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Mount Isa Mines: Stopping Water Inflow into Pilot Holes for Raise Bore Using Acrylate GroutAustralia  Pilot holes were drilled from surface to the mining horizon, approximately 1000 meters below surface. Inflows as high as 80 to 100 litres per second were encountered at a depth of 300 to 400 metres below surface. The zone in which the inflows occurred was very erodible and the fissures were not amenable to regular cement based grouts. The inflows through two pilot holes extending into the workings of the mine, causing major inconvenience. Since the holes had to be reamed out to a diameter several times the size of the pilot hole and since time was of the essence, it was necessary to perform a grouting program with a fast setting grout, amenable to the formation, providing the requisite grout spread to enlarge the pilot holes. ECO designed an acrylate grouting program in which a though elastic Na-Mg acrylate (Akogel Rubbery) was used. A set time of 20 minutes was selected to facilitate timely movement of the packer. Microfine cement based grouts could not be used because during the redrilling, the holes were deviating into the softer formation. Several grout passes with this acrylate grout were needed to create an effective grout curtain around the pilot holes. ECO provided the lab-testing to develop the mix design and performed the on-site engineering and directed the grouting work. Site design and hosting by PairoWoodies |
