDPS
Double Packers for Injection Test HATS Stage 2A
Pump Down Packer System (PDPS)
HATS Stage 2A

Conventional injection method to determine equivalent rock mass
permeability over relatively short lengths in a horizontal direction.
Testing Section: 3 m
Perforated Pipe: 15 mm diameter
Packer: 76 mm diameter
Sectional inflows in HDC, along the proposed tunnel alignment.
Water quantity seeping naturally from the formation as a result
of pressure difference (i.e. predicting inflow during excavation)
A more realistic hydrogeological model than using the
conventional water absorption test.
To determine an effective grouting approach.
Setup of PDPS in HDC

65 67

Water Absorption (Lugeon)Test in HDC Water Inflow Test by PDPS

Double Packers for Injection Test Po Shan Road Drainage Tunnel HATS Stage 2A

Conventional injection method to determine equivalent rock mass Testing Procedure

permeability over relatively short lengths in a horizontal direction.
Testing Section : 2 m long Testing Section : 2 m long
Perforated Pipe: Perforated Pipe:
20 mm diameter 20 mm diameter

P
S
Typical Length of Testing Section: 100 m
Ranging from 50 m to 120 m.

Proposed
Tunnel

Conventional Coring Method Wireline Coring Method

66 68
 Water Inflow Test by PDPS Water Inflow Test by PDPS

Operation Principle
PDPS FLOW METER
PUMP
ROCK HEAD ROCK HEAD
Retrieve the core barrel string and NQ barrel
FAULT ZONE FAULT ZONE
Pump down the PDPS along the core barrel
PDPS
strings PACKER

NQ

CASING
NQ PACKER FORMATION PACKER

Insert the pump to withdraw water from the test

section in a steady rate
INNER PACKER OUTER PACKER
Change in flow and pressure at the test section are
recorded PUMP OUT WATER
69 71

Water Inflow Test by PDPS Water Inflow Test by PDPS

Operation Principle
ROCK HEAD

Apply hydraulic pressure in stepwise to break the ROCK HEAD FAULT ZONE
inflation shear pin and inflate the packers PDPS

FAULT ZONE
Further apply pressure to open the passage for test PDPS

MECHANICAL PULL-OUT FORCE

INFLATION SHEAR PIN PASSAGE SHEAR PIN

CASING
NQ PACKER FORMATION PACKER

INNER
NQ PACKER OUTER PACKER
Slightly pull out the core string barrel to break the
deflation shear pin
PRESSURED FUILD
Packers deflate and the PDPS is retrieved with
overshot

70 72
 Water Inflow Test in Horizontal Hole Impression Packer Test
Po Shan Road Drainage Tunnel

To obtain Discontinuity Data

Overshot Inner Impression

Head Packer Packer

Use of:
Stopwatch
Measurement Inflation Deflation Survey Tool
Jar / Container Shear Pin Landing Shear Pin
Shoulder

73 75

Water Inflow Test in Horizontal Hole Impression Packer Test

Po Shan Road Drainage Tunnel

Testing Procedure Testing Procedure

Retrieve the core barrel strings and NQ core barrel

Pump down the impression packer tool

Rock
Test Joint
Section

NQ Barrel

Proposed Tunnel
Inner Impression
Packer Packer
Typical Length of Testing Section: 20 m
Ranging from 10 m to 25 m.

Landing
Shoulder
Impression Packer
74 76
 Impression Packer Test
HATS Stage 2A

Joints printed & marked on Packer

Part TWO
4. Tunnelling Though Fault Zone
2 m long impression packer .
FlexitMultismart at the front to Joints copied to plastic foil
obtain the orientation.
Keep the inflation pressure at
about 50 60 bar for 20 minutes.
Increasing to about 80 90 bar
that opens the last valve, inflation.
After packer expansion, fractures
will be printed on the soft material
surface,
Mark the fractures on the packer.
Copy to the wrapped plastic foil. Survey Tool

77

Impression Packer Test Collapsed in Tunnel

Po Shan Road Drainage Tunnel

Reflex EzShot Instrument

Joints printed on Parafilm

Test ingSection: 1 m.
Zero toolface on
Parafilm.
Zero toolface of the
Reflex EzShot
calibrated with the
Parafilm.
Packer & Reflex in the
hole.
Adjust Goniometer
according to Reflexs
measurement.
Mark the zero Toolface
onto the rock core,
Place rock core on
Goniometer and
oriented. Packer Device with
Measure the oriented
joints by compass. Parafilm Rock Core on Goniometer Leadmine Pass Fault Gouge Collapsed into the Tunnel

78
80
Tunnelling Though Fault Zone Leadmine Pass Fault

SEA BED

TBM

LEADMINE PASS
FAULT

ROCK ROCK
By-pass to TBM to enable rail mounted drills and grouting operation to Leadmine Pass Fault

81 83

Tunnelling Though Fault Zone Leadmine Pass Fault

SEA BED

TBM STALLED BY
FAULT GOUGE
TBM

LEADMINE PASS
FAULT

ROCK ROCK
View through heading at end of Leadmine Pass fault

82 84
Tunnelling Though Fault Zone

SEA BED

Thank You
TBM STARTER
CHAMBER EXCAVATED
BY DRILL AND BLAST

LEADMINE PASS
FAULT

ROCK ROCK

85

Tunnelling Though Fault Zone

SEA BED

TBM REINSTATED

LEADMINE PASS
FAULT

ROCK ROCK

86