BAUER AG

On 17th June 2019, BAUER Maschinen GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, together with a joint venture partner successfully completed the first 228 m cutter bulk sample on FalCon project in Canada. This depth has never been reached by a trench cutter in any commercial application worldwide before and proves that Bauer cutter technology cannot only be used in specialist foundation engineering, but is also suitable for the exploration and mining industry. The FalCon project of Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. (Rio Tinto) and Star Diamond Corporation aims to prove the commercial viability of the Fort a la Corne kimberlite fields in Saskatchewan in Canada. Due to the low grade of the kimberlites, Rio Tinto decided to use Bauer trench cutter technology to provide large-volume, high quality kimberlite samples for the final evaluation of the project in regards to diamond content and recovered diamond quality.

A BAUER BC 50 cutter on a BAUER MC 128 duty-cycle crane is used for bulk sampling to a maximum depth of 250 m (Figure 1). In addition to the cutter and the base carrier, BAUER Maschinen GmbH supplied a BE 550 desanding plant and other accessories from its branch BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems. The equipment was delivered to site on time and tested in September 2018. After a long winter break operation started end of May 2019. The kimberlite is washed and bagged into bulk bags for further evaluation in multiple steps by the experts of Rio Tinto. The kimberlite on the FalCon project is covered by approximately 120 m of overburden which poses a significant additional challenge to the project.

Bauer together with its local joint venture partner, Nuna Logistics Ltd. from Edmonton, has now achieved a milestone and successfully completed the first cutter bulk sample to a depth of 228 m. “Groundbreaking, in more ways than one, this is a significant milestone in using proven technology for a very different application. For us it means that we will be able to make important exploration decisions on what has been, one of the most challenging diamond evaluation projects in the industry. We look forward to continuing working with Bauer to embed this technology and other new innovations in our programme,” says Gary Hodgkinson, Project Director at FalCon.

Under the present contract Bauer will execute several more bulk samples in 2019 on the FalCon project with the option to be extended into 2020.

Further information:
Bauer GmbH
www.bauer.de

Located in the idyllic Koenigs-winkel region between Fuessen, Pfronten and Schwangau in South Germany, the Forggensee lake stretches over an area of about 15.2 km². It is Bavaria’s fifth largest lake and Germany’s largest water reservoir by surface area. The reservoir through which the River Lech flows generates electricity and provides flood protection from the water produced from melting snow in the Alps. Completed in the 1950s, the Rosshaupten barrage forms the northern dam of the lake and at the same time provides the inflow for the hydroelectric power plant, generating 45 MW of hydroelectric power from a drop height of 35.4 m.

To prepare the power plant and thus the flood protection for the future, work commenced in May 2018 to improve the dam’s watertightness. For this reason, the power plant operator Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH commissioned BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, to construct a diaphragm wall of 13,500 m² to seal the dam (Figure 1). Special challenges for this project: the diaphragm wall can only be constructed from the 11 m wide, very narrow dam crest and is not located in the middle of the dam, but unfavorably offset on the side of the dam crest. In order to be able to carry out the order despite the difficult parameters, the construction of the diaphragm wall will be carried out with the help of an HDS-T turnable hose drum system from Bauer.

The 1 m wide and 70 m deep diaphragm wall is being constructed in two stages. First the upper 40 m of the dam body will be excavated using a DHG diaphragm wall grab on a BAUER MC 64 duty-cycle crane. The remaining 30 m below the actual dam fill will be removed using a cutter BC 40.2 on a MC 96 duty-cycle crane, because “the natural local bedrock consists of many and often very thin layers of clay stone, marl clay and sandstone.

Another special feature of the project is the guide wall for the execution of the diaphragm wall work. A Mixed-in-Place wall approximately 550 m wide and 8 m deep has already been installed this summer using cast-in-situ concrete casing to ensure optimal guidance of the machines during work. The work on the diaphragm wall by Bauer will also be carried out seven days a week, in day and night shifts, i. e. 24 h/d, and should be completed in spring 2019.

