SOIL INVESTIGATION REPORT

Project for the construction of a 220kV

electrical line in the Kouilou department

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Contents
CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION..............................................................................3
MAIN OBJECTIVE...................................................................................................3
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES..........................................................................................3
GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW......................................................4
LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA...........................................................................6
COMPANION OF RECOGNITION.............................................................................7
RESULT OF RECOGNITION....................................................................................7
SOIL PROFILE AND GROUND DESCRIPTION..........................................................9
CONCLUSION :.....................................................................................................12
Bibliographic references........................................................................................13
APPENDICES........................................................................................................14

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CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
At the request and on the behalf of the Project team, responsible for the project to
install a 22OkV MPILI-MBOUNDJI high voltage line, we carried out a visual
reconnaissance campaign for soils at depths 3.50 m in relation to the natural
terrain over the extent of the line, on specific points given by the Project team,
after a study carried out in due form by the BCBTP of Pointe Noire at the location of
the construction of a substation in Mpili village and at points J8 and J9.

The level of importance of such transmission lines and towers requires that the subsurface
structures to support the towers structures be assessed well. Such assessment is subject but not
limited to geotechnical investigation. This report is generally a Geotechnical Investigation
report for 220kV MPILI-MBOUNDJI electric transmission line. The soil investigations were
conducted at the selected site locations that is to say, proposed tower locations.
Note that this mission gives an overview of the underlying layers of the subsoil on
the specific points mentioned below and gives the proposals based not only on
parameters such as the texture of the soil, the visual appearance and therefore the
coloring. materials but also to previous studies in the area as well as to the
geological formation of this part of Kouilou by referring to the geotechnical
characteristics published by the standards of the soil type encountered. Thirteen
points on the line were taken at an average depth of 3.50m.
The points that we carried out the surveys are: J1; J2; J3; J4; J5; J6; J7; H1; H2;
H3; H4; H5; H6.

MAIN OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the investigation was to estimate the technical properties of the soil,
which depend on the structure of the soil.

The purpose of this reconnaissance is to determine the nature and

characteristics of the subsoil of the aforementioned points, likely to receive
the pylon structures, with a view to defining the types of foundations. This
report mentions not only a visual analysis of the different survey points but
also a comparison of known data based on parameters such as the texture of
the subsoil, geographic coordinates to define an explanation of them from
the known geotechnical characteristics. The results of this analysis will
make it possible to define the constitution of the subsoil of the project by
defining the nature of the different layers crossed, to propose the types of
possible foundations and the constructive solutions, for the particular
points.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To achieve the main objective of our study, the following specific objectives were set:
 Identify the points likely to receive the line pylons;
 Using rudimentary equipment, dig holes 2m long by 1m wide and with an
average depth of -3.50m compared to the natural ground;
 Analyze the successive layers over 3.50m.

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  Make a quick identification of the material based on the texture of the
material, the consistency of the material, geological and/or pedological
origin.

GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

The Kouilou department presents a relief compartmentalized into two large groups:
the sedimentary basin, with hills and plateaus, and the mountainous massif which
gradually rises to the Mont Bamba range to descend, more quickly, to the pre-
Mayombian hills around Dolisie. There are three types of landscapes: the coastal
plain, the hills and plateaus of the Cirques series, the low, alluvial or marshy areas.
The study site is built on the sedimentary formations of the HINDA plateaus which
border the coastal coast made up of Plio-Pleistocene age formations of the cirque
series. The series of cirques is made up of a succession of predominantly sandy
strata, often bright in color (yellowish, ochre-red or purplish) and with a thickness
that can exceed a hundred meters. These strata are covered by a sandy-clay layer
(70 to 90% sand) with a yellowish tint and a thickness varying from approximately 5
to 15 meters (Jamet and Rieffel, 1976). These formations lie unconformably on
those of the Cretaceous which are made up of: marl, limestone and sandstone of
variable color.

