Mortimer, T, McNicol, J, Keefer, P & Ludlow, W 2011, 'Design, construction and operation of a partially lined dense phase ash storage facility constructed from mine waste', in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Paste 2011: Proceedings of the 14th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 339-348, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1104_30_Mortimer
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1104_30_Mortimer/)
Abstract: CS Energy’s Kogan Creek Coal Mine located in the Surat Basin in Queensland, services the 750MW coal fired, Kogan Creek Power Station. Strip mining generates large volumes of mine waste which is typically, used to construct waste dumps. Recent work at the mine has focused on using mine waste to construct an ash storage facility to store ash that is piped over 5 km from the power station as a dense phase slurry. The use of mine waste to construct the ash storage facility provides significant cost and time savings. However, a range of design, construction and operation issues needed to be addressed to operate a facility of this type.
This paper describes some of the key design, construction and operation considerations for the ash storage facility. Design considerations include the ash rheology for dense phase pumping on a continuous basis, pipeline transport through environmentally sensitive areas, addressing the stability of the embankment and the use of a partial LLDPE geomembrane lining system to reduce the risk of seepage from the storage. Construction considerations include post construction (pre ash deposition) floor treatment to reduce potential settlement. Operational considerations include ash mixing and pumping, pressure and density control, beach landform development, water management of the decant pond and progressive rehabilitation of the final landform.