 

Further information:

BAUER AG

www.bauer.de

In North Yorkshire, one of the UK’s deepest underground mines is being constructed by Sirius Minerals Plc over the next five years. The mine will extract polyhalite, a high-quality organic fertiliser consisting of the minerals calcium, magnesium, sulphur and potassium. The project is unique because all mining and transportation operations will take place completely underground, once the Woodsmith Mine is completed. This means that polyhalite can be extracted with minimal impact on the region’s tourism and the North York Moors National Park.

As part of the 2.5 bn € project, BAUER Technologies Ltd., a subsidiary of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, has been contracted to build circular diaphragm wall shafts between 60 and 120 m deep (Figure 1). Construction of the diaphragm wall for the service shaft began in December 2017. Among other equipment, three BAUER BC 40 cutters on MC 96 and MC 128 duty-cycle cranes (Figure 2), and three complex BE 500 and BE 550 desanding plants from BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems are being used in the project. The bentonite suspension is enriched with a specially developed polymer-based additive to minimize losses into the fractured and porous strata.

Different measurement methods are being combined to produce a clear 3D model of the diaphragm walling works using Building Information Modeling (BIM). This will ensure that the required maximum vertical deviation of 200 mm in 120 m is not exceeded. Once Bauer Technologies has completed the diaphragm shafts, in a follow on operation the production and service shafts will be sunk to a final depth of 1,500 m by a mining company.

Bauer Technologies has made a name for itself in the UK, thanks to the success several extremely complex and technically challenging projects has been involved in. These include specialist foundation engineering works for the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station in London and work for the important Crossrail infrastructure project.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

With the completely redesigned BAUER BG 15 H (Figure 1), Bauer Maschinen GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, is breaking new ground in the ValueLine. This state-of-the-art innovation specifically fulfills the requirements of a functional and cost-effective machine in the small drilling rig segment and also scores with extremely compact transport dimensions. Increased efficiency, increased mobility, increased flexibility, increased comfort – the BAUER BG 15 H is a clear statement of functionality and, at the same time, offers all the advantages needed to face the challenges of small construction sites.

With the new generation of drilling rigs, Bauer also continues to rely on the 186 kW Caterpillar diesel engines for strong performance and low fuel consumption. The optimally adjusted hydraulic system has already proved itself in practical deployment with its “big-sister-rig” BAUER BG 26 and has a direct impact on fuel consumption. This provides the BG 15 H with high levels of efficiency during daily drilling operations. A potential drilling depth of up to 21 m in single-layer winch operation significantly reduces wear. And even with up to 4 m long drill strings during cased Kelly drilling, the innovation from Bauer makes a giant leap forward in terms of efficiency.

The BAUER BG 15 H is available in two different configurations and is, therefore, extremely flexible and versatile. The standard model, e. g., not only offers a drilling depth of 32 m but also the option of “drilling under the mast.” In addition, the “upgraded version” provides customers with the option of a drilling depth of up to 44 m and the CFA drilling process.

An absolute highlight is the BT 50 base carrier, completely redesigned and re-manufactured by Bauer, which now offers a whole range of benefits even for small machines. The integrated service platform allows easy access to all maintenance and service points in the uppercarriage and, at the same time, meets the highest standards in terms of occupational safety. Combined with a transport width of just 2.5 m, this system is unique throughout the world.

Other key areas of redesign focus on operator comfort. Thanks to the new operating concept, all essential work functions can be controlled via joystick. Displays, operational controls and the air-sprung operator seat form an ergonomic unit. But the BG 15 H also brings a new level of comfort to servicing. A deep center tunnel guarantees a transport height of just 3.3 m and also serves as a service tunnel. This means that all maintenance and service points can be accessed conveniently from both sides.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

MAT Mischanlagentechnik GmbH, Immenstadt/Germany, has been delivering state-of-the-art mixing and separation technology for over 25 years. Since 1st April 2018 the branch office of BAUER Maschinen GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, has been operating under the new name BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems, underscoring its affiliation with the international BAUER Group.

“We are now merging even more closely with the Group, and this will also be reflected in our name. We are repositioning ourselves, and we’re doing it together with Bauer,” says Alexander Konz, branch manager at MAT. With the new name, the company will take the next step in its future strategy. This will include strong growth in the international markets as well as significant expansion of the company’s tunneling business.

