Our Clients

BHP Billiton

HydroConcept developed guidelines on the development and communication of conceptual hydrogeological models, in support of BHP Billiton’s Strategic Environmental Assessment for long-term iron-ore mining in the Eastern Pilbara. In addition, technical support and advice was provided into the formulation of ecohydrological assessment methodologies at local and regional scales.

Consolidated Minerals

HydroConcept was subcontracted by Emerson Stewart Consulting to undertake a desk-top assessment of groundwater resources to supply a proposed manganese mine in the Ripon Hills area of the Eastern Pilbara. The assessment identified a number of prospective targets for groundwater investigation within fractured- or fissured-rock aquifers associated with the Pinjian Chert Breccia and upper portion of the Carawine Dolomite.

Crosslands Resources Ltd

Peer review – HydroConcept completed peer reviews to assess the robustness and validity of water resource studies related to the Byro sub-basin, Murchison Palaeochannel and Integrated Waste Landform. The review highlighted some deficiencies and areas for improvement, which were considered in future work programs to provide added confidence in the final water resource assessment.

Water Manager – Seth Johnson was integrated into the project team for the Jack Hill’s Iron Ore Mine Expansion as Water Manager being responsible for the securing of sufficient groundwater resources (37 GL/year) over the 30 years of mine life. This involved the development of the groundwater assessment methodology; development of business plans for budget allocation; supervision and technical direction of the $7 million groundwater investigation; resolution of the mine water balance; and reporting of the Whole-of-Mine Water Strategy. He is still involved in the project providing technical support, annual reporting and maintaining connection with Government agencies.

Hydrogeological characterisation of Murchison Palaeochannel – HydroConcept undertook a full reassessment of lithological logs from 90 drill holes, as the basis for mapping the hydrostratigraphy of the Murchison Palaeochannel. A regional appreciation of the location and geometry of the palaeochannel was achieved with the spatial resolution of the Murchison Palaeochannel, as a deeply-incised palaeovalley of up to 160 m depth beneath the modern-day Murchison River.

Fortescue Metals Group

Water Management Course – HydroConcept was commissioned to develop a three-day training course that was adapted and designed to meet the water management challenges across Fortescue’s Pilbara mining operations. More than 200 members of Fortescue’s water management team took part in the training on the fundamentals of groundwater management and the application of hydrogeology, primarily in the mining setting. The course was later expanded to include members of Fortescue’s environmental, geology and mine planning teams.

The course comprised three days of theory and practical exercises undertaken in a small group environment. The key objective was genuine involvement and engagement through the provision of examples and data drawn from Fortescue’s operations and project sites. Feedback on the course was extremely positive with average scores of 4.5 out of 5 – its success can be further emphasised by one respondent writing that “I enjoyed the course so much that I want to become a hydrogeologist”.

Peer reviews – Seth Johnson has been engaged as an independent, peer reviewer to assess the robustness and validity of hydrogeological conceptual and numerical groundwater models relating to Christmas Creek, Cloudbreak and Solomon mine sites.

Jupiter Mines

HydroConcept undertook an alternative water supply options assessment for the proposed Mount Ida Magnetite Project near Menzies. The desktop assessment provided the necessary information about alternative low-salinity water sources, and securing of these resources under the appropriate tenure.

A total of eleven alternative water supply options with potential to provide up to 10 GL per year and total dissolved solids content (TDS) of less than 20,000 mg/L were identified, as either being capable of solely or in part contributing to the Project’s water requirements. These options included the utilisation of flooded pit lakes in abandoned mines and a number of groundwater resource targets.

Mount Gibson Iron Limited

HydroConcept was approached to provide a review of the groundwater monitoring network and sampling program on Koolan Island. The focus was to assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of monitoring bore network, with respect to seawater intrusion and whether the network is adequate owing to the recent decommissioning of some monitoring bores.

Peak Resources

Subcontracted by Emerson Stewart Consulting, HydroConcept completed a desktop assessment of groundwater resources to meet the process water requirements of the Ngualla Rare Earth Project in western Tanzania. The assessment involved the identification of the most prospective aquifers in the vicinity of the project area, as the basis for developing future groundwater investigations.

Despite the desire to access nearby water resources, the assessment suggested that local groundwater and surface water resources within 20 km of the proposed mine would be insufficient. It was therefore recommended that consideration be given to the development of a water pipeline from Lake Rukwa.

