Skip to content

Mine Dewatering – High Pressure Conditions

Water line feed from wells to mine

Case Study Nº

6

Customer

Antofagasta Minerals, Michilla Mine
Chile

|

2011

Working Conditions

High pressure (over 24 bar).

Pexgol Pipes

Pexgol 160×27, Class 30.

Application

Dewatering.

Lenght

700 meters.

Categories

Mine Dewatering – High Pressure Conditions

The Challenge

Antofagasta Minerals faced constant water accumulation at the bottom of the mine, it was interfering with the extraction of the minerals. In addition, the mine operators faced:

  • High pressure (more than 24 bars) – resulting from the vertical height differences, which required a pipe that could withstand the pressure and be easily installed.
  • Pipe clogging in HDPE pipes – caused by scale formation on the pipe walls due to the presence of various salts, such as chlorides and sulfates, in varying concentrations in the water.
  • Long installation time – and the need to reduce it by installing a flexible, long pipeline with less connections.

Pexgol Solution

The installation of a Pexgol’s flexible pipe, which was produced and transported in coils, reducing both installation time as well as the number of joints. Since installation in early 2011, it has been working with no sign of clogging.

The client is fully satisfied with the pipe’s robust performance, including its quick, easy installation and ability to withstand pressures of higher than 24 bars.

Since Pexgol’s pipes require less maintenance than PE pipes and eliminate previous frequent failures, it will be used for many additional applications at the mine.

Related Case Studies

Transforming water transportation with Pexgol technology

Pexgol’s Solution for CFE: A Leap in Durability and Efficiency

Comisión Federal de Electricidad
Mexico

 | 

2023
Installation of a Pexgol Line for the Transport of Formation Water in an Oil Company.

Replacement of Metal Pipe with PE-X for Formation Water

Enap Sipetrol Ecuador
Ecuador

 | 

2022
Pexgol pipe was selected for the assembly of a muddy water transport line for a palm oil processing company.

Transport of Muddy Water for Palm Oil Extractor

Extractora Poligrow
Colombia

 | 

2022
High-pressure water transport for the Southern Pit in a copper and zinc mine.

High-pressure fluid transport

Minera Antapaccay
Peru

 | 

2023
The Robust & Flexible Answer to Constantly Changing Mine Surfaces.

Evolving Mine Operations with Pexgol Piping

Peña Colorada
Mexico

 | 

2023
Pexgol Transforms Tailings Transportation at Minera San Julián.

Minera San Julián Adopts Pexgol to Improve Water Management

Fresnillo plc
Mexico

 | 

2024