As part of the desktop study, the review of available information was carried out.
The information reviewed included but not limited to geological maps and
characterization of Kouilou department with respect to Seismicity. Mpili village is
located in the Kouilou Department nearby the village of Tchissanga and the hamlet
Oueka. The region is associated with the Kouilou-Niari River, the most important
river flowing to the Atlantic Ocean of the Congo Brazzaville coast. (christain Tathy,
Harmel Obami-Ondon, 2022).

The department’s geology is marked by schisto-limestone formations from the upper

Precambrian, marly limestones of the Bouenza, and sand of the Bateke plateau. It
is covered with a clay-sandy to sandy-clay soil, generally with medium permeability,
and has a clear and very dense hydrographic networks.

Seismicity of Kouilou department

There have been recorded earthquakes in the Kouilou Department with magnitudes
ranging from 3.4 to 4.6 over the past decades. The largest earthquake recorded near
the Kouilou Department had a magnitude of 5.20, this earthquake occurred with a

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depth of 10.0 kilometres and is the strongest earthquake recorded in the vicinity of
this region.

While the seismic activity in the region in the region is not as frequent or intense as
in some other areas, the occurrence of these earthquakes indicates that the Kouilou
Department is seismically active to some extent.

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LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA
The line is located in the Kouilou department, Congo-Brazzaville, it extends over
28km, it starts from the MBOUNDI substation to the MPILI village.

Trace the line on Google Earth

Table 01: Coordinates of points likely to receive pylons

Surveys Latitude Longitude

D1 -4.5190083 12.0671967
H-5 -4.5207200 12.0653950
H-6 -4.5309346 12.0531563
J2 -4.5408700 12.0442250
D3 -4.5399350 12.0279683
J4 -4.5289900 12.0121650
H-4 -4.5299223 11.9983744
H-3 -4.5290168 11.9827167
J5 -4.5314870 11.9979908
H-2 -4.5245070 11.9535656
H-1 -4.5195667 11.9402183
J6 -4.5101533 11.9265700
J7 -4.5068517 11.9069933

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 COMPANION OF RECOGNITION.
The reconnaissance campaign consisted of carrying out several surveys, notably
thirteen over an average depth of 3.50m.
The objective is to make holes to be able to assess the nature of the subsoil, in
particular, the change in the colors of the materials, the size of the grains, the
friability to the touch, the water content, and where applicable the water table.

Consistency of dry soil Apparent cohesion Approximate allowable

lift
Soft to very soft (0.01MPa to 0.03MPa) Low lift
(0.02MPa to 0.06MPa)
S11-S21-S31 0.1bar to 0.3bar 0.2 bar to 0.6 bar

Plastic (0.03MPa to 0.08MPa) Modest lift

0.06MPa to 1.6MPa
S12-S22-S32 0.3bar to 0.8bar O.6bar to 1.6bar

Farm (0.08MPa to 0.12 MPa) 0.16MPa to 0.24MPa

1.6bar to 2.4bar
S13-S23-S33 0.8 bar to 1.2 bar
To do this we used the Coordinator application to identify the points specified on
the line route. After identifying its points, using peles and picks, we dig a well
2.00m long, 1.00m wide and 3.50m average depth.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL RESISTANCE

RESULT OF RECOGNITION

Table 02: Surveys of points likely to receive pylons

Survey Rating in m Nature of Comments

0-0.35m Yellowish gray slightly clayey Contribution of materials
silty sand during the construction of
the MBOUNDI substation
and compacted
0.35m-0.90m Dark gray silty sand Loose soil
D1

0.90m-3.65m Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil

sand with little clay content

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 0.35-1.00m Silty sand of variable color Very loose soil

