Long an inspiration for poets and authors, explorers and adventurers, the vast Arabian Desert is one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet. It is hard not to be moved by its dramatic ridges or its seemingly endless sea of sand dunes. However, restricting the physical movement of these natural desert wonders themselves is an almost impossible task.
Strong winds that blast through these wide-open spaces scour the surface, whipping up sand and depositing it elsewhere, leaving grooves in rock faces and reshaping giant sand dunes at will. In addition, running water from intermittent winter rains carves fresh patterns into the desert floor. For Aramco, this unique geography and the constant ebb and flow of sand presents its own set of challenges, particularly since many of our sites are situated in remote desert locations.
Fortunately, a discipline exists that traces its roots back to some of the earliest known civilizations, and which has helped successive cultures build safe, stable structures that can withstand everything from environmental factors to expanding urban infrastructure. Known as geotechnical engineering, it involves using geological knowledge to solve engineering problems – and it is helping Aramco preserve its desert operations through innovations in sand and soil stabilization, without harming the natural environment.
By harnessing this approach, Aramco’s experts have piloted a new method of sand control that involves spraying a polymer onto sand around facilities where there is an absence of vegetation or biodiversity. By binding the sand on the surface, a hard crust is created that prevents the sand particles from moving. This has proven so successful that it has already been factored into upcoming projects covering a total of 700 square kilometers. The polymer holds sand in place for between three to five years without impacting the environment, at which point another coat can be applied if required. We are now using predictive modeling and satellite imaging to determine the effectiveness of the approach in preserving the integrity of berms (artificial ridges or embankments), while trials have been scheduled to assess whether it can be applied to access roads and pipeline routes as well.
The process has been found to reduce erosion, increase soil shear strength and support soil structure. This helps prevent desertification at remote sites and at the same time protect our infrastructure. For Aramco, operating in one of the planet’s harshest desert environments, the benefits are significant. However, the technology could have even wider applications. For example, its use along highways that run through the world’s biggest deserts – from the Gobi in China to the Great Basin in the US – could potentially shield asphalt from encroaching sand, improving the safety of motorists.
It is an approach already adopted in agriculture, with synthetic polymers starting to replace chemical binders for soil stabilization in the late 20th Century. The rise of polymer soil additives owed much to their ability to achieve the same amount of strengthening as chemical binders, but at much lower concentrations. However, they are also a more sustainable alternative to cement – a commonly applied soil treatment, but also a material associated with significant Greenhouse Gas emissions. Conventional grouting with cement also poses environmental risks due its high alkalinity, in addition to its metal and metalloid content, as contact with water during application can deliver these pollutants into the earth. By contrast, the polymer solution applied by Aramco has a faster expansion and curing time, reducing the risk of ground contamination.
Aramco has established four tracks for using chemical polymers on soil formations. They involve stabilizing the soil to reduce erosion in pipeline berms and roadside slopes, soil improvement, mitigation of sand movement, and road construction, using local materials in lieu of asphalt and concrete pavement.
Geotechnical engineering has come a long way since humans first constructed dwellings made from mud-packed walls. However, by manipulating their surroundings to protect themselves from the elements, they pioneered a concept that remains as valid now as it was thousands of years ago – albeit one that continues to evolve in our rapidly advancing world. Today, by applying the principles of geotechnical engineering to construction and facilities management, we are able to safeguard the structural integrity of our installations.
But as technology advances, so too must our approach to urban development. And as the science of materials progresses, we can expect to see more examples of non-metallics changing the way we interact with our surroundings. These highly versatile, oil-based products hold significant promise – particularly in the construction sector, thanks to their resistance to corrosion and attributes that prolong the lifespan of infrastructure and buildings. Aramco is currently spearheading further research in this quickly developing space, striking new partnerships in the process, as we expand our capabilities in chemicals. From oil and gas to packaging, from the automotive sector to construction and renewables, polymers may prove to be one of the 21st Century’s great disruptors.
