CLIENT:

STATE OF KUWAIT
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS
ROADS ADMINISTRATION
CONSULTANT:

The Louis Berger Group, Inc.,

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Engineers - Planners - Scientists - Economists

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IN JOINT VENTURE WITH:

Pan Arab Consulting Engineers

Architects, Engineers and Planners
MAIN CONTRACTOR:

JOINT VENTURE:

RIZZANI DE ECCHER

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AND

OHL

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AND

BOODAI CONSTRUCTION

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AND

TREVI

CONTRACT NO. RA / 167

Construction, Completion and Maintenance of Roads, Overpasses,
Sanitary and Storm-Water Drainage, Sewer and Other Services for

JAMAL ABDUL NASSER STREET

Method statement for the safe disposal of waste

soil stabilizing fluids (polymer)
Technical Document No. RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV-MS-054

REVISION HISTORY
6

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First Issue

1/11/12

E.Haque

L.Joseph

K.Feller

REV.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

PREPARATION

CHECKED

APPROVED

2
1

RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV
Method statement for the
safe disposal of waste soil
stabilizing fluids (polymer)

JAMAL ABDUL NASSER

STREET PROJECT
RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV-MS-54

Revision 0

SAFE DISPOSAL OF WASTE SOIL STABILIZING FLUIDS (POLYMER)

1. INTRODUCTION
The safe disposal of waste soil stabilizing fluid resulting from the construction of piles for the
proposed Construction and Maintenance of Roads, Overpasses, Sanitary and Storm-Water
Drainage, Sewer and Other Services for Jamal Abdul Nasser Street.

With this document is to summarize and describe the main steps required for the safe disposal
of waste soil stabilizing fluids (polymers) used for the construction of piles as mentioned in our
approved method statement for the execution of bored cast in situ piles 1200mm, 1000mm
and 600mm dia (Submittal No:- 167-NS-GN-ST-MS-030-REV4)

Fig-1: Soil stabilizing fluids being added to the pile excavation.

RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV
Method statement for the
safe disposal of waste soil
stabilizing fluids (polymer)

JAMAL ABDUL NASSER

STREET PROJECT
RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV-MS-54

Revision 0

2. ABOUT SOIL STABILIZING FLUIDS

Soil stabilizing fluids are comprehensively used for the construction of piles during the drilling
stage for the stabilization of the excavation. Most of the soil stabilizing fluids (polymers) are
acrylate or acrylamide copolymers and are innocuous and non toxic. They are manufactured in
powdered form and needs to be well-mixed in potable water to form the soil stabilizing fluid.
Hence the main constituents of fresh soil stabilizing fluid is potable water and the polymer
particles.

After the life cycle of the soil stabilizing fluid and or during the mobilization of the polymer
plant from one location to another, a need comes for the safe disposal of waste soil stabilizing
fluids and hence the purpose of this literature.

At the end of its service span the main components of the waste soil stabilizing fluids are water,
polymer particles and residual soil (suspended native soil fines either silt or clay). Water
constitutes up to 99.0% to 99.8% of the stabilizing fluid.

Because of the non-toxic and innocuous nature of the fluid, no particular chemical or physical
treatment is required and since the components of the polymer are bio degradable and are
organic in nature they do not pose any threat to the environment.

3. SAFE DISPOSAL MEASURES

As mentioned above the need for disposing the soil stabilizing fluid arises when either the
service span of the polymer has reached and or when the polymer plant is required to be
mobilized. In either case the following measures can be taken for the safe disposal of the waste
stabilizing fluids.

RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV
Method statement for the
safe disposal of waste soil
stabilizing fluids (polymer)

JAMAL ABDUL NASSER

STREET PROJECT
RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV-MS-54

Revision 0

Fig-2: Open excavation pit for the disposal of waste soil stabilizing fluids

Near to the polymer plant and away from the access roads, a open excavation can be carried
out to form a shallow pit. The dimensions of the pit can vary depending upon the volume of
stabilizing fluids to be disposed but generally the depth of the pit is kept between the range of
40cm to 60cm. The pit can be enclosed using safety warning tapes so as to avoid any accidental
entry of personnel or vehicles into this pit.

Prior to the discharge of the waste stabilizing fluid into the pit a measurement of pH of the fluid
shall be carried out by the plant operator (the acceptable pH range is between 7-10). If the pH
is greater than 10, sufficient amount of Sodium bicarbonate [Na HCO3] will be added to bring
the pH values of the waste fluid to the acceptable range. Due to the chemical composition of
the stabilizing fluid it is not expected to get an acidic pH (i.e. pH < 7).

RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV
Method statement for the
safe disposal of waste soil
stabilizing fluids (polymer)

JAMAL ABDUL NASSER

STREET PROJECT
RdE/OHL/BC/TR JV-MS-54

Revision 0

After making sure that the pH of the waste stabilizing fluid is between the above mentioned
acceptable range, it can then be disposed into this excavated pit. Meanwhile, due to the
evaporation of water resulting from direct sunlight and the seepage of water into the natural
ground, the stabilizing fluid will be reduced to polymer particles and residual soil particles. Once
the water has been either evaporated or absorbed by the ground completely, the pit can be
backfilled using local soil.