Cap Thickness Design
Design of Cap requires selection of material and thickness of cap.
Objective physically isolate contaminants from benthic environment &
water column.
Material consists of large volume of clean dredged material (sand) from
other dredging projects.
Minimum cap thickness depends on chemical & physical properties of the
contaminated sediments, cap sediment, action of waves & currents.
Bioturbation of cap by benthic organisms, amount of consolidation, chemical
isolation requirements, erosion.
Total cap thickness (t) consists of total bioturbation thickness (tb);
consolidation thickness (tc); erosion thickness (te); operational thickness (to);
and chemical isolation thickness (ti).
𝑡𝑡 = 𝑡𝑡𝑏𝑏 + 𝑡𝑡𝑐𝑐 + 𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑒 + 𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑜 + 𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑖
Potential for Bioturbation & Cap thickness:
Benthic organisms colonize the disposal area by burrowing into sediments and
bringing up sediments from beneath – ‘bioturbation’. Knowledge of
bioturbation depth of local species establishes bioturbation thickness (tb) –
ranges from 0.3 m and 0.6 m (1 to 2 feet).
Evaluation of Consolidation
Contaminated dredged material after a period of time consolidates and with
capping undergo initial consolidation. Laboratory testing (or) numerical models
can be useful to understand the amount of initial consolidation.
Potential of Erosion due to currents/waves/tidal action:
a) Bottom currents and waves can induce water velocities over the cap which
may erode the cap material. Tidal circulation/storms may even completely
erode the cap.
b) Models like LTFATE can be used for such a study.
Operational Considerations
Ice gouging in Polar Regions, anchor dragging, unevenness of cap placement.
Potential for short/long-term contaminant flux:
a) Contaminant material toxic to benthic organisms.
b) Critical to ensure contaminants does not move though the cap layer.
c) Technique used to isolate contaminants chemically is called ‘chemical
isolation’ thickness (ti).
Cost Estimate Scheme for Pipeline Dredge
Many factors contribute to production rate:
i) In situ sediment specific gravity High in situ specific gravity results in high
delivered concentration of solids by volume (Cv). High concentration more efficient
dredging because there is less water pumped and more sediments disposed.
ii) Sediment Grain Size small grain size sediments are more easily transported and induce
small frictional head loss.
iii)Discharge Lift Elevation difference between dredge and the disposal end of the
discharge line.
iv)Discharge pipe length sometimes cheaper to lower production rate rather than using
booster pump when the discharge line is too long for main pump.
v) Minor losses – head loss that occur at discontinuities in pipeline such as valves, bends, and
joints.
Bank Height – dredge cutters are about 1 m (or) several feet in diameter, sometimes depth of cut (called bank
height) is smaller than cut diameter optimum production not achieved.
Dredge Cycle Efficiency
i. Advance nature of dredging process.
ii. Sediment not being excavated 100% time if using typical walking spud
dredge (only 50% of time cutter in sediment). Efficiency can be improved
to 75% using dredge carriage.
[Link] of production number of cubic yards of sediment per hour that is
removed from channel bottom by the dredge linked to cost estimation
factor time taken to complete the project.
Dredge Cost Components:
(i) Capital Investment
(ii) Operating Cost
(iii) Mobilization/de-mobilization costs
Capital Investment very substantial for the contractor reflected in their
bids for dredging work.
Other expensive items tugs, survey barges, derrick barges, crew staff,
fuel & water barges, pipeline sections.
Booster pumps very expensive, consider important only under utmost
requirement.
Dredge Operating Costs:
• Fuel cost large quantities of fuel consumed. Horse power of dredge and
supporting equipment’s determine how much fuel is used if dredge is
not operating at high efficiency, excessive amount of fuel may be
consumed.
• Lubricants normally estimated 10% of total fuel cost.
• Dredge crew employs large crew includes captain, officers, winch
operator, welders, deckhands, cooks, and electricians.
• Land support crew pipeline handlers, booster pump operators, fill
foreman, equipment operators.
• Routine maintenance and repair replacing worn engine parts, damaged
pipes and hoses, electrical consumables etc.
• Major repairs and overhauls usually do not occur during a project,
included in the contract bid as small percentage of cost of actual repair.
• Other considerations overhead cost taken around 9% of the total cost of
project finally contractor has right to make profit on job so
reasonable % of total cost must be added for this purpose.
Quantification of cost mobilization/de-mobilization of machinery.
i. Varies greatly from contractor to contractor based on distance of site and
readiness to mobilize.
ii. During move of dredge and other equipment’s they are sitting idle when
they could make money for contractor somewhere else indirect cost that
must be considered.
Environmental Impacts for Dredging Projects involve wide variety of
physical, chemical, structural and biological environmental impacts which
needs to be considered for port planning and EIA applications.
• Physical Impacts – due to large increase in water depth and significant
changes in overall configuration of seabed significantly modify currents,
waves and water quality considerations of the project area.
Effects include (i) changes to circulation pattern and sediment transport
process, (ii) low mixing and poor water quality near bottom of dredged
basin and channels resulting in decreased levels of dissolved oxygen,
(ii) potential for increased salinity intrusion in estuaries, (iii) potential for
local increase in wave heights due to changes in wave refraction pattern,
(iv) potential for increased sedimentation rates maintenance dredging
requirements, (v) potential for beach erosion due to loss of offshore sand
sources.
• Chemical and Biological Impacts – (i) temporary increase in turbidity
and suspended sediment concentration, potentially affecting marine life
and optical properties of water, (ii) release of contaminants to water
column due to sediment re-suspension, (iii) temporary destruction of
marine habitat, (iv) long-term (or) permanent loss of high value marine
habitat (eel grass). Eel Grass (Biological Name: Zostera Marina can
size up to 4 feet (1.2 m) grow in shallow bays, tidal creeks &
estuaries haven for crab, scallops, and many fishes nursery
ground & food. Loss of eel grass results in decline of fisheries. Loss
of eel grass meadows loss of sunlight due to increasing mass of
algae (by nutrient pollution) and high turbidity due to dredging. Major
causes dredging, boat propeller scouring.