CLIENT: Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.
PROJECT: Pinos Altos Mine Bulk Sampling Plant

PROJECT TYPE: Brownfield
LOCATION: Mexico
COMMODITY: Gold
SERVICE SCOPE: EPC (Lump Sum Turnkey)

THE CHALLENGE

Our client commissioned Halyard to engineer, procure and construct a sample plant for their exploration program in Chihuahua, Mexico.  There were several design challenges for Halyard to overcome including designing the modular plant to withstand severe wind loads of up to 150 km/h and high seismic activity in the area, all the while designing the plant to be easily dismantled and put onto flat bed trailers for transport.  This meant the design of the plant had to be robust but at the same time versatile.

The client required the sample plant on site and commissioned in a short timespan, therefore, Halyard had to use their expertise to ensure procurement was done expeditiously, discipline engineering designs were completed in parallel, and the plant could be constructed and tested locally prior to shipping to Mexico.

THE SOLUTION

To meet the tight deadline, Halyard applied their fast-track project methodology which entails progressing engineering in all disciplines concurrently even if all of the required information to proceed is not yet available.  Halyard’s engineering and design team’s experience allows them to make certain low-risk assumptions for designs and is capable of adapting to changes that may arise once firm information is available from vendors, clients, etc.

To eliminate the need for a large foundation to cater for the high wind and seismic loads, a clever arrangement of compound structures was used to support the feed conveyor and sample tower jointly.  Typically, these structural elements would be separated to simplify the design of the support steel, however, to ensure the sample plant takes up a small footprint and remains relatively portable, this design technique was implemented.

To ensure ease of reassembly on site, Halyard designed all of the electrical cable connections to the motors using quick-connects.  This meant that when the cables for far-reaching equipment such as the belt feeder, conveyors, etc. needed to be disconnected, an electrician was not required to disconnect wires at the terminals of motors – an operator can simply disconnect the cable using a basic socket connection.

ACHIEVEMENTS/HIGHLIGHTS

Halyard successfully designed, built, commissioned and factory-tested the plant with Agnico Eagle representatives present, in Toronto – on time and within budget.

Upon dismantling and shipping the sample plant to the client’s site in Mexico, Halyard engineers were present on site to assist with reassembly and recommissioning.  The on site installation went smoothly and there was ample time left to train the operators on the function and maintenance of their new sample plant.