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

Dewatering without Supports

Open Cast Mine Dewatering

El Volcan Mine Arcelor Mittal
Mexico

 | 

2017
Pexgol pipe was selected for the Assembly of a Muddy Water Transport Line for a Palm Oil Processing Company.

Efficient Choice: PE-X Pipe for the Palm Industry

Extractora Monterrey
Colombia

 | 

2023
Dewatering tThrough Shafts for an Underground Lead-Zinc Mine.

Dewatering Through Shafts

Esan Eczacibasi Endustriyel Hammaddeler
Turkey

 | 

2019
Installation of 3000 Meters Of PE-X Pipe for an Underground Mine.

Drainage Lines in Underground Mine

Lundin Mining – Candelaria Norte Mine
Chile

 | 

2020
Installation of a Pexgol Pipe on top of a Steel Outdated Pipe

Carriage of Chemicals at Sea Port

Ashdod Sea Port
Israel

 | 

2016
Installation of a Drainage System between a Well and a Mining Dam.

Well Drainage at Mining Dam

CODELCO – El Teniente Mine
Chile

 | 

2019