The use of corduroy road base for road embankments and sites during oil and gas fields development

UDK: 622.276.012:69(211)

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2025-11-122-124

Key words: oil field, embankment height, corduroy road base, thermal insulation properties, thermal conductivity, embankment base temperature, temperature distribution

Authors: O.I. Ponomareva (Giprovostokneft JSC, RF, Samara); V.V. Yatsenko (Giprovostokneft JSC, RF, Samara); A.M. Yanyshev (Giprovostokneft JSC, RF, Samara); I.V. Guldirova (Giprovostokneft JSC, RF, Samara)

The following article reviews the possibility of optimizing the embankment height for oil and gas field sites through an unconventional method of embankments construction using timber obtained on-site from felling sites as the main material. It should be noted that the relevance of this method is driven by the underdeveloped transport infrastructure in remote northern regions, which complicates transportation of construction materials and equipment, as well as the presence of unstable or weak soils, construction on which requires additional efforts and economic costs, affecting the overall feasibility of the project. There is an additional advantage of this method which is the ability to control the permafrost boundary within the embankment using thermal insulation properties of the wood and also by reducing the required volumes of imported soil for the construction of the roadbed. Therefore it is reasonable to use the corduroy road base for embankment at forested sites that require extensive clearing. Based on design experience and economic analysis, the features and drawbacks of such embankment design were identified during the study, and mitigation measures were selected. Such solutions with the use of corduroy road base can be implemented both during design and expert approval, and in construction support during subsequent project implementation.

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