At the Barbin storage basin near Nantes — a 6,500 m³ water reservoir under construction by SOLETANCHE BACHY FRANCE — 83 Type II micropiles (Ø 230 mm) were drilled using the Hi’Drill method with rotary-sonic heads. These piles were anchored into rock with embedment lengths ranging from 7 to 13 m, providing both tensile resistance (against uplift from hydrostatic pressure below the slab) and compressive capacity for the basin’s operational loads. Before excavation, the project also includes drainage works, piezometers and pumping wells.

We supplied two Casagrande C8 XP-2 crawler drills equipped with a 200 kW electric power pack, supported by a 55.4 kW diesel engine used exclusively for track movement and mast positioning. This configuration is suitable for micropiles execution in confined sites where the electrical supply comes from the local grid or, when unavailable, from a generator set.

The two C8 XP-2 units enabled the completion of the 83 micropiles efficiently and reliably. The use of electric power reduced noise levels and contributed to a lower environmental impact on the site. We thank SOLETANCHE BACHY FRANCE for choosing Casagrande equipment for this demanding foundation project.

Discover more: https://casagrandegroup.com/equipment/c8xp2/