The Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier) is a prime example of Dutch flood control management. This 9 kilometers long dam is part of the Dutch Delta Works and houses several wind farms that generate renewable energy. This spring, after a decade-long preparation, the wind farms are being renovated. Brownline contributed by surveying 4 drills in August 2020.
The Neeltje Jans – Vluchtheuvel wind farm currently consists of four wind turbines, each with a hub height of 78 meters and a tip height of 123 meters. All four will be replaced by new turbines that will have a maximum hub height of 140 meters and maximum tip height of 215 meters. Together with the other wind farms in this area, a total of 32 wind turbines will provide electricity for over 140.000 households by the end of 2027. These wind farms will be an important contribution to the Dutch climate goals. After the renovation, they are expected to operate during the coming 20 to 30 years.
In order to ensure smooth operations during the wind farm’s life cycle, the electrical distribution network will also be renewed. Brownline has surveyed 4 parallel drill jobs, each with a length of 727,50 meters or 2386 feet. The trajectory was set out in a corridor less than 20 meters (65 feet) wide and at 12 meters depth. The corridor crosses under the busy N57 motorway that connects Zeeland’s islands to each other, and also runs right next to the Neeltje Jans visitor centre, which meant that any inconvenience in this busy area had to be kept to an absolute minimum. On the other hand, the N57 as well as the construction preparations that were already in place caused major interference.
The exit point for the drills was situated just before a service road, which left no room for any deviation. By using our Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool all 4 drills were executed with extreme precision. We are proud to have contributed to the realization of this green energy source!