Water Sealing
Challenge
Running sand between 8–14 m prevented sheet pile installation, halting cofferdam construction. Nearby homes and utilities meant heavy piling or excavation posed unacceptable structural and environmental risks.
Solution
Geobear injected expansive geopolymer into the running sand, rapidly stabilising it into a load-bearing mass. Works were completed safely in one week with no disruption or excavation.
Running sand and silt prevented sheet pile installation
Geobear stabilised the cofferdam area rapidly
No impact on nearby homes or buried utilities
United Utilities, the UK’s largest listed water company, manages water and wastewater services for more than 7 million people across the North West. As part of their ongoing infrastructure upgrade programme, Ward & Burke Construction were tasked with constructing a series of cofferdams to receive tunnelling equipment.
During installation of the final cofferdam, contractors encountered severe running sand and silt between 8 m and 14 m depth, making it impossible to drive sheet piles to the required level. This turned a routine operation into a major geotechnical challenge, delaying progress and limiting viable options.
A fast, safe, and non-disruptive solution was urgently needed.
Ward & Burke faced a severe geotechnical obstruction — running sand preventing pile installation and placing the cofferdam at risk of failure.
The site was located close to residential properties and underground utilities, making heavy intervention unsafe.
CFA piling was attempted but proved impossible, as the sand repeatedly bit onto the auger, preventing extraction and rendering the method unworkable.
The project demanded a solution with:
No vibration
No excavation
No risk to nearby structures
Environmental safety
Fast mobilisation
With conventional solutions exhausted, Geobear was approached as the last viable option.
Customer testimonial
Niall Flood, Site Agent, Ward & Burke Construction
Geobear designed a targeted geopolymer injection programme to stabilise the running sand without vibration, spoil, or structural risk.
Specialist resin was injected into the running sand, where it expanded rapidly, binding with the loose material and transforming it into a stable, load-bearing mass suitable for cofferdam works.
The method required no heavy plant, generated no vibration, and posed zero risk to nearby homes, utilities, or existing infrastructure.
Geobear completed the works in just over one week, enabling Ward & Burke to resume construction and keep the project on programme and budget.
This project became a showcase example of geopolymer as the preferred solution for deep excavations involving running sand or silt.
Cofferdam stabilised successfully, allowing sheet pile installation and tunnelling works to continue.
Programme recovered after delays caused by running sand obstruction.
No disruption to nearby communities or utilities.
Cost-effective delivery compared to alternative geotechnical interventions.
Validated performance — geopolymer created a stable foundation where no other solution had succeeded.
Ward & Burke have since adopted Geobear as their preferred partner for similar deep excavation challenges.
Get in touch with our expert team today and discover how Geobear can extend the life of your critical infrastructure assets.
