SITE WATER TREATMENT
Magcobar Mine
Arkansas
The barite mine ceased operation more than 20 years ago. Since then, surface water has steadily filled the open pit mine on the site with a 450-foot deep pool of acidic water, which contains dissolved metals and has a pH of approximately 2.7. If left idle, the water from the mine pit would overtop within the next few years, releasing water into a nearby creek and ultimately into the river downstream.
Attorneys for two of the site’s owners contacted Jim McLaughlin because they had heard about the treatment process we had developed for a similar site in Colorado. Mr. McLaughlin reviewed the work plans prepared by several environmental consultants, and ultimately, designed a water treatment plant that removes metals. Specifically the design work includes a two-stage, 1500 GPM, metals precipitation process for treatment of pit-lake waters. The plant removes a variety of metals including manganese, zinc, iron, and nickel.
Petro Canada Resources USA
Gillette, WY
Wild Turkey
MWE was retained by Petro Canada USA to evaluate treatment options and design a treatment plant and related facilities for a coal bed methane product.
A high recovery reverse osmosis process with brine evaporation was selected. A 6 mgd influent flow is treated to reduce sodium from approximately 700 ppm to 300 ppm. Recovery rates range from 96 to 98%. The plant supports over 100 wells and 40 miles of collection piping. The plant has produced continuously for 2 years.
Mitchell Draw
Based on the success of the Wild Turkey project, MWE was retained to design a second plant at a similar site. Ion exchange, reverse osmosis and electro dialysis processes were evaluated. 22.5 acres of brine evaporation ponds are now being constructed and final negotiations for equipment purchase are in progress. The plant will treat 3,000 gpm, primarily for sodium reduction.