An Alternative Lower Carbon Footprint Foundation for a Large Oil Gas Project in Jurong Island, Singapore-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

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A refinery project on Singapore’s Jurong Island required foundations for storage tanks, process areas, pipe racks, and other heavy structures. The site comprised 10–20 metres of reclaimed sand over 3–5 metres of very soft to soft clay, above the stiff Jurong Formation.<br /><br />The project compared conventional driven spun piles with a hybrid ground-improvement approach using Vibro Compaction (VC) to densify loose sand and Vibro Stone Columns (VSC) to strengthen soft soils. Unlike piling, which requires substantial steel and cement, longer-distance freight, and generates waste, the vibro methods used locally available sand and natural stone aggregates.<br /><br />Using the EFFC-DFI carbon calculator, the project assessed emissions from construction-related activities. The comparison estimated approximately 22,000 tonnes of CO₂e for driven piles and 1,900 tonnes for vibro techniques—a saving of 20,100 tonnes, or 92%. Piling-related transport emissions were six times higher, while the vibro solution produced no construction waste and used 50,000 tonnes less raw material.<br /><br />The emissions reduction was presented as equivalent to the energy used by a car travelling around the Earth’s equator 2,000 times, or to powering more than 7,000 Singapore Housing and Development Board homes for a year. The project also reported an Accident Frequency Rate of zero.<br /><br />The case demonstrates how combining VC and VSC can provide a project-specific, lower-carbon foundation solution while supporting safer construction and more responsible resource use. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for health and well-being, innovation and infrastructure, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

Keywords

Singapore

Jurong Island

refinery

foundation

Vibro Compaction

Vibro Stone Columns

carbon emissions

ground improvement

sustainable construction

CO2 savings