Project
Highlights

Feasibility Engineering Canela Aguas del Valle

Client​
PUNTA DEL COBRE S.A. (PUCOBRE)

Date
2022

Type of service​
Feasibility engineering

Location
Chile

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Feasibility Engineering Canela Aguas del Valle

Summary of the project:
In 2022, Punta del Cobre S.A. (PUCOBRE) in conjunction with Aguas del Valle (ADV) requested BRASS to develop a feasibility engineering study for a project complementary to the “base case” of the El Espino Project’s Integrated Water Management System (SIAM), which aims to divert a portion of the flow transported by SIAM to a facility where ADV plans to produce drinking water for the communities of Canela. This complementary project, encompassed within a variant of the ‘base case’ layout, covers the area of Canela Alta, and involves the incorporation of an intermediate pumping station in this locality, as well as the adaptation of the layout in a section around Canela Alta, primarily utilizing a parallel road model as the basis of the design concept.

For this feasibility study, two stages are defined:
1. Provision of information for the permitting process of the new alternative.
2. The development of a basic engineering project to determine the CAPEX and OPEX of the proposed system.

Feasibility Engineering for Tailings and Water Management Linga DR 57M Reservoir Expansion

Client​
Cerro Verde Mining Company

Date
2022

Type of service​
Feasibility engineering

Location
Perú

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Feasibility Engineering for Tailings and Water Management Linga DR 57M Reservoir Expansion

Summary of the project:
In 2022, Cerro Verde Mining Company requested BRASS to develop a feasibility engineering study with the main objective to obtain the most viable design with respect to technical, economic, maintenance, operations and permit considerations related the overall scope of management, distribution and transportation of tailings and wastewater located at the Linga DR Tailings Deposit This feasibility study considered a 57m rise in the deposit’s elevation compared to the current approved wall height. The development of the project took into account previous considerations outlined in the study “Evaluation of Future Tailings Storage Capacity Alternatives at Cerro Verde” that had previously been carried out by third parties.

Estudio trade-off sistema transporte de concentrado

Client​
Collahuasi Mining Company

Date
2019

Type of service​
Audit

Location
Chile

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Estudio trade-off sistema de transporte de concentrado

Summary of the project:
In 2019, Collahuasi Mining Company contracted BRASS to conduct an expert audit of the concentrate transport system from an operational perspective, as well as an audit of the current mechanical maintenance strategy executed at the concentrate pipeline pump and stations.
In broad terms and building upon the aforementioned context, the scope of the service has been divided into two areas of interest, primarily encompassing the following activities:

I. Operation and Maintenance Scope:
A.- Site visit for gathering operational information related to: pipeline operational variables (flow, pressures, Cp) for at least the last year, updated normal operating procedures, execution of shutdown and startup procedures, station failure events, execution of rheology procedure, rheology and concentrate granulometry recording, among others.
B.- Hydraulic analysis and generation of hydraulic profile for concentrate pipelines.
C.- Update of the operational range and recommendation of strategies for utilizing variable dissipation at stations. Scenarios with and without discharge pressure restrictions were considered.
D.- Audit of pipeline operation through hydraulic evaluation and application of existing operational procedures.
E.- Review of emergency manual and/or procedures.
F.- Compilation of a report with conclusions, findings, recommendations, and a comparison with industry Best Practices.

II. Mechanical Maintenance Scope
A.- Analysis of the existing mechanical maintenance strategy for the concentrate pipelines (stations and pipeline) through expert examination of the Mechanical Maintenance Plan declared in Ellipse.
B.- Identification of improvement opportunities for the Mechanical Maintenance Plan in terms of resources, timelines, frequencies, and methodology for inspection, replacement, and maintenance of critical equipment and components within the concentrate transport system.
C.- Compilation of a report detailing observations identified in the Mechanical Maintenance Plan, along with recommendations for mitigating deviations.

Pre-Feasibility Level Study of the Rio Blanco Project Slurry Pipeline

Client​
Río Blanco Copper

Date
2019

Type of service​
Pre-Feasibility engineering

Location
Perú

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Pre-Feasibility Level Study of the Rio Blanco Project Slurry Pipeline

Summary of the project:
In 2019, Río Blanco Copper S.A. requested BRASS to conduct a pre-feasibility level study of the pipeline for the Río Blanco Project. The design of the pipeline was carried out during the pre-feasibility engineering stage, spanning from Pump Station 1 (located at the crushing and milling plant) to the Terminal Station (located at the flotation and concentrate plant), and projected over a distance of 149.1 km.

Detailed Engineering of CNN Pipelines

Client​
CAP Minería

Date
2019

Type of service​
Laboratory test, Engineering, Concentrate

Location
Perú

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Detailed Engineering of CNN Pipelines

Summary of the project:
In 2019, CAP Minería commissioned BRASS to develop detailed engineering for the installation of a steel pipeline coated with HDPE liner to replace the current concentrate pipeline, which was experiencing accelerated wear damage. The new pipeline was to be installed in a common trench with the pipeline which was also undergoing replacement.

