O-Cell Methodology Supporting Pile Design Optimisation in Angola

Terminal Oceacirc;nico in Barra do Dande is planned to be the largest storage infrastructure for gas and oil in Angola. It will include a dedicated 1.7 km long pier and two mooring areas to make the exportation process more efficient. A total of 323 working piles over water, including inclined piles, were designed to serve as foundations for the different structures.  Due to uncertainties from soil investigations in the mooring areas, four push-out pile load tests were conducted to validate and optimise the foundation piles. The Ø700mm cased bore piles, ranging from 31 to 43 meters in length, were built over water and tested using the bi-directional method with the O-Cell® methodology. This eliminated the need for any reaction structure, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the foundation testing program in the most efficient, safe, and cost-effective manner (for all types of piled foundations, particularly for larger test loads). This paper aims to provide a brief overview of the project and the challenges faced during the installation and execution of the four push-out tests over water. The test results and analysis will be presented including the optimisation of the pile foundations.