The pile foundation project for the largest 160,000 cubic meter prestressed concrete LNG storage tank in the inland area has seen the completion of construction on 405 cast-in-place piles

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On January 29, the construction of 405 cast-in-place piles in the LNG tank area of the Fuping natural gas storage and peak-shaving project, which is under the general contract of the Southwest Branch, was completed, creating favorable conditions for the subsequent construction of the main storage tanks. The storage tank in this project is the largest prestressed concrete LNG storage tank of 160,000 cubic meters in inland areas. The pile foundation constitutes the ‘foundation’ of the tank structure; the quality of these piles is crucial for the stable and safe operation of the tank. Moreover, this project is located on a site prone to settlement due to its own weight, with a settlement severity rating of the highest level (Grade IV). The geological conditions are extremely complex, posing serious challenges to the construction of the foundations. Leveraging its core technical advantages as well as its integrated management capabilities in design, procurement, and construction, the Southwest Branch developed a scientific foundation treatment plan that involved using environmental-friendly compaction machines to construct 10,400 pure soil compaction piles, followed by the filling of cushion layers and the installation of reinforced concrete bored piles. This approach helped to eliminate the risks associated with collapsible loess at depths of up to 22.5 meters, resulting in a design scheme that ensured the safe and efficient completion of the project. During the construction process, the Southwest Branch strengthened quality and safety supervision throughout the entire process, established a comprehensive risk management system, strictly implemented a three-level inspection system, adopted the practice of assigning one supervisor per machine, required approval for specialized plans, carried out constant on-site supervision, and provided daily safety briefings. It exercised strict control over key processes such as pile site measurement, hole depth, hole diameter accuracy, the fabrication and installation of rebar cages, and concrete pouring. By using advanced testing methods, it ensured that each pile met the design and regulatory requirements, thereby achieving a \"zero-accident\" record during the pile foundation construction phase. Furthermore, through thorough surveys and precise calculations, strict selection of raw materials during the procurement phase, and meticulous organization and coordination during the construction phase, the branch office ensured a seamless integration of the technical plans, resource allocation, and on-site execution, thereby completing the pile foundation project with high quality. To date, the project has completed tasks such as site grading, the installation of 10,400 compacted soil piles, and 405 cast-in-place piles, achieving a total of 213,540 safe man-hours. Next, the Southwest Branch will strengthen cooperation with the participating units to steadily advance the construction of the foundation pads and the tank structures, striving to turn the Fuping LNG project into a high-quality, safe, and environmentally friendly project that contributes to the development of energy infrastructure.