Intermodal Ethanol Terminal

Fueling the Future

Client

Eco-Energy, Inc.

Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Key Elements

Permitting support
Wetland delineation
Construction management
Soil Management Plan and field oversight

GEI coordinated and conducted a multidisciplinary project including geotechnical exploration, natural resource/ecological investigations, environmental investigations, permitting support, and construction management.

The site is located on the Atlantic Coastal Plain on the Delaware River in Philadelphia and, when completed, will consist of an intermodal ethanol terminal. The terminal will accommodate an 80-car unit train. Four 4-million-gallon aboveground storage tanks will be constructed. Ethanol will be distributed via truck and via barge along a pier on the Delaware River.

Geotechnical explorations extended to a depth of 100 feet to characterize the subsurface strata and collect data for preliminary deep foundation design. GEI recommended the use of controlled modulus columns (CMCs) as the most-cost effective foundation system. The columns will be drilled and cast in place to transfer loads to the “hard pan” gravel layer underlying the site at a depth of 60 feet. The CMCs also densify the cohesive soils at shallower depths. A non-rigid load transfer platform was proposed to accommodate the above ground storage tanks and transfer loads to the CMCs.

The CMCs also densify the cohesive soils at shallower depths. A non-rigid load transfer platform was proposed to accommodate the above ground storage tanks and transfer loads to the CMCs.

0

miles of pipeline repairs

0

4-million-gallon aboveground storage tanks

0

foot deep geotechnical explorations