Minova Australia lends a hand at Beaconsfield
12 May 2006
In light of the successful rescue operation in Beaconsfield, Tasmania where two miners were rescued following an earthquake on April 25th, Minova are extremely proud and delighted to have played a small but integral part in the rescue operation.
Minova Australia, part of the Minova International group, was contacted in the very early stages after the miners were found, in order to potentially aid the rescue operation using grouts and injection materials that stabilise strata in such unstable situations. Matt Berry, Sales and Marketing Manager of Minova Australia, provided the initial information by telephone and was then flown to Tasmania by Beaconsfield Mine to supervise the application of Minova's product. While initial discussions pointed towards providing either a cementitious grout or chemical foam (Bevedan, Bevedol, Wilkit or Carbofill), extensive discussions lead to the request for Minova to manufacture a modified FB200 cementitious grout which would provide very specific characteristics. This included being able to flow into mullock (loose backfill material), stop the water flow into the cavity and achieve a pre determined strength within a very specific time frame.
The product was developed, mixed, tested and reformulated in the Minova Australia laboratory in Nowra by David Joyce and Chris Fox. The product was then manufactured in the plant under the 'extremely urgent' banner with several Minova employees volunteering to extend their shift in order that the product met delivery schedules. Production was completed within hours as promised and necessary as Beaconsfield mine had arranged 3 aircraft to collect the product from HMAS Albatross and Sydney Airports.
The product was tested on the mine surface using actual mine mullock on arrival at Beaconsfield, with the water ratios corrected to produce the characteristics required. Stringent trials were conducted to confirm the properties, as an incorrect application could have seriously jeopardised the rescue attempt.
Conditions were closely monitored by the mine officials throughout the operation and a series of contingencies were developed in case of any unforeseen changes. (Minova were also asked to have sufficient Carbofill on stand-by at the airport as an alternative.)
Matt Berry was asked to supervise the application of the grout at the 925 level. For the next 13 hours, grout batches were mixed and then pumped through a separate grout tube within the tube used for delivering food and water to the two trapped miners. Correct placement of the grout was achieved through the use a camera placed within the cavity which relayed pictures onto a television screen at the pumping site thus enabling direction from Matt Berry and Mine officials. It was then left to the two trapped miners, Mr Russel and Mr Webb to strategically apply the grout in the required sequence.
The combined efforts of all those involved meant that the two miners were able to walk free after two weeks trapped underground.
Garry Ashford CEO of Minova Australia said "The successful rescue of these two miners is a fantastic achievement for all involved, and Minova's intrinsic role in this successful operation makes me extremely proud of the special team we have here. Never has Minova's strapline - Solutions from Materials Technology - been more appropriate."
