PROJECTS

UNDERGROUND MINE DEWATERING

Client: Gold Mine

Location: Goldfields

Capabilities Used

• Engineering Design
• Project (Tendering & Procurement) Management
• Site Execution (Commissioning)

Rapallo was engaged by a Junior Gold Mining company to dewater a disused underground mine to allow for re-entry and exploration.

The overall mine dewatering system consisted of two submersible bore pumps lowered 190m down into the existing mine vent rise, powered by two diesel generators, in order to pump mine water to the surface manifold. From the surface, approximate 4km of pipework and valving was installed along a bunded pipe routes to enable the water to be discharged into three available open pits for water storage. Assisted evaporation systems were installed in two locations to aid the limited available water supply capacities.

Rapallo was the overall engineering lead for the work, not only did our team schedule and manage the overall works of the project but we also did the Engineering design of the complete pumping system including:

• Re-establishment of the vent rise collar
• Pipework design, pump calculations
• Design of the bunded pipe route
• Design of scour pits
• Valving selection
• Assisted evaporation calculations

Additionally, Rapallo managed the pipework, valving and pumping suppliers, the entire tendering process, contract negotiations, and the mobilisation of all staff to site. Finally we also provided support throughout the entire construction process and managed the commissioning on site. The project was completed successfully on a very tight timeline to meet client objectives, with the system commissioning completed and many of the people involved flying home on Christmas eve!

REDEVELOPMENT OF GOLD MINE AND PROCESSING PLANT

Client: Gold Mine

Location: Goldfields

Capabilities Used

• Lead EPCM consultant
• Project Management
• Site Execution

Rapallo was engaged by our client as the lead EPCM contractor to carry out the feasibility study and execution works to re-establish the a Gold Mining Operations to the nameplate rating of 750,000tpa following a significant period of closure. Rapallo’s scope included approximately $35M of work. The project and Rapallo’s scope covered the entire site, including:

• The Processing plant
• Haul roads & Airstrip
• Power supply & Communications
• Mine dewatering & Water supply
• Surface workshop & Camp facilities

Rapallo provided the overall Project Management; Initial inspection and assessment of existing equipment; Cost estimating; Specification, tendering of vendor equipment; Engineering design and drafting; Management of vendor packages; Supply of general construction labour; and management of subcontractor labour on site.

VESSEL INSPECTIONS

Client: Gas Fired Power Station

Location: Kimberly Region

Capabilities Used

• Project Management
• Plant & Machinery Inspections
• Assett Integrity Engineering

Ensuring vessels meet their compliance criteria, are safe to operate, and aren’t going to fail at an inopportune moment are one reason our client consistently asks us year after year to perform all their vessel inspections In a single week Rapallo inspectors completed over 50 inspections in the following areas:

• Broome and surrounds
• Derby Power House
• Halls Creek
• Fitzroy Crossing
• Kununurra region

Rapallo stores the history and reports of all vessels we inspect in our cloud based inspection platform ‘Trojan’, this means that when it comes to performing the inspections we are able to review easily, identify high risk areas and work in a quick and efficient manner to ensure we can get as many inspections done as possible in a short window allowing, when combined with our supporting team of engineers, and project management expertise this meant that work we do for our clients is efficient saving them time and money.

SUSTAINING CAPITAL PROJECTS

Client: Copper Refinery

Location: South Australia

Capabilities Used

• Engineering Secondments
• Site Execution
• Project Engineering

Rapallo provided technical and project engineering support on multiple capital projects involving the following equipment:

• Process Plant including piping and pressure vessels
• Cranes
• Static Structures
• Pumps and other mechanical equipment

Support was provided through a mix of client secondments and remote support, with a total of 10 engineers involved. All work was completed to a high technical standard, with Rapallo engineers assisting the client to manage their asset with exceptional project outcomes.

PRESSURE VESSEL COMPLIANCE SUPPORT

Client: Trucking Company

Location: Perth

Capabilities Used

• Engineering Support
• Legislative Compliance
• Registered Plant Management

Rapallo was pulled in to assist our client after they decided to take on new capabilities working with cryogenic pressure equipment. Brining in tankers from China meant much of the required documentation was lacking. Rapallo was able to create custom documents to fit into our client’s quality and safety management system and ensure they met their compliance requirements. The following were just a few of the documents provided.

