Dike raising in a-seismie, subsiding area

More Info
expand_more

Abstract

The east coast of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela intersects with three large oil fields, Tia Juana, Lagunillas and Bachaquero. Formerly, the coast was low, but still not defended. Since the start of oil production in 1926, both the land and the lake bottom subsided. A dike had to bring protection: the origin of the three polders in the present situation. In 1984 the ground level just behind the dike, was at some three meters below the water level of the lake. Oil production continues and hence land subsidence: the dikes need continuous raising. The purpose of this master's thesis is to achieve a dike design for the year 2030, taking account of the seismicity of the project area.