H-5
1.00m-3.55m Yellowish gray slightly clayey Not very compact soil
silty sand
0.30m-0.95m Silty sand of variable color Very loose soil
H-6
0.95m-3.30m Silty sand of variable color Not very compact soil
0.25m-0.75m Silty sand of variable color Very loose soil
J2 0.75m-3.50m Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil
sand with little clay content
0-0.20m Topsoil Unbuildable land
D3 0.20m-3.00m Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil
sand with little clay content
0-0.25m Topsoil Unbuildable land
J4 0.25m-3.60m Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil
sand with little clay content
0.25m-0.90m Silty sand of variable color Very loose soil
J5 0.90m-3.57m Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil
sand with little clay content
0-0.30m Topsoil Unbuildable land
J6 0.30-3.45 Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil
sand with little clay content
0-0.30m Topsoil Unbuildable land
0.30m-2.00m Silty sand of variable color Very loose soil
J7
2.00m-3.65m Yellowish gray to reddish silty Not very compact soil
sand with little clay content

NB: It is important to note that the points which are not in the table have
the same structure as all the other points from -0.35m except for J7.
The visual analysis of the materials of the thirteen points and the comparison of the
colors of the materials to those whose results are mentioned in the BCBTP report on
the one hand, and on the other hand the topographical and geological study of the
Kouilou department carried out by Bocquier, 1959; Jamet and Rieffel, 1976, bring
out the following.
The maritime coastline of the Kouilou department, like the entire Congolese
coastline, 170 km long, is essentially covered by four classes of soils ( Bocquier,
1959; Jamet and Rieffel, 1976 ): poorly developed soils, podzolic soils,
hydromorphic soils and highly desaturated psammitic and depleted ferrallitic soils.
All these soils result from the original loose materials which are the Plio-Pleistocene
sands. Resulting from wind and water erosion of the Mayombe rocky massif
(Cosson, 1955; Bocquier, 1959; Jamet and Rieffel, 1976), the Cirques series is made
up of a succession of predominantly sandy strata, often in bright colors (yellowish ,
ocher-red or purplish) and thickness which can exceed a hundred meters.

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These strata are covered by a sandy-clay layer (70 to 90% sand) with a yellowish
tint and a thickness varying from approximately 5 to 15 meters (Jamet and Rieffel,
1976). The morphological diversity is mainly due to the topographical situation. Due
to their light texture and very low level of organic matter (<1%). These are very
fragile soils by nature.

SOIL PROFILE AND GROUND DESCRIPTION

According to the on-site drilling description, geotechnical test and in-situ test
results, and according to the order of their spatial distribution, the strata within the
exploration depth range are divided into 5 layers. Please refer to the engineering
geological section map and drilling for detailed stratigraphic divisions.
The top-down hierarchical description is as follows:
ÿTopsoil: Mainly grey-brown, slightly moist, low-lying areas are wet to saturated,
loose, mainly rooting soil. The composition is mainly silty sand of varying color,
with a large number of plant roots visible. It is widely distributed on the site. The
thickness of the soil layer is 0.20 to 1.00m.
We notice that we have uniform color material from 90cm up to 3.65m; this
material commonly called yellow earth is a yellowish gray to reddish silty sand with
little clay content. After 2m we can notice the floor changing color.

The relative elevation of the bottom is 3.93 ~ 6.70m.

ÿFine powder sand: gray-brown, yellow-brown, gray-white, slightly wet to saturated,

loose. Main mineral components are mainly quartz, containing more fine grains,
with a small amount of iron stripes and gray-white stripes visible locally, and
occasionally plant roots.

The average compressibility coefficient is ÿ=0.17 MPa-1, which is a medium

compressibility soil. Actual standard penetration test hammer blow Number average
= 6 hits. The thickness of the soil layer is 3.00~6.10m, the depth of the bottom of
the layer is 3.50~6.60m, and the relative elevation of the bottom of the layer is
0.19~2.60mÿ

ÿPowder-fine sand: brown-red, gray-yellow, gray-white, saturated, mainly slightly

dense, occasionally loose. The main mineral component is quartz, and the sand
quality is relatively uniform, with more fine grains and a small amount of medium-
coarse sand grains in some places, and occasionally fragmented iron.

Nodules, a large number of iron streaks and gray-white streaks and clumps can be
seen locally. Average compression coefficient = 0.17 Mpa-1.