• Roadside repair procedure
• Detailed risk assessment
• Maintenance procedure
• Training material for maintenance staff

After various site visits and meetings with the client, Rapallo team members were able to make sure that everything provided fit the requirements of the client, and that all ongoing works would be able to be completed in a safe and efficient manner resulting in a better working environment and ongoing cost savings for our client, whilst also removing the need to worry about compliance.

MINE SITE GUARDING AUDIT

Client: Gold Mine

Location: Goldfields

Capabilities Used

• Engineering Assessments
• Compliance With Australian Standards
• Risk Assessment

Rapallo regularly completes third party audits of plant and equipment including guarding, mobile and fixed cranes, mobile and fixed plant as well as registered and classified plant.

For this project, Rapallo was engaged by a gold mining company to carry out an audit of the client’s plant guarding in response to a Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) inspection. The guarding was audited for compliance against the Australian standard AS4024 – Safety of machinery, the requirements of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations (MSIR) as well as the client’s relevant standards.

The audit included the entire processing plant with a focus on conveyors and other rotating items of plant.

• Conveyor guarding.
• Pump guarding.
• Processing plant equipment and reagent area guarding.
• Workshop and plant laboratory guarding.
• Tails and water services area Guarding.

Rapallo completed the audit, providing the client with a detailed report that clearly defined the issues and highlighted exactly what actions were required to comply with relevant standards and legislation. The included risk assessment allowed the client to easily identify and prioritize the highest risk items.

Multiple Rapallo personnel were able to mobilise to site and complete the audit on an accelerated schedule to meet objectives and deadlines set by DMIRs for the completion of the audit.

CYANIDE TANK RECOMMISSIONING

Client: Gold Mine

Location: Goldfields

Capabilities Used

• Project Management
• Engineering Assessments
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Site Execution (Welding Services)
• Material Identification and Examination

Rapallo was consulted to inspect, examine, and assist with recommissioning an existing cyanide reagent tank. The cyanide tank was initially empty and had been removed from service. Rapallo was tasked to interrogate select deficiencies identified within the tank internals; and investigate further to then define remedial actions and finally implement the actions to enable timely tank recommissioning.

The client discussed that an initial independent inspection reported that the internal welds likely displayed preliminary onset of stress corrosion cracking at the weld heat affected zone. The uncoated steel tank had an unidentified duration of service, and limited original manufacturing information available.

Rapallo and the client identified and pursued a logical sequence of investigation. A variety of techniques were used as part of the investigation including:

• Magnetic particle inspection ( MPI )
• Phased Array ( PA )
• Time of flight diffraction ultrasonics ( TOFD )
• Positive material identification ( PMI )

This allowed our engineers to create areport with recommended actions that categorised and prioritised repairs. This enabled the tank to be recommissioned whist ongoing repairs are planned and executed.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Isotainer Structural Damage Remediation

Client: Industrial Gas Company

Location: Fremantle

Capabilities Used

• Project Management
• Structural Engineering
• NDT Examination

The Isotainer started its journey in Europe and was en route to Victoria when other cargo was stored atop its frame causing it to buckle. At a scheduled stopover at Fremantle Port, the shipping vessel captain noticed significant structural damage to the Isotainer. It was deemed it was no longer safe for continued transport and was offloaded.

At that time there was no facility in the state of Western Australia that could safely decant the liquid from the vessel to facilitate unimpeded structural repairs. In situ structural frame repairs had to be completed on the fully laden pressure vessel, carrying 35 tonnes of SO2.

Rapallo accepted the challenge and coordinated the management of all technical logistics, project management, including stakeholder alignment of international ownership and regulatory bodies, developed a scope of work and subsequently, coordinated, and supervised all repair activities. Key deliverables included developing weld procedures, compliance documents, Inspection & test plans, emergency response plans, exclusion and contamination zones and implementation of many unique safety measures to ensure all risks were appropriately controlled.

The frame repair was managed successfully, with the effective transformation of the Isotainer into a standard load that regulators would accept as fit for road transport. Rapallo then stipulated road transport equipment requirements and sourced a suitable transport operator to ensure the repaired ISO Tank was properly transported from Perth to Victoria.