Sandvik Tunnels World's Deepest LPG Storage Cavern
Relying on the winning combination of two Sandvik Tamrock Axera jumbo drilling rigs and rock tools for drill face activities. Indian contractor introduces mining techniques for construction of the world’s largest underground LPG storage cavern.
The winning combination of drill rigs and rock tools from Sandvik are being used in the construction of one of the world’s deepest underground liquefied petroleum gas storage cavern, at Vizag in Southern India.
A giant cavern is being blasted 200 m below the ground adjacent to Vizag Port, the only natural deepwater harbor on the South India coastline, for the storage of LPG that will be used domestically and for export.
Work began on this giant project in November 2003. The Engineering Construction and Contracts (ECC) division of Larsen and Toubro Ltd. is building the tunnels and infrastructure at a 13-acre greenfield site at the foot of a small hill named Dolphin’s Nose that juts into the sea at the Port of Vizag.
Client for the Rupees 208 crore (approximately US$44.8 million) project is South Asia LPG (SALPG) Co, a 50-50 joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Total Gas and Power India (TGPI), a subsidiary of French oil major Total.