It is a medium compressive soil. The average number of hammer blows measured in

the standard penetration test is 13 blows. Individual boreholes revealed ÿ1 Sand
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(bore holes J4, J50, J57) and ÿ2 gravel lens (bore holes J63, J114), with
thicknesses ranging from 0.3 to 0.5m.

All the boreholes in this layer have been drilled. The layer thickness is 4.40~7.70m,
and the bottom depth is 9.20~13.20m. The relative bottom of the layer is marked
the height is -7.39~-3.18m.

ÿFine powdery sand: grayish yellow, grayish white, yellowish brown, reddish brown,
saturated, medium to dense. The main mineral component is quartz, locally
containing more fine and medium-coarse sand particles and a small amount of
round gravel and breccia, and occasionally broken pieces, Thin-layered, short
columnar iron nodules, with more iron and gray-white stripes and clumps visible
locally. Partial drilling revealed.

There are ÿ1 medium sand, ÿ2 coarse sand and ÿ3 gravel sand lenses with
thicknesses ranging from 0.3 to 0.5m. Only the J50 drilling revealed ÿ4.
Silty clay lens, thickness 0.4m. The average compressibility coefficient is ÿ=0.19
MPa-1, which is a medium compressibility soil
The average number of hammer blows in the actual standard penetration test is 21
blows. Some holes in this layer have not been drilled through, and the layer
thickness is 5.20~13.40m.
The depth of the bottom of the layer is 17.30~24.50m, and the relative elevation of
the bottom is -18.03~-10.86m.
ÿClay: gray-black to gray-brown, saturated, plastic to hard plastic. The core is
mainly columnar and partially glued.

The cemented cracks are filled with gray-black minerals, the cut surface is smooth,
a waxy luster can be seen on the fracture, and the part contains more iron.

Plaque patches, stripes and brownish-yellow patches, with high dry intensity. The
average compression coefficient ÿ=0.27 MPa-1, belongs to Medium compressibility
soil. The average number of hammer blows measured in the standard penetration
test is 16 blows. Some drilling holes in this layer have revealed that the Drilling
through, the maximum exposed thickness is 12.80m, the maximum drilling depth
is 30.30m, and the deepest drilling reaches the relative elevation of -25.30m.

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CONCLUSION :
The soil study is necessary to first choose the type of foundation to use in each of
the transmission line pylons. This type of foundation therefore depends on the
nature of the soil in place.
Observations made on the nature of the soil and referring to previous studies, in
particular the geology of the area, the consistency of the soil as well as the texture,
the following emerges:
It is important to note that on the first four meters, we have a fine, predominantly
sandy material.
It is a firm material in the dry state with an apparent cohesion of approximately
0.10 bar and an average lift of 2 bars;
Regarding the foundations of the pylons, it would be preferable to first evaluate the
loads to which the pylons will be exposed depending on the location and nature of
each pylon, identify the alignment and angle pylons and then find the ideal type of
foundation.
The general invert would be a good choice for this type of soil, especially for
structures like pylons, especially alignment pylons.
However, it is very important to identify the type of pylons in each location, because
the structural behavior of alignment pylons differs from that of corner pylons.
Regarding the corner pylons, the direction of the strong wind will create a
counterweight to balance the pylons.

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Bibliographic references
 Report on the geotechnical reconnaissance of the site of the construction
project of a 220kv electrical substation in the Mpili village in the Kouilou
department;
 Study of the agricultural sector – Republic of Congo departmental
monograph of Kouilou (Page 20);
 Catalog of geotechnical tests carried out at the Orléans geotechnical
laboratory by Y. Altan (Page 9)

 christain Tathy, Harmel Obami-Ondon. (2022). Calibration and Validation of

the GR2M Hydrologic Model in the Kouilou Niari Basin in Southwestern
Congo-Brazzaville

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APPENDICES

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Annexe 1 : Le point J1

Annexe 2 : Le point J7

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Annexe 3 : J4

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Annexe 4 : J3

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Annexe 5 : H6

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