In addition, BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems plans to further expand its core business of developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art mixing and separation equipment for challenging specialist foundation engineering and tunneling projects (Figure 1). By doing this and expanding the sales and service network, the company will be in an even better position to tap the full potential of local markets in the future, says Konz. “As a global player, Bauer has production and sales locations in numerous countries around the world. I’m confident that both our customers and employees will benefit further from our increased cooperation,” he says.

Outwardly, the most visible change will come in the form of a new logo (Figure 2). Also, the company’s web address changed to www.bauer-mat.de (BAUER/Si.)

Whether for large-scale infrastructure projects such as metro stations, or for the sealing and strengthening of large dams, Bauer cutters are used around the world for complex specialist foundation engineering projects. In Saskatchewan/Canada a Bauer cutter will soon be used for a special task as part of diamond exploration – and will set a new depth record there. The BAUER BC 50 cutter on a MC 128 duty-cycle crane, equipped with the HDS 250 hose drum system, will be the first cutter in the world that will cut to a depth of 250 m for commercial purpose (Figure 1). These depths have never been reached before in any active project.

Bauer together with their local joint-venture partner, Nuna Logistics Ltd., will aid Rio Tinto with exploration to research for diamonds in the kimberlite pipes. By using the cutter, large volumes can be excavated from great depths, which then allows for better assessment of the diamond content and quality of the deposits.

In addition to the cutter and the base carrier, BAUER Maschinen GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, will supply BE-550 desanding equipment from its branch BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems and other accessories. Bauer will build and deliver the equipment by mid-2018 – work is planned to begin within the year. The execution of several individual holes that are currently planned will continue into 2019. If the expectations of Rio Tinto are fulfilled by the deposits and technology, then the scope of the work could significantly expand.

Further information/Weitere Informationen:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

In October 2017 the BAUER Group, Schrobenhausen/Germany, was awarded the contract to expand the world’s biggest industrial constructed wetland in the Sultanate of Oman on behalf of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the leading oil and gas exploration and production company in the country (Figure 1). The plant’s first stage was completed in 2011 by the local subsidiary of BAUER Resources GmbH (BAUER Nimr LLC). The flagship project for treating contaminated water from oil extraction in the Sultanate of Oman in Nimr has won numerous international awards for excellence in sustainability, innovation and safety.

The innovative wetland treatment technology is unique in utilizing gravity-flow and natural processes to remove a heavy load of hydrocarbons from the water. The facility is remarkable for its size, covering 10.5 km². In addition to the excellent treatment performance, with the hydrocarbon content in water being reduced to below 0.5 ppm at the outlet of the wetlands, almost 95 % of the crude oil entering the facility is recovered or removed without the use of electricity or chemicals. Following an expansion in 2014, 115,000 m³ can now run through the plant every day. Furthermore, the desert site has been converted into a home to more than 140 species of animals, including a multitude of birds, fish and reptiles.

The commissioned expansion will now see the plant’s capability being expanded by 60,000 m³/d to reach a total capacity of 175,000 m³/d. BAUER Nimr LLC will be responsible for designing, constructing and operating the plant until 2044. The entire project is worth over 160 m €, whereof the construction works amount to about one-quarter of the total volume. Construction will be finished by the end of 2019, after which Bauer will operate the plant on a 25-year basis.

Further information:
Bauer AG
www.bauer.de

The Schwarze Pumpe industrial area in the city of Spremberg in Brandenburg covers a total of 720 ha and includes the former industrial site Spreewitz in the neighboring Free State of Saxony. Today, around 80 companies with some 4,250 employees are located in the area where lignite has been refined into briquettes, coke and city gas and converted into electricity in a power station since the mid-1950s. The gas combination plant Schwarze Pumpe, which was turned into the company Energiewerke Schwarze Pumpe AG in 1990, was one of the key pillars of the GDR’s energy industry. On the former grounds of the plant, various hazardous materials have however made their way into the soil over the decades, principally through the process of refining lignite. In addition to benzene, an amount of monoaromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) as well as polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH) and hydrocarbons (HC) can be found. The soil contamination, which is extremely high in part, still acts as a source of groundwater pollution.

