Whilst drilling horizontally for a new pipeline within 200 metres of private residences in Kent, unforeseen geological conditions resulted in drilling slurry traversing horizontally and flooding out through a well adjacent to the front door of one of the houses.
The slurry flowed into the under-floor void, contaminating it. It also flowed over the drive and the planting borders and caused a traffic hazard when it reached the nearby main road.
Consultation with the police, the fire brigade and the Environment Agency led to a prompt clean up operation.
Metcalfe Briggs Surveyors were engaged by the drilling company to assist with their insurers to objectively assess the extent of the damage to the house and land and to scope the necessary clean up operation and remedial works to the newly refurbished period house.
Condition Surveys around Slurry Pipeline Mishap - Kent