Fugro, in partnership with engineering consultancy Sweco, has begun soil investigation fieldwork for the Delta Rhine Corridor West (DRC West). Commissioned by Gasunie, this major infrastructure project will create new pipelines linking industrial areas between Rotterdam, Moerdijk and Boxtel. The network will transport hydrogen and direct captured CO₂ to designated offshore storage sites, playing a key role in supporting industrial decarbonisation and advancing the Netherlands’ wider energy transition.
Fugro and Sweco are conducting investigations along a 70-kilometre section of the planned pipeline route, stretching from the Maasvlakte industrial area up to and including the Hollands Diep. With geotechnical fieldwork now underway, Fugro is performing cone penetration tests, mechanical drilling, and installing monitoring wells to build a detailed understanding of subsurface conditions along the corridor.
The Hollands Diep, an important crossing point of the route with a heavily navigated waterway, requires special attention. To ensure a complete understanding of subsurface conditions at this location, Fugro is carrying out additional geophysical surveys to map the riverbed and further optimise the soil investigation. Together, these surveys will characterise soil behaviour, groundwater conditions and overall geotechnical risks.
Alongside these investigations, Sweco is conducting a range of studies, including assessments of cultural history, landscape, and ecology. The team is also evaluating potential archaeological features, soil contamination and the presence of unexploded ordnance.
Fugro and Sweco will consolidate all findings into advisory reports that provide essential input for pipeline design. These will include directional drilling calculations to identify possible underground drilling paths. The reports will also outline dewatering strategies to ensure groundwater is managed safely during construction. Gasunie will use this information to support the detailed design and construction of the DRC West.
Jaco Stemmet, Fugro’s Regional Business Line Director for Land in Europe and Africa, said: “Our role is to provide Gasunie with clear, reliable subsurface information to support well‑informed decisions as the DRC West moves into its next phase of development. Guided by our purpose to contribute to a safe and liveable world, we provide a detailed understanding of ground and groundwater conditions, helping to reduce uncertainty and support the safe delivery of this important infrastructure.”
The investigation programme builds on desk studies completed by Fugro and Sweco in 2025, carried out in close coordination with Gasunie.
