Front End Engineering Design
METS was involved in the FEED Stage to identify areas from the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) that had risk associated which impacted plant utillisation, operability, efficiency of beneficiation and providing solutions to overcome these obstacles while ultimately achieving a final costing before execution. METS used their expert knowledge and expertise to develop the efficient mineral processing route needed to achieve throughput target for operations.
Project Brief
Outcome
- Process Block Flow Diagrams
- Process Design Criteria (PDC)
- Process Flow Diagrams (PFD) and Mass Balance
- Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID’s)
- Mechanical Equipment List
- Layout of the overall benefication facility and sectional layout drawings
- Equipment sizing, datasheets and tender evaluation
Background
The Marillana Iron Ore Project is the principal project of the ASX listed Brockman Resources Limited. The FEED (front end engineering design) stage of the project was awarded to United Group Ltd (UGL) as the principal with METS as a sub-contractor providing expertise in the processing area and design of materials handling, crushing and screening sections. The Marillana mine site is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia approximately 100 km northwest of the township of Newman. The project is a detrital hematite and channel iron deposit (CID). The project is a 42 million tonnes per annum feed with overall plant production of 16.8 million tonnes per annum iron ore.
Project Objectives
Review of the DFS design stage of the project and modification of areas which were expected to have significant negative impacts on the plant utilisation, operability, efficiency of beneficiation and ultimately achievement of targeted throughput. Development of the optimal mineral processing route with PFD, PDC, mass balance, P&ID, mechanical equipment list, layout and engineering design.
Challenges
The preparation required for the ore to be suitable as feed ore for the beneficiation process which involved mainly washing, crushing and screening. METS investigated methods to release ore particles locked in a clay phase and also improved ore handling issues. The screening and handling of the 1 mm fines, solutions for overall process control, product handling, layout and laboratory requirments were also completed.
Our Approach
METS used their expert knowledge and expertise to develop the efficient mineral processing route needed to achieve throughput target for operations. The approach taken was:
- Additional testwork planning and interpretation
- Risk identification and mitigation by revised layout and design
- Vendor liason for equipment selection
- Generation of process documentation
- Working efficiently in collaboration with UGL to meet project deliverables
- Efficient project management
- Prepare datasheets for equipment, conveyors and evaluation of tenders