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Dynamic Consult International

Project: Yemen Liquefied Natural Gas Project – Port of Balhaf, Republic of Yemen

Vibration monitoring for environmental impact was of the utmost importance for the Yemen Liquefied Natural Gas (YLNG) Project located in the port of Balhaf, Yemen. Located off the desert coast, the construction of a large-scale liquefied natural gas terminal is surrounded by coral reefs containing the world’s richest marine bio diversity. Regulations were set high due to the sensitivity of the environment and the Yemen authorities could stop activity on the site at any time in case of in compliance of the regulations. Dynamic Consult International (DCI) was contracted for this complicated project to design blasting plans, monitor seismic vibrations and underwater overpressure, and adjust blasting to respect the limits of seismic vibration and underwater overpressure defined. To ensure the desired results were achieved, DCI select Instantel® Minimate Plus™ vibration monitors.

Up to five Instantel Minimate Plus systems were used to monitor on this project for different applications. Three vibration monitors were equipped with tri-axial geophones for onshore measurements for attenuation laws and sensitive structures and the remaining two were equipped with hydrophones for offshore measurements of underwater overpressure.

Respect of the unique wildlife and delicate ecosystem was a key element in managing the project. DCI developed many innovative solutions to limit the environmental impact of the blasts. Some of these solutions included an “underwater curtain” created from air bubbles to mitigate the impact of underwater overpressure and a blasting platform entrenched in a dyke 9’8” (3 m) above sea level to reduce the impact of the underwater overpressure.

Regularly adjusting blasting plans according to the seismic and overpressure results provided by Instantel’s equipment ensured that the environmental impact was kept to a minimal.