Atlas Copco Rental Australia supply Nitrogen solution to avoid gas explosions during drilling at open pit coal mine
February 16, 2017
Antwerp, Belgium, February 16, 2017: When Coal Augering Services, a high-wall mining contractor, needed to decrease the oxygen level and stop any risk of possible gas blasts at the BHP Millennium coal mine, they relied on Atlas Copco Rental to provide a total solution.
The Millennium Mine is an open-cut mine located 100 miles (160 kilometers) south-west of Mackay, Australia, which produces coking and low to mid-volatile pulverized coal injection (PCI) for export markets.
Coal Augering Services has been contracted to drill some 280 holes in the lower open pit seam in order to recover an extra 25 % of coal (or approximately 75,000 tons). Holes vary in depth from 35 to 75 meters and have a diameter of 2 meters.
During this operation there is a high risk of explosive gases being present so solution needed to be worked out. To prevent explosions Coal Augering services started by using a diesel driven Inert Gas Generator (IGG) where the air is burned using diesel in order to decrease the oxygen level to less than 12 % at 15 meters depth. They however rapidly converted to a Nitrogen generator from Atlas Copco Rental Australia for that purpose.
Thanks to our mobile NGM 200 nitrogen generator, delivering 96% N2 purity at 9 bar, combined to an XAVS 850 air compressor, it was possible to achieve the required inert levels at 12 meters for both 35 and 75 meter depth holes, thus avoiding all risks of explosions.
Along with that main challenge, there were several other aspects that we needed to account for.
- The temperatures within the pit (over 50 C°) combined with constant water trucks causing severe humidity. In order to solve that, an after-cooler was added to the compressor.
- The dusty environment. Hence, we organised maintenance and clean filters at all times to ensure the compressor would run optimally.
- The continuous move of the Auger of about 30 meters/hour. To address this we worked out a special trailer for the units so they could be moved in tandem with the loader.
- The very specific safety requirements in a mine were also taken care of and the units were tailored to match all.
Tim Vaughan, Atlas Copco Rental Australia - Account manager, Queensland & PNG explains: “After minor teething issues, the customer has signed a long term contract and is happily converted from inert gas generator to a safer and even more reliable Nitrogen solution.”
For more information please contact:
- Olivia Gambin, Divisional Communication Manager Atlas Copco Specialty Rental
Tel.: +32 3 750 82 87
Email: olivia.gambin@be.atlascopco.com
Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The Group serves customers with innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Atlas Copco develops products and services focused on productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics. The company was founded in 1873, is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 180 countries. In 2016, Atlas Copco had revenues of BSEK 101 (BEUR 11) and about 45 000 employees. Learn more at www.atlascopcogroup.com.
Specialty Rental is a division within Atlas Copco’s Construction Technique business area. It serves customers in the industry segments around the world with temporary air and power rental solutions. The specialty rental services are offered under several brands. The divisional headquarters is located in Houston, USA. Learn more at www.atlascopcorental.com