Dams
The Wassara technology was used for drilling the foundation drainage and grouting holes and was chosen as it has delivered ...
Changuinola, Panama
Changuinola Civil Works
W 80 Hammer
The Wassara technology was used for drilling the foundation drainage and grouting holes and was chosen as it has delivered successful results at a number of similar dam projects around the world. The drilling at the Changuinola I dam in Panamá was finished more than three months ahead of schedule, in May 2011.
Project needs
During the construction process, delays were out of the question. Therefore when it came to the drilling of grout and drainage holes, Wassara technology was the only feasible drilling choice. This is a well-proven fact, established by the key stakeholders Golder Associates and the Changuinola Civil Works consortium.
Drilling description and plan
In brief, the project required around 400 unique holes measuring Ø 95 mm (3.5”), to be drilled vertically downwards (+/- 20 degrees to the vertical) and depths 20 – 75 m (66 – 246 ft.) along the 595 m (1 952 ft.) dam crest, for grout curtain and drainage. This was done from the two cross-section galleries of the concrete dam.
The mission set for Wassara technology was to drill the grout and drainage holes for the new dam without incident. In total, ~30 000 m (~100 000 ft.) was drilled. The body of the dam itself consisted of hard concrete (80% of drillings), whereas the formation beneath the dam was very soft volcanic and abrasive sedimentary rock (20% of drillings).
| DTH Hammer | W80 Hammer |
| Pump | Uraca RS3-45-E/250 (electric) |
| Drilling fluid | Clean Water from river |
| Drill rods | Wassara, 1 000 – 2 000 mm, OD 76 mm |
| Borehole length | 20 – 75 m(66 – 246 ft.) |
| Scope of drilling | ~30 000 m (~100 000 ft.) |
| Rig | Comacchio MC 600 |
| Formation | 80% hard concrete and 20% volcanic and sedimentary rock, abrasive basalt |
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