Helping you achieve mining production targets through water management
Mine site initiation, operation, and rehabilitation present complex challenges for hydrogeologists and mining engineers. The Schlumberger Water Services team blends a high degree of technical expertise and applied experience in the oilfield and environmental sciences to develop a completely integrated water solution for you.
obtaining a sufficient water supply for mine process activities
dewatering or water management activities
wastewater containment
impact analysis.
Addressing these challenges requires a thorough understanding of multiple disciplines:
geologic setting
hydrogeologic conditions
geochemical processes
engineering requirements or specifications.
Applications
Our multidisciplinary team can assist you in numerous ways.
Collect, compile, and analyze hydrogeologic data to characterize your mine site
Develop the subsurface flow regime in relation to your mining operations
Develop groundwater models to assess possible safety issues
Optimally place and operate dewatering wells
Install long-term monitoring wells to measure water levels and water quality
Complete geochemical modeling to address water quality issues
Estimate the impacts from mine tailings
Manage all water data and compliance reporting.
Optimized mine dewatering
Hydrogeologic assessments of mine dewatering are common for open-pit and underground mines. Short-term issues facing mine dewatering include optimizing the locations and pumping rates of dewatering wells. Long-term issues include controlling regional drawdown and impact on the natural environment, including nearby surface water. Our modeling team members are experienced in applying 3D flow and transport models while analyzing the effects of mine dewatering for both short-term and long-term effects.
Mining process water supply
Groundwater models can illuminate the availability of water for mine process activities and the potential for water use to adversely affect surface water resources. Quantification of all aspects of the hydrologic cycle is necessary to obtain a rigorous mass balance and effectively evaluate potential impacts. Developing a groundwater model provides the ability to optimize water extraction schemes that minimize potential environmental impact while maximizing extraction or drawdown. A model represents a management tool that can be further refined and applied to manage water and mine waste contamination issues.
Long-term geochemical processes
Along with calculating groundwater flow and contaminant mass transport, computer models can be used to assess how geochemical interactions between the waste stream and the host rocks may impact the areas surrounding a mine. Our geochemistry specialists, who recognize the multidisciplinary nature of such advanced applications, provide reliable model predictions.
Schlumberger Water Services combines multiple areas of expertise to provide you with the big-picture understanding that will result in more efficient operations that are safer for human health and the environment.
