Tag Archives: Collar Keeper

Aquirian’s drill technology, bulk emulsion set to be delivered to WA gold mine

Explosives and blasting, Mining services, , , , , ,

Aquirian Limited says its Western Energetics operations in Western Australia have begun supplying a combined energetic and technology package to a gold mine in the state.

The package includes the delivery of bulk products, initiating systems and Collar Keeper® Systems, with the package potentially contributing A$4-5 million ($2.6-3.3 million) in revenue annually.

“This packaged supply of our drill technology and energetics reinforces the unique offering we can provide our customers to optimise their blasthole outcomes,” the company said.

Aquirian, via its wholly owned subsidiaries, acquired the assets and land comprising the Wubin ammonium nitrate emulsion plant from Hanwha, recently, with the company also setting out plans to offer Hanwha’s patented X-Load™ range of products in Western Australia.

The facility was built and commissioned in 2020 and is production-ready, with licensing to produce 110,000 t/y of ammonium nitrate emulsion. It was put into care and maintenance in 2021 as part of Hanwha’s strategic decision to exit the bulk explosives market in Australia, with Hanwha selling its other emulsion production assets in Queensland and New South Wales to Orica earlier this year.

The Collar Keeper System, meanwhile, is a combination of Aquirian-developed, retrofittable drilling apparatus combined with its existing Collar Keeper. The technology represents a step change in managing blasthole quality and is targeted to provide a unique solution to a range of different blasting environments with global applications, the company says.

Aquirian announced back in July that Western Energetics had completed the reactivation of the Wubin emulsion facility ahead of schedule and commercial production had commenced. The facility’s productivity continues to grow, enhancing its production capability, the company noted.

The plant currently produces at an instantaneous rate of 20 t/h, with a weekly production of 400 t, limited by outbound trucking. The commencement of the first triple haulage trucks this week (pictured) will enable weekly production to increase further, Aquirian says.

TBS’ Collar Keeper blast hole solution goes commercial in Western Australia

Explosives and blasting, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Aquirian Limited’s TBS Mining Solutions Pty Ltd (TBS) has commenced commercialisation of its revolutionary Collar Keeper® System, with a fully commercialised, extended trial underway in Western Australia’s Northern Goldfields.

TBS is on-site with 60% of the mine site’s Epiroc T45 drill rigs converted for an extended commercial trial, it said.

This milestone follows the completion of its final in-field trials at the end of 2021, where 254 production holes were drilled, including 30 wet holes in difficult ground conditions, where The Collar Keeper System eliminated the requirement for costly and time-consuming collar piping, according to Aquirian.

While the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Western Australia delayed access to site, Greg Patching, Executive Director Business Development and Innovation, said: “We are thrilled to be finally in the field commencing the transition for our customers onto the Collar Keeper System. This marks a major milestone for the development and commercialisation of the system.”

TBS has also received strong interest from several overseas mining companies and received its first orders for a commercial trial to commence in Zambia in mid-late May, it said.

The company continues to work on the development of the Collar Keeper System, including expanding the range of drill rig applications and mechanisation of the system which will, in time, provide a pathway towards full automation for clients worldwide, it said.

The Collar Keeper System is a combination of Aquirian-developed, retrofittable drilling apparatus combined with its existing Collar Keeper. The technology represents a step change in managing blasthole quality and is targeted to provide a unique solution to a range of different blasting environments with global applications, the company said.

The initial focus for the technology is on mines operating in Western Australia with smaller-diameter holes in challenging ground conditions, where high-cost collar piping is traditionally used.

“The traditional method of collar piping has not changed in over 40 years and introduces significant hazards as well as cost, time and quality issues, and poor blast outcomes for clients,” the company said. “In addition, the poor blasting outcomes lead to further downstream costs in load and haul, and the processing of mined material.”