Project Location: North West Shelf Development Project, Western Australia
Client: Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty. Ltd.; Western Australia
Dates: 1987

The pile foundations for the North Rankin “A” platform were embedded in calcareous soil, and a number of factors indicated the need for strengthening the foundations. Several experts were called in for technical advice. Use of underreams was being considered for improving the foundation. On this project, associates of LCR&A were retained to study the behavior of the groups of underreamed piles under both axial and lateral loadings.