Geotechnical Characterization of Fuel Contaminated Clay Soil

Recently, Niger Delta has seen an upsurge in fuel-contaminated soils due to rising fuel production and crude oil theft activities. Because of the growing population of the Niger Delta, the purpose of this study is to characterize the fuel-contaminated clay soils that are currently available for future development. Disturbed clay soil samples at depths of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 meters, was collected. Fuel was then mixed with the soil in different proportions, ranging from 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by soil weight. In order to examine the contaminated clay soil's bearing capacity and settlement characteristics, tests for unconfined compression strength (UCS) and consolidation were also conducted. The findings showed that addition of fuel to the soil decreased its bearing capacity from 5% to 25% at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 meters, respectively. Additionally, increasing the fuel content from 5% to 25% caused increase in settlement of the soil at different depths, suggesting potential challenges with the stability of the foundation. These findings have important engineering implications because the contaminated soil's high compressibility and low bearing capacity indicate that it is unsuitable for heavy load-bearing structures without proper treatment, such as soil stabilization or preloading. In order to guarantee the stability and safety of structures over the long term, these findings emphasize the necessity of thorough site assessment and soil improvement methods while working with contaminated soils.