Use of Pedraplenes to Prevent Liquefaction in Tanks Tq295-Tq545 at the Talara Refinery

The geotechnical analysis focused on evaluating the stability and safety of the remodeling of the TQ545 and TQ295 tanks at the Talara refinery, located in Piura, on the north coast of Peru. These tanks, with more than 70 years of operation, need to be updated in terms of compliance with current environmental and operational standards, to ensure their correct operation. The surrounding area is characterized by the predominant presence of granular soils, specifically silty sands (SM), with groundwater levels ranging from 0.80 m to 1.40 m in general. Since the location is in a subduction zone, at the convergence of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, seismic movements are likely to occur. Due to this, the importance of identifying the strata susceptible to possible liquefaction problems is recognized. A geotechnical study campaign was carried out in the area to characterize the subsoil, evaluate its load capacity and differential settlements, and also determine the depth of the strata susceptible to liquefaction. Based on the results obtained, a geotechnical solution is proposed to improve the soil to a depth of 4 m, an area susceptible to liquefying, which consists of the construction of a causeway as a foundation base, which will reach superficial levels of the natural terrain, and superimposed will continue a 2-m-high embankment that will serve as support for the foundation rings, ensuring the stability and safety of the new tank structures.