Technical Analysis of Failure in Tailings Pumping System

Engineering services across different phases, including pre-commissioning, commissioning, and start-up, for water, tailings, concentrate, and slurry transportation systems.

Project

Technical Analysis of Failure in Tailings Pumping System

Client

TECK Carmen de Andacollo Mining Company

Location

Chile

Type of service

Engineering

In 2010, Teck Carmen de Andacollo Mining Company commissioned BRASS to conduct an analysis to determine the causes of a failure in the tailings pumping system of the Hipógeno Project and to provide recommendations to prevent such an incident from recurring. For the study’s development, two field visits were conducted, and various technical background data of the tailings pumping system were requested. The conclusion reached was that the casing rupture was caused by material fatigue.