Reed Resources

HydroConcept was approached to provide independent peer review of Reed Resources’ hydrogeological investigations. The review provided a reasonable level of confidence to Reed Resources, Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) and Department of Water that there were sufficient groundwater resources for the Barrambie Vanadium Project at an abstraction rate of 2.5 GL/yr.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore

Seth Johnson was engaged as an independent, peer reviewer to assess the robustness and validity of hydrogeological conceptual and numerical groundwater models relating to Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Marandoo, Nammuldi and Silvergrass mining projects.

Water Corporation

Subcontracting through Emerson Stewart Consulting, HydroConcept assessed the impact of saline discharge from the Collie River on groundwater resources within the Collie Basin. The study showed that there was substantial saline groundwater migration from Chicken Creek 4 mine void resulting in gradual deterioration of groundwater quality and warranted remediation.

Stockland

Subcontracting through Emerson Stewart Consulting, HydroConcept provided hydrogeological support in the completion of groundwater investigations to facilitate appropriate urban planning design at Banjup, near Jandakot.

A variety of groundwater investigation techniques were employed including ground-based geophysics (Electrical Resistivity Imaging and Ground-Penetrating Radar); lithological sampling using a sonic-coring rig; particle-size distribution analysis; discrete aquifer testing; and the integrating of automated water level measurement. This integrated approach produced a robust appreciation of the hydrostratigraphy and hydrogeology, which formed the basis of numerical groundwater flow modelling.

The assessment suggested that the ‘coffee sand’ horizon beneath the site has potential to mitigate impacts and prevent contamination of the groundwater resource. This provided confidence to the Department of Water and Department of Planning that the site could be developed will negligible impact on the groundwater resource.

Bulla Bulla Pty Ltd

HydroConcept Pty Ltd completed a H2 groundwater resource assessment on the Bulla Bulla property, which is about 30 km south of Moora within the Gingin Groundwater Area. The focus of the investigation was to confirm adequate groundwater resources in the surficial aquifer related to the Capitela Palaeochannel. Prior to this investigation, the hydrogeology and aquifer distribution in this part of the Perth Basin was poorly understood.

The groundwater assessment concludes that there would be no long-term impacts on the resource, existing users and the environment associated with proposed groundwater abstraction. The Department of Water agreed with this conclusion issuing a groundwater entitlement of 1.93 GL/yr from the Capitela Palaeochannel.

Bullagee Pastoral Company

HydroConcept completed a H2 groundwater resource assessment on the Koojan Downs property, which is about 30 km south of Moora within the Gingin Groundwater Area. The drilling and aquifer testing confirmed that there were sufficient groundwater resources in the Mirrabooka aquifer to meet project requirements. The assessment indicated that there would be minimal impacts on the resource, existing users and the environment associated with proposed groundwater abstraction. The full allocation of 1.80 GL/yr was issued by the Department of Water.

Department of Water

Water Resource Training – PowerPoint presentations were developed on groundwater hydrogeology, assessment of groundwater resources and challenges for the future. These presentations were delivered at a number of separate training workshops to Department of Water staff.

Groundwater assessment of the Hamersley Range – HydroConcept was engaged to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the groundwater resources associated with valley-fill and channel-iron deposits of the Hamersley Range, Pilbara. The project involves the development of a hydrogeological map and associated GIS database; identification and assessment of potable water supply targets; and recommendations for water resource development in support of ongoing development associated with the Pilbara cities between Onslow and Karratha.

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

HydroConcept was approached to provide an independent review and assessment of the known hydrogeological and hydrological information relating to the Fortescue Marsh in the Central Pilbara. The review evaluated the potential impacts of a modified groundwater regime from proposed mining activities on marsh vegetation, which provides habitat for threatened and migratory species listed under the EPBC Act.

It was found that the Samphire and Mulga vegetation, as well as ponds within the Marsh itself, appear to be largely dependent on surface water flow and frequent flooding related to rainfall events. As such, the maintaining of surface water runoff / flow and managing the modification of drainage lines was most important for habitat preservation.

Geoscience Australia

HydroConcept supported groundwater investigations and subsequent interpretations undertaken by Geoscience Australia in the palaeodrainages across the Murchison Province, as part of the National Water Commission (NWC)-funded palaeovalley study. The investigation confirmed the presence of a sandy alluvial aquifer, up to 200 m thick, that contains significant volumes of fresh to brackish groundwater resources.