WRM_JMarinelli_LeadPracDrillPadMeth_Final

Leading Practice Drill Pad Methodology
Julius Marinelli
Consultant
Exploration Geologist
1
Leading Practice
Drill Pad Methodology

Today’s Presentation Outline
 History
 Preparation
 Construction
 Safety and
Environment
 Design Evolution
 Rehabilitation
 Community
2

History
 1900
3

History
 1953
4

History
 1990
5

History
 Today
6

History
 Stats
 How
many
drill
pads?
7

Preparation
 Site selection and
layout
 Stakeholder
access negotiation
 Regulatory
documentation
 Contractor and
equipment
selection
8

Site selection and layout
 Mt Carrington Drake
NSW gold-silver
 3000 historical holes
 Exploration and
resource targets
9
 Number of holes
 Angle and azimuth
 Ground check, peg
and photograph
 WRM – 2011
 60 pads,+10000m

 Proactive
management of
impacts
 Initial ground
check
10

11
 Potential for harm
• Tree overhang
• Buried assets
 Distance from
drainage
 Flora and fauna
 Slope of site
 Water supply
 Waste disposal
 Site specific

 Flora and fauna
12
 Vulnerable bird
species
 Habitat trees –
Casuarina seed
cone count
 30 on ground is
critical

 Flora and
fauna
Glossy Black
Cockatoo
Red Tailed
Cockatoo
13

Stakeholder Access &
Negotiation
 Communication
 Regulatory
documentation
14
 Landowners
 Forests NSW
 Requirements
• Agreement
• S30
• SDN
• REF
• Mine Ops Plan

Stakeholder Access &
Negotiation
15
 Administered
by Environment
division in
Resources and
Energy
 Liaising with
Forests NSW
establishes
requirements
for FMZ’s

Contractors and Equipment
Selection – Drillers and Earthmovers
 Smallest footprint
possible
 Experience and
safety record
 Reliability and
communication
 Local knowledge
 Drill Management
Plan
16

Construction
 Tree audit for
Forestry
 Payments for
larger trees
 Earthmoving
contractor shown
pad design
 15m x 10m plan
agreed
17

Construction
 Track making that
minimises excavation
 Best chance for flora
regeneration
18

Construction
 Storage of topsoil
and vegetative
matter
 Pad base set for
strata protection
 Sediment fencing
minimises
washaways in wet
weather
19

Construction
 Plastic lining fitted
to capture
accidental fluid
spills
 Bunding around
perimeter to
contain potential
fluid spills
20

Construction
 Coconut fibre
matting
provides good
working surface
 Minimises
hazards
 Absorbs
accidental spills
21

Construction
 Barrier fencing
for visibility –
day and night
 Sign-off for
each pad
 Mobilise
equipment onto
site
22

Safety & Environment
 Review all
aspects of setup
once all
equipment is
set up
 Confirm
prestart
checklist
23

 Checklists
sign off
 Site Prep
 Size etc.
 Access
 Water
24

 Site Prep
 Bunds
 Turnaround
 Sed fence
 Sketch
25

 Rig setup
 PPE
 First aid
 Guards
 Documentation
26

 Rig setup
 Comms.
 Fire ext.
 Containment
27

 Rig Pack-up
 Removal
 Cap hole
 Pad and
access rehab
28

Evolution of Drill Pad Methodology
 REX Minerals
2008 – Hillside SA
 Wheat paddock
 Plastic and sand
 Adaptability of
method
 Tableland and
range forests
 Replace sand with
Coconut fibre
mats
29

REX Minerals
 REX Minerals
2008
 South Australia
 Hillside copper
 Wheat paddocks
 Flat terrain
 Cropping –
grazing land
30

REX Minerals
 Wheat paddock
 No surface
scrape
 Plastic cover
sheeting
 Sand on
plastic
31

REX Minerals
 Wheat paddock
 Bunding
 Barrier
fencing
32

REX Minerals
 Wheat paddock
 Whole set up
 Hay bales as
light and noise
barriers
33

REX / White Rock Minerals
 NE NSW 2009
 (State) Forest
and/or
undulating
terrain
 Excavation
 Plastic lining
 Sand on plastic
 Bunding
 Barrier fencing
 Sediment fencing
34

White Rock Minerals
 2010 program
issues
 Problems emerged
 Wet weather
 Sand washes away
in heavy rain
 Sand gets in
equipment
 Construction and
clean-up costs
escalated
35

White Rock Minerals
 2010-11 Solutions
discussed
 Needed to lessen
impact
 Smaller rig – smaller
pad
 Smaller excavator or
backhoe
 Replace sand with
coconut fibre matting
 Make Mats recyclable
36

White Rock Minerals
 2011 - Solutions
implemented
 Cost savings
 Use of mats up to 3
times
 No need to collect
sand and dispose
 Backhoe costs lower
per hour vs. excavator
 Speedier rehab
37

WRM / REX Minerals
 Solutions
successfully
implemented at
WRM
 Now used by
REX Minerals in
wheat
paddocks
38

REX Minerals
 Solutions
implemented
 Easy and
speedy rehab
on pastures
and crop land
39

Rehabilitation
 Discussions with
Forests NSW
 Landholders
 Re-use
disturbed
topsoil and
vegetative
matter
 Documentation
signoff
40

Rehabilitation
 Example –
immediately
after
41

Rehabilitation
 Example –
after 9
months
42

Rehabilitation
 Example –
after 2
years
43

Community
 Showcase
methods to
mines
inspectorate
 Community site
visit days
44

Community
 Primary school
site visits
45

In Summary
46
 Preparation
 Construction
 Safety and
Environment
 Design
continual
evolution
 Rehabilitation
 Community

Thank You
47

WRM_JMarinelli_LeadPracDrillPadMeth_Final

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