EIA Collahuasi 210 ktpd Seawater Pumping System

Client​
Doña Inés de Collahuasi Mining Company

Date
2018

Type of service​
Engineering for EIA

Location
Chile

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EIA Collahuasi 210 ktpd Seawater Pumping System


Summary of the project:
In 2018, Collahuasi Mining Company requested BRASS to develop engineering for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Sectoral Permits for the desalinated water transportation system. BRASS provided the necessary documentation to support the Environmental Impact Study designated and related to the desalination plant, desalinated water pumping, and electrical works.

Audit of Operational and Maintenance Management of Concentrate Pipeline

Client​
Minera Centinela

Date
2017

Type of service​
Audit

Location
Chile

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Audit of Operational and Maintenance Management of Concentrate Pipeline

Summary of the project:
In 2017, BRASS conducted a study aimed at identifying the key strengths and weaknesses in the maintenance strategy executed by Minera Centinela for the concentrate transport system, specifically focusing on the pipeline from the Pump Station to the Terminal Dissipating Station located at the area of the pier (excluding pump stations).
In broad terms and based on the aforementioned context, the scope of the service primarily encompasses the following activities:
1.- On-site inspection of the condition of valve stations, monitoring stations, and the right-of-way strip along the concentrate transport pipeline, spanning from the Pump Station discharge to the Terminal Dissipation Station.
2.- Audit of the concentrate pipeline operation by assessing the implementation of the existing operational procedures.
3.- Audit of the concentrate pipeline maintenance strategy by evaluating the execution of the activities outlined in the Maintenance Plan and reviewing opportunities for improvement, considering experiences and Best Practices prevalent in the mining industry.
4.- Compilation of a report presenting conclusions, findings, and recommendations resulting from the review of the maintenance and operation management of the concentrate pipeline.

Analysis of Scaling in 6/7″ Concentrate Pipeline at MEL

Client​
Minera Escondida Limitada

Date
2015

Type of service​
Laboratoy test,
Technical Inspection of Works

Location
Chile

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Analysis of Scaling in 6/7″ Concentrate Pipeline at MELe

Summary of the project:
In 2015, Minera Escondida Limitada commissioned BRASS to conduct an analysis of incrustation deposits and determine the rate of formation in the concentrate pipeline. The service included chemical characterization analysis of laboratory samples, dilution testing to optimize the cleaning or removal mechanism of the incrustation deposits, preparation of a report with the corresponding chemical characterization, and determination of the formation rate of incrustation.

Rheology Analysis and Reporting

Client​
Minera Santo Domingo

Date
2015

Type of service​
Laboratory test
Concentrate

Location
Chile

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Rheology Analysis and Reporting

Summary of the project:
In 2015, Minera Santo Domingo contracted BRASS to provide an analysis service of the results obtained during the laboratory tests provided by ALS Global with respect to the iron concentrate samples taken from Minera Santo Domingo. The project included rheology analysis of the samples, physical tests, and particle size analysis.

Engineering EIA for Existing 7″ Concentrate Pipeline Bypass

Client​
Collahuasi Mining Company Doña Ines

Date
2018

Type of service​
Engineering for EIA

Location
Chile

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Engineering EIA for Existing 7″ Concentrate Pipeline Bypass

Summary of the project:
In 2015, Collahuasi Mining Company requested BRASS to develop engineering suitable for the inclusion and preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) demonstratng compliance continuity with information provided for the elaboration of the applicable Environmental Sectoral Permits for the design of the 7″ concentrate pipeline bypass, considering the avoidance of the area of designated and estimated dump zone expansions.

Concentrate Transport Systems, Tailings Transport, and Desalinated Water

Client​
Minera Escondida Limitada

Date
2014

Type of service​
Operation and maintenance

Location
Chile

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Concentrate Transport Systems, Tailings Transport, and Desalinated Water

Summary of the project:
In 2014, Minera Escondida Limitada commissioned BRASS to review and assess deviations from operational and maintenance practices used in the concentrate and desalinated water transport systems, with the goal of standardizing these procedures.
BRASS conducted periodic on-site visits, at the request of Minera Escondida Limitada, where specialists evaluated the installations of the transport systems, specifically, the 6″ 7″ and 9″ concentrate pipelines, tailings, and water pipelines, in addition to reviewing all applied operational practices.

Preparation of sectoral permit folders for crossings of ravines and public roads

Client​
Minera Santo Domingo

Date
2014

Type of service​
Detail engineering

Location
Chile

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Preparation of sectoral permit folders for crossings of ravines and public roads

Summary of the project:
In 2014, Minera Santo Domingo commissioned BRASS to carry out the design and detailed engineering for the public road crossing C-239 intersecting the industrial water line.