To remove this contamination, Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (LMBV), Senftenberg/Germany, recently commissioned BAUER Resources GmbH, Schrobenhausen/Germany, with its Bauer Umwelt business unit and the company Lobbe Industrieservice GmbH & Co KG, Duisburg/Germany, as JV partner to build and operate a vacuum treatment plant as well as replace or decontaminate the soil as necessary (Figure 1). All of the specialist foundation engineering and soil exchange measures will be executed by BAUER Resources GmbH and BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH. The work starts in November this year and should be completed by 2022.

As well as demolishing the existing superstructure on an area totaling around 25,000 m², Bauer will also produce six primary sheet pile walls with an overall length of 1,340 m and depth of up to 20 m as well as 147 sheet pile boxes (11.4 x 9.7 m) with a depth of up to 15 m. Every one of the six sections will be immured by a back-anchored primary sheet pile wall. Then, the entire section will be excavated 4.5 m below ground level. Following that, a working platform will be created from where the sheet pile boxes will be inserted. These will form the secondary sheet pile wall and will be secured with a reinforcement brace.

A telescopic excavator will be used to replace a total of over 281,500 t of contaminated soil down to 14 m below ground level. Because the contaminant benzene is an extremely volatile medium, the excavation will be carried out with continuous air extraction and purification. The contaminated groundwater, which to some extent is a mixture of oil and water, levels out in the sheet pile boxes and can be siphoned off during the excavation. The contaminated soil is taken to the treatment plant built and run by Lobbe and returned after it has been treated. As well as a BAUER BG 20 H drilling rig, an RG 22 and RG 16 from RTG Rammtechnik GmbH and a KR 806 anchor drilling rig from KLEMM Bohrtechnik GmbH will also be used among other equipment.

With over 25 years of experience, BAUER Resources GmbH’s Bauer Umwelt business unit is one of the leading specialists in site remediation, both in the domestic market and internationally. An expert in pollution reduction, the business unit offers a diverse range of services for all environmental issues within German-speaking Europe and neighboring countries. Organized by region, BAUER Resources GmbH concentrates on projects across the entire world together with its subsidiaries and has extensive skills in the fields of water treatment, automation, environmental remediation and waste management, drilling technologies as well as well-drilling and reed-bed treatment plants.

Further information/Weitere Informationen:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

For 36 days, hundreds of rescue workers fought for the lives of numerous buried miners in a gypsum mine in the Shandong province of eastern China. On 29th January 2016, four of them were eventually saved through a vertical emergency shaft, not least thanks to the drilling rigs from BAUER Maschinen Group that were in operation (Figure 1).

The disaster in the gypsum mine which buried 29 miners occurred on 25th December 2015. Eleven of them were rescued immediately, though one died during the accident. 13 miners are still missing. Four miners were able to escape to an enclosed space and signaled from there that they were alive. During the very first days after the collapse of the mine, a small supply hole was drilled so that food and clothing could be supplied.

The necessary rescue equipment was also sent straight to the mine. The most important system was a deep drilling rig which, under the type designation PRAKLA RB-T 90, was designed and built in Germany a few years ago for application in China during mine collapses; six machines were delivered. The concept was developed in the Bauer Equipment segment. No low-loader is required; instead, the unit is constructed on a trailer with four axles and only needs a tractor rig. This means that the machine can be put into operation quickly (Figure 2). The China Rescue Organisation holds the units at various locations in China in kind of standby mode. When it was required at the end of December, the drilling rig was ready for immediate use after a year on standby.

Two additional Bauer units were also in operation to drill the emergency shaft, a BG 26 and a BG 38. With these, pre-drilled holes were bored, before the RB-T 90 rig drilled down more than 200 m. The difficult nature of the geology posed a large technical challenge for the rescue mission, as the ground was very instable due to the various layers of material, consistencies, water inflow and sink-holes. At first, the hole could not be stabilized and in the end, casings had to be used to support the hole.

A large team from Bauer was in operation, which comprised among others of many specialists who were already involved in the development of the RB-T 90 deep drilling rig.

Further information/Weitere Informationen:
Bauer AG
www.bauer.de