Oyu Tolgoi (OT), located in the South Gobi Desert, Mongolia, is renowned as one of the largest and most advanced copper and gold mining operations in the world. Managed by Rio Tinto, this expansive site prioritises safety and sustainability, integrating modern technology to ensure a secure environment for its extensive workforce. OT approached MineARC Systems to bolster its underground safety protocols and improve emergency response capabilities within its vast network of tunnels and refuge chambers.
Challenges:
Oyu Tolgoi’s underground operations presented complex safety challenges, necessitating a robust system that could achieve rapid and accurate worker accountability in emergencies. Key challenges included:
- Monitoring Worker Safety in Refuge Chambers
OT required a real-time monitoring system to account for individuals within underground refuge chambers. This involved ensuring rapid response capabilities and monitoring both personnel and environmental conditions inside the chambers. - Integrating Safety Monitoring with Existing Infrastructure
Oyu Tolgoi operates its own FactoryTalk monitoring platform, which required seamless integration with any new safety solutions provided by MineARC. - Ensuring Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and Chamber Sustainability
With significant equipment demands on power supply, OT needed a solution to monitor external gas levels, guarantee prolonged chamber sustainability, and manage emergency egress.
Solutions:
MineARC’s customised solutions addressed OT’s challenges through a tailored approach, aligning with the mine’s high safety standards and enhancing overall operational resilience.
Real-Time Worker and Chamber Monitoring
MineARC’s GuardIAN Remote Chamber Monitoring (RCM) System was deployed across various refuge chambers. New chambers came fitted with the RCM system, while existing chambers were retrofitted. Key features of this solution included:
- Integrated RFID Tag Readers, CCTV Cameras, Radio, WIFI, Radio, Personnel Tracking Systems and Personnel Accounting Display to assist with real-time personnel tracking.
- Connection to OT’s underground network enabling constant communication and monitoring of chamber diagnostics.
- Integration with OT’s Emergency Management Systems to minimise the time taken to account for personnel in an emergency.
- Capabilities to monitor compressed air availability and other critical systems, allowing for immediate accounting and safety assessments during emergencies.
This comprehensive upgrade significantly improved OT’s ability to monitor both personnel and equipment in real-time, reducing response times and enhancing overall safety within the underground environment.
Seamless System Integration
To streamline safety monitoring, MineARC collaborated closely with OT’s IT team to integrate the GuardIAN system with OT’s FactoryTalk platform. MineARC software engineers, along with the OT team developed a custom API, facilitating continuous data flow between GuardIAN and FactoryTalk, thus allowing OT personnel to view all chamber diagnostics and safety data on a single platform.
This integration process involved extensive collaboration, testing, and troubleshooting, ensuring a reliable and robust solution. MineARC’s remote support further ensures consistent functionality and on-demand assistance for ongoing operations.
Enhanced Environmental and Power Monitoring
MineARC equipped OT’s refuge chambers with Node Gas Monitors to continuously assess external atmospheric conditions, providing critical data on gas levels and temperatures essential for emergency rescues and egress planning. Additionally, a custom UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) system was developed to support chamber functionality amidst increased power demands.
MineARC’s engineering team conducted a full power audit, resulting in the design and installation of a UPS system with additional batteries and charge controllers, ensuring prolonged chamber sustainability even under heavy usage.