In a move to green the industry, AMC launches innovative products and equipment to minerals drilling market.

On 19 March drilling fluids and products company AMC, officially launched a range of ecologically sensitive bio-chemical products, known as the Eco Nutria range, together with a suite of new rental equipment, to provide the minerals drilling industry with innovative and environmentally friendly remediation and fluid control alternatives. The launch was held at AMC’s warehouse in Kwinana Western Australia and was attended by key members of the minerals drilling industry.

Drilling Fluids Divisional Manager (Minerals), Paul Mander and Imdex’s Managing Director, Bernie Ridgeway, welcomed guests before handing over to Environmental Manager, Kelvin Bray and Equipment Manager, Dale McLeod, for detailed demonstrations of the new products and the diamond drilling solids control unit.

"AMC has always invested in research and development to provide our customers with environmental and value adding alternatives, and increasingly our customers are demanding these options," Paul Mander, said.

"The Eco Nutria products and rental equipment will complement the company’s extensive range of drilling fluids and chemicals, allowing AMC to offer a complete solution to the mineral drilling industry."

Bernie Ridgeway reinforced the Imdex’s Groups ongoing commitment to research and development and making life easier for drilling companies, despite the challenges brought about by the global financial crisis. He also highlighted AMC’s commitment to providing environmental alternatives such as the Eco-Nutria range and solids control unit.

"Environmental, safety and health issues were central to the development of the solids control unit. We recognised the need to conserve water, contain used drilling fluids, limit seepage into our ground water, enable the responsible disposal of solids, and reduce the digging of mud pits".

ECO NUTRIA RANGE

Eco Nutria products enable the in-situ treatment and remediation of petro hydrocarbons such as oil, diesel or polymers, from drilling rig sites. All products within the range are manufactured from natural materials and fibres, are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

"These Eco Nutria products are also vastly more cost effective when compared to offsite incineration and disposal of contaminated soil and liquids," AMC’s Environmental Manager, Kelvin Bray, said.

"The new products will help remediate drilling sites in an environmentally sound and cost effective way making it easier for drilling contractors and mining companies to meet their environmental requirements in a changing regulatory environment".

When mixed with hydrocarbons, a reaction occurs which allows them to be easily and naturally removed from ground sumps and drilling rigs. The biochemical process oxidises the hydrocarbons which are then destroyed by enzyme-producing microbes supplied in the process. Common uses include in-situ remediation on mineral drill rig sites, contaminated industrial sites and mine site vehicle maintenance areas.

RENTAL EQUIPMENT

AMC established an Equipment and Rental division in January 2008 to service the demands of its customers within the mineral drilling industry.

Since that time, the Equipment and Rental Division has been developing prototypes and conducting field trials to finalise its equipment range. The range includes: annular bags, wire line lubricators, Sykes fluid transfer pumps, frac tanks and diamond drilling solids control units.

Field trials utilising the solids control units for diamond drilling were undertaken at Olympic Dam in South Australia September 2008 with BHP Billiton and Mosslake Drilling.

"The trials were very successful and both BHP Billiton and Mosslake expressed interest in the unit once the prototype development is completed," AMC’s Manager of the Equipment and Rental Division, Dale McLeod, said.

For further information regarding the Eco-Nutria range or AMC’s environmental and dust suppression products contact Kelvin Bray

Email: Kelvin.bray@imdexlimited.com
Mobile: 0418 904 502
Office: 08 9445 4000

For further information regarding the solids control unit or equipment range contact Dale McLeod

Email: Dale.mcleod@imdexlimited.com
Mobile: 0439 915 405
Office: 07 3723 3666