Hueque Reservoir (Ing. Juan José Bolinaga)
Project sheet
- Sector
- Water
- Client
- Financiamiento Eximbank (crédito de exportación)
- Location
- Hueque River, ~35 km SE of Coro, Falcón State, Venezuela
- Year
- 1991 – 1993
- Vialpa Role
- Construction of zoned earth-and-rock dam and major hydraulic infrastructure
Project overview
The Hueque Reservoir is located on the Hueque River, 35 km southeast of the city of Coro. Its main function is to supply drinking water to Coro, the Paraguaná Peninsula and the oil industry installations. It was built between 1991 and 1993 with Eximbank export-credit financing — Constructora Vialpa, S.A. received machinery and equipment as payment, the first time this modality was used in Venezuela for an infrastructure project. It is a zoned earth-and-rock dam 43.5 meters high, with a crest elevation of 218.50 m.a.s.l. and a normal water level at 214.60 m.a.s.l., providing a total storage capacity of 78,880,000 cubic meters.
The Challenge
Build a zoned earth-and-rock dam in a semi-arid region with water constraints, securing drinking water supply to populated centers and oil installations, under an innovative financing modality through Eximbank export credit with payment in machinery and equipment.
Vialpa Scope
Construction of the zoned earth-and-rock dam 43.5 m high; submerged single-level intake conduit and bottom discharge (Ø 2.60 m × 250 m, steel in reinforced concrete); 30-meter intake tower; free-discharge spillway with converging rectangular section; and access roads. Materials: 562,400 m³ of clay for the core (Zone 1); 122,500 m³ of gravel for filters and drains (Zones 3, 4, 5); and 797,450 m³ of blasted rock for riprap and embankments (Zone 2).
Engineering / Construction Approach
Zoned construction of the earth-and-rock dam with a clay sealing core, granular filters and drains and blasted-rock embankments, integrating the intake works, bottom discharge and free-discharge spillway to guarantee the regulated storage of 78.88 million m³ and the supply to Coro, Paraguaná and oil installations.
Operational Constraints
First project in Venezuela paid with machinery and equipment through Eximbank export credit, requiring coordination between equipment-receiving logistics and civil works execution in a semi-arid region with water constraints.
Technical Highlights
- Zoned earth-and-rock dam 43.5 m high
- Total storage capacity: 78,880,000 m³
- First project in Venezuela paid with machinery and equipment (Eximbank)
- Drinking water supply to Coro, Paraguaná Peninsula and oil industry installations
Key Quantities
Photographic archive and field execution
Original photographic field documentation of road execution, structures, concrete barriers and earthmoving by Constructora Vialpa.
Aerial panoramic view of Hueque Reservoir, zoned earth-and-rock dam and spillway discharge canal
Bottom discharge in operation with high-energy jet and reinforced concrete hydraulic dissipation structure
Rigging and installation of large-diameter butterfly valve with electromechanical actuator in control shaft
Massive shaping and compaction of impermeable clay core and embankments with Caterpillar crawler tractors
Rebar installation and formwork for steep-slope reinforced concrete discharge chute
