Mining

In its latest update, Magnum Energy reports that it is preparing to build a new battery that will be able to service future increases in oil production from its Provost area wells. This is a sweet light crude conventional oil battery. The planned facilities will include about a 1500 bopd treater, a geotextile lined and diked tank farm comprised of oil tanks and a fiberglass produced water tank, a pipeline header system, a test separator and a water injection pump.

Barrick Gold has been one of the most successful mining companies in the world, and the company has conducted admirable and at times truly unique and exemplary environmental protection at mine closure; but at the company's North Mara, Tanzania facility, locals have plagued the project. Liner has been damaged or cut and stolen on multiple occasions, and now locals have flooded into the mining zone to steal waste rock in search of gold. Clashes with security and police have intensified. Learn more here.;

The Storm Water Solutions magazine staff invites industry professionals to nominate the storm water and erosion control projects they deem most remarkable and innovative for recognition in the November/December issue. All projects must have been in the design or construction phase over the last 18 months. Visit the nomination page here. Learn more here.;

The latest newsletter from Australia-based Global Synthetics includes multiple perspectives on the Utah Point Berth Project (UPBP) at Port Hedland in Western Australia. That bulk export facility is being developed to support (largely) the region's mining industries. Constructing the facility has required stabilizing roads over soft soils, securing stormwater containment zones, slope erosion control, and more. Read about that project and more here (PDF).

The 2011 Public Works Manual from PW Magazine includes an article from Laurie Honnigford, executive director of the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC). Writing for the manual's web edition, Honnigford outlines the Quality Data Oversight and Review (QDOR) program from ECTC--a program which takes a scientific view towards providing confidence in erosion control material selection. Read "Seal of Approval" online. Learn more here.;

The protective lining for one of the abandoned phosphogypsum stacks at the old Piney Point facility has torn, allowing potentially contaminated seawater to gush from the site. Immense water pressure from the stack’s leak is pushing into an underground drain and then into a lined stormwater ditch, causing a bulge and cracking along the south wall of the south stack. Learn more here.;

Geosynthetics Middle East 2011 will take place under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Municipality 25-26 October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Key themes include transportation, environmental and water applications, polymeric product development, design and installation, testing and cqa, and standards and regulations. Abstract submissions for consideration are due by 16 June 2011.

Geosynthetica welcomes its newest underwriter: Carlisle GeoMembranes. With a renowned supply of reinforced and unreinforced polypropylene geomembranes, EPDM geomembranes, and the GeoRod and GeoFlashing product lines, Carlisle's containment technologies are utilized in aquaculture, agriculture, potable water, mining, and many other application sectors. Learn more at the company website. Learn more here.;

The Company has been preparing the Black Rock Canyon Mine for production. During the first and second quarters of 2011 work has included: road preparation, plumbing for the geotextile tubes, electrical work, additional fencing and enhanced security measures. The Company is also making repairs that are necessary prior to production to one of its water wells.

The former limestone quarry in Batavia, Illinois has been leaking 250,000 gallons per day despite the thick soil and clay layers beneath the 43,000 square foot swimming area. Removal of a Fox River dam has changed the hydrostatic pressure acting on the site and lowered water levels, thus increasing the leakage. Engineers from AECOM recommended installation of a geomembrane liner; that proposal has been approved with a $134,000 contract. Learn more here.;

Arizona’s breccia pipes contain some of the world’s purest uranium. There is a significant amount of interest in establishing mining operations to explore and extract it. That interest cannot currently be pursued due to a federal segregation, or time-out, imposed in 2009. But, change may be in the forecast because the segregation expires in July. Learn more here.;

GSE, an international producer of geosynthetic materials, has announced the release its Online Interactive Drainage Design Manual. This is the third edition in the series, which has been authored collectively by industry design professionals. This volume includes contributions from Robert Bachus, Dhani Narejo, Mengjia Li, Te-Yang Soong, and Richard Thiel. The first edition was published in July 2004 and the second in June 2007. The manual is designed to assist users in specifying cost-effective drainage systems and aid in the preparation of construction details.

