77% reduction in water use achieved by AMC’s HP SRU™ in the Arctic tundra

In freezing conditions, AMC’s Heli-portable (HP) SRU™ reduced the risk of environmental contamination, reducing water consumption by 77% and increasing efficiencies on an environmentally restricted site in the North West Territories, Canada.

Challenge

North Tech Drilling was conducting a diamond drilling program for Aurora Geosciences Limited (AGL) at Kelvin Lake, approximately 290km (180 miles) from Yellowknife, Canada. The region is extremely environmentally sensitive, with some plants, such as lichens, taking up to 80 years to regenerate if damaged. Water sources are strictly monitored by government agencies, especially during the warmer months when the ice melts and water begins to flow.

Water for drilling operations is sourced from Kelvin Lake and pumped directly to the drill site. Local government land use management agencies are particularly concerned with water consumption and landfill at the site, requiring the exploration company to comply with strict permit conditions.

The drill program commenced during the holiday season, delays were expected due to extreme temperatures and seasonal shutdowns. AMC, Aurora Geosciences Limited (AGL) and North Tech Drilling took this opportunity to trial the HP SRU™ in a proactive effort to reduce water consumption and improve drill cuttings management.

Results

• Reduced water consumption by 77%
• Reduced associated pump wear and tear and fuel costs
• Improved drill cuttings management, limiting risk of spills
• Reduced volume of landfill waste
• Reduced warm water flow back to the lake for minimal impact on the ice
• Minimised transportation costs and runs
• Allowed drilling in an environmentally sensitive location, restricted by permits
• Improved productivity by reducing frozen water pipes and overflowing tanks
• Environmental benefits recognized by government environmental inspectors.

Solution

The modular design of AMC’s HP SRU™ enabled it to be easily transported to the remote site in a Dash 7 Cargo aircraft. Designed for easy installation and assembly, the HP SRU™ has colour coded components and guide points to direct the pieces together in minimal time.

Project Outcome

AMC’s HP SRU™ was able to reduce the flow of warm water back into the lake and extend the drilling program, despite unseasonably warm weather - a significant achievement. At completion, ice at the drill site was preserved at 1.5m (5ft) thick. The HP SRU™ significantly reduced the impact on the surrounding environment and improved the efficiency of operations, including:

• Significantly reduced water consumption – reducing water use by 77% from previous years
• Reduced transport and disposal costs from compact and dry cuttings
• Closed loop system reduced time spent managing and mixing muds, allowing personnel to focus on completing the drilling program
• Reduced incidents of frozen water lines or over flowing tanks when the drill rig was shut down
• The drilling contractor maintained their environmental permits, proving to local authorities it reduced the risks of environmental contamination

The use of the HP SRU™ was highly praised by the client, Aurora Geosciences Limited (AGL), and in the environmental inspection report; government inspectors were extremely impressed with the outcome of the operation with the HP SRU™.

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