Project disctription
In spring 2022, the German government decided to implement two major projects for energy security and the energy transition – one in Wilhelmshaven and one in Brunsbüttel. In Brunsbüttel a land-based terminal for importing energy will be built, which in a first step will enable the reliable import of conventional natural gas in liquid form (LNG), increasingly then “green” LNG, and subsequently the then contemporary forms of energy, probably “green” hydrogen derivatives.
Wiertsema & Partners has carried out the geotechnical investigations for the foundations of the jetty. One part of this geotechnical investigation was ordered by the SENER/COBRA consortium, another part by German LNG. For this marine work we have rent the vessel “RAM” from DUC Marine.
The geotechnical investigation consisted of 1 manual drilled borehole on a groyne, 3 mechanical drilled boreholes and 22 CPTU’s till 45 à 50m minus average sea level and (in cooperation with MSH) taking 9 vibrocore samples of the dredged material. The goal of the mechanical boreholes was continuous undisturbed sampling of the soil below the sea bottom. Several geotechnical tests will be carried out on these samples in the geotechnical laboratory.
The geotechnical investigation was challenging because of the location in the Elbe estuary. This estuary is under influence of strong tidal currents.
Shortly will also do some geophysical investigation. This (bathymetric) investigation is meant to map the local levels of the sea floor. We do this in cooperation with GEOxyz.
As this terminal is creating modern energy supply opportunities for the central and eastern European neighbour countries we are proud to play a role in this truly European project.