Get Airborne in, it's what those flyboys n gals doIt's been like 3 weeks and things have sort of calmed down in regards the actual site and certainly in the past week a clearer picture of where the condition of the HLP is emerging.
Get a nice cup of Kona coffee, 2 cream no sugar (sugars bad for you. lol) as it's a long read.
To all ppl involved in the actual mine layout (designers) , I would bet the fact that no lives where lost by "shear" good fortune would create a new rule no "camp" facities near or below a man made containment bearm. This story could of ended a lot worse.
The current situation is that a solution is simply a structural remediation problem (env. aside) and as per report the EoR, YTG and VG haven't gone "silent",it's just I'm sure they just don't want me yapping at them... LOL
VG, YTG, EoR are looking at the 4 W's. Plus I can imagine the "slide rules" are running the numbers.
I haven't heard if any one questioning the membrane for quality and install procedures, I'm sure that's gong to be examined.
Why was the sensing equipment under the heap with no way to access contrary to spec? What was missed. It probably wasn't directly the cause but imo that needs to change.
How stable is the "sheared slip zone". Is it stable enough to get airborne over it with instrumentation to see what is happening at the original foundation ground. I bet there 100,000 +++ of document on what this looked liked at ground zero before the loss of containment.
Now as for the HLP. it is obvious by the most recent report that part of the HLP (phase one) is broken. OK Fact. But there are 3 phases?
For some light entertainment the mine with no HLP (any phase) is like your pickup truck with no engine it's not going to run. The trick is to put an engine back in, it may not be a 5.0 Coyote but for now I would settle with cobbled together 1980's 360 windsor. At least it's running... Sorry Ford fans, I'll pick on GMC later. :)
There is only one HLP BUT 3 phases. That are further "up" the mountain. So I place a question to ppl (bet there are some p. eng's here).
If phase one is not cost effective to "fix" by pulling back to stable ground phase 1 stable ground can the operation be pulled back to phase 2 or 3 laydown? It would reduce the lifetime of the mine but it also gives it a fighting chance?
So one of the big question are do you pull back on the pad to another area, stabilize the slip and slide and move on. Or do a full repair if possible.
Stabilization? Bring a ready batch plant or two in. 500,000 m3 at say 100$ m3 (at cost) should stabilze a shear wall or two...
It's the YUKON "Larger than Life"
All comments aways welcome.
best