Bernama has published a second story about geosynthetics in greener infrastructures. The story cites comments made by Malaysia's Minister of Works, Datuk Shaziman, during the official opening ceremony of NAUE's new Bentofix plant in Selangor. Learn more here.;

Almost 25 years ago, NAUE transformed the geosynthetic barrier field for sustainable, environmental protection applications. It was in 1987 that NAUE invented the needle-punched method of manufacturing geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) materials. Today, NAUE is proud to take another step on the path of innovation that has guided the company since its founding in 1967. NAUE has announced the opening of a new Bentofix® production center, NAUE Asia Sdn. Bhd., in Malaysia. The center is dedicated to serving the Asian and Oceanic markets.

Bernama has published a story on NAUE's new Bentofix plant in Selangor, Malaysia. The Malaysian Minister of Works, Datuk Shaziman, officiated the opening ceremony. Learn more here.;

Raven Industries, Inc. has announced record sales and earnings for the first quarter of its 2012 fiscal year, which ended April 30, 2011. All divisions posted strong increases in sales, driven by demand for the company's precision agriculture and engineered film products, as well as military parachutes. Daniel Rykhus, president and CEO, commented that the company is "making a concerted effort to increase capacity for [the Engineered Films Division] in the coming year." He noted that Raven has upgraded its cast extruder line to produce texturized films for geomembrane applications and that capacity for specialty film capabilities have been significantly increased.

The Business Times reports on NAUE's new Bentofix GCL factory in Malaysia. Learn more here.;

BTL has posted a video on its website of the Muscle Wall system for flood control, oil and gas containment, stormwater management, dewatering and other applications. Constructed on interlocking, stackable units of lightweight low-density polyethylene, the Muscle Wall barricades can be quickly set into place--even floated into place. Flexible liners can be draped over the walls for various containment sceneraios. View the video online. Learn more here.;

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing action plans developed by 20 electric utility facilities with 70 coal ash impoundments, describing the measures the facilities are taking to make their impoundments safer. The action plans are a response to EPA's final assessment reports on the structural integrity of these impoundments that the agency made public last May. Coal ash was brought prominently to national attention in 2008 when an impoundment holding disposed coal ash waste generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority failed, creating a massive spill in Kingston, Tennessee, that released more than 5 million cubic yards of coal ash to the surrounding area and is regarded as one of the worst environmental disasters of its kind in history. Shortly afterwards, EPA began overseeing the cleanup, as well as investigating the structural integrity of impoundments where coal ash waste is stored.

Iran has announced that it has launched its first underground natural gas storage facility. The Qom reservoir, which is located in the Sarajeh region, has the capacity to store 3.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year. Iran has the world's second largest gas reserves after Russia but has struggled for years to develop its oil and gas resources. Learn more here.;

In an "Emerging Europe" blog entry at the Wall Street Journal, Marynia Kruk reports on Poland-based natural gas firm PGNiG SA's statements regarding European regulation of shale gas extraction. The company insists that individual countries should decide on whether to institute moratoriums on the extraction of shale gas, not the Brussels-based European Parliament. As in the United State, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of rock has triggered the debate, and, in some countries, bans. Learn more here.;

From 18-21 September 2011, the 6th International Mine Closure Conference (MC 2011) will gather at the Fairmont Chateau in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. This not-for-profit, annual conference is presented annually in various parts of the world by the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) and the Centre for Land Rehabilitation (CLR). In addition to three days of technical sessions, plenary speakers, networking events and a strong trade show, one of MC 2011's highlights is its impressive suite of short courses.

TenCate Geosynthetics Americas has developed a seven-minute video clip "TenCate at Work Around the Globe" that features several innovative TenCate projects around the globe. These projects illustrate several possibilities and applications using geotextile materials, such as dewatering, steep slope reinforcement, soft soil coverage, and much more.

Mexico is considering ramping up shale gas production to support its petrochemicals sector which has traditionally used feedstocks based on crude oil, the country's energy minister said on recently. Although the prolific shales of Texas are believed to extend across the border into northern Mexico, littlehas been done to develop the deposits due to the state-controlled industry's focus on producing crude oil. Learn more here.;

The pipeline industry is continuing to grow worldwide to provide increased security of energy and water supply, and with hostile environmental conditions in many locations, the pipeline protection market is expanding to meet the requirements. Noru Tsalic, Consultant at Applied Market Information, has valued the pipe coating market at around 5 billion euros in 2009 and predicts expansion to 6.5 billion euros by 2013. Tsalic was speaking at the February 2011 annual AMI conference on Pipeline Coating in Vienna, Austria. Read more.