Hot Bitumen Grouting: The Antidote for Catastrophic Inflows

Hot bitumen grouting technology has continually evolved since its early applications almost a century-ago in France, Germany and the USA to seal persistent leaks in tunnels, below dams and for erosion protection along canals. Advancements in the industry especially in the field of monitoring and grouting equipment has made the injection of hot bitumen in conjunction with cement based suspension grout, the most economical, practical and sure solution to stop major inflows through, below or around structures. These applications proved the effectiveness of the hot bitumen grouting technique to stop major water inflows and stabilize water bearing, cohesionless soils, in a fast, predictable and economical way. This paper elaborates on a few remarkable field applications, one of which was likely the largest grouting effort ever undertaken.