Skip to content

Overcoming Geotechnical Challenges with Pexgol at Media Luna

Improving drainage in the Media Luna mine with Pexgol.

Estudo de Caso Nº

159

Cliente

Minera Media Luna
Mexico

|

2023

Condições de Trabalho

Temperature: 25°C / 77°F | Flow: 80 l/sec | Pressure: 28.5 bar

Solução Pexgol

Pexgol 8″ SDR 6

Aplicação

Mine Dewatering

Comprimento

540 m / 1640.42 ft

Categorias

Overcoming Geotechnical Challenges with Pexgol at Media Luna

The Challenge

Torex Gold, an intermediate gold producer with operations in the Guerrero gold belt in Mexico, faced a significant challenge at its Media Luna mine. The need for an effective underground water pumping system was critical to continuing mining operations. The conventional alternative of using steel pipes presented multiple disadvantages, including the high cost of installation and materials, the need for frequent welding every 12 meters, and the requirement for specialized machinery for installation inside the mine, in addition to susceptibility to corrosion due to high humidity in the underground environment.

The Solution

After a thorough analysis, Torex Gold selected 8” SDR 6 Pexgol pipes for a total of 540 metres distributed in two coils of 270 metres each. Pexgol pipes were chosen for their corrosion resistance, the possibility of supplying them in long sections that significantly reduce joints, and their fast and efficient installation. In addition, the lightness and flexibility of the material facilitated its handling and installation in the complex mine environment.
The implementation of the Pexgol solution at Minera Media Luna not only met the operational and technical requirements of the project, but also exceeded expectations in terms of installation efficiency and costs. The ability to supply pipes in long coils allowed for continuous installation without the interruptions and costs associated with welding required by steel pipes. In addition, the mine’s in-house engineering successfully designed the surface base and the clamping platform at the end of the countershaft, ensuring seamless integration of the Pexgol system into the existing infrastructure. This project not only demonstrated the technical and economic viability of Pexgol pipes in challenging mining applications, but also set a precedent for future implementations, highlighting the importance of selecting innovative materials that offer durable and cost-effective solutions in the mining industry.

Estudos de Caso Relacionados

Transport of Drinking Water in Harsh Terrain.

Potable Water Aqueduct

Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá
Colombia

 | 

2019
Work with High Pressures and Extreme Ambient Temperature

Water Transport in Copper Mine

Zaldivar SPA Mine
Chile

 | 

2018
Transportation of River Water in Rough Terrain

Water Transport in Complex Terrain

Southern Copper Corporation
Peru

 | 

2019
Installation of Pexgol Pipe to Transport Brine at High Pressure in a Borehole.

Transporting Brine at High Pressure

Mekorot
Israel

 | 

2020
Transport Of Lime Slurry At 100°C

Transport of Lime Slurry

Minas de Oro Nacional, Mulatos Mine
Mexico

 | 

2015
Installation of a Drainage System between Dams in a Copper Mine.

Water Transport Between Dams

CODELCO – El Teniente Mine
Chile

 | 

2019