Geohydrological Control - Depressurization using Horizontal Drains at the Batu Hijau

Open Pit Mine

Ikomanag Suandra a), Ida Bagus Donni Viriyatha b), Trijanto Poespito c)

a) PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Dept., Jl. Sriwijaya # 258 Mataram 83126, Indonesia email:Komang.suandra@nnt.co.id +62 8113949721
b) PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, , Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Dept., Jl. Sriwijaya # 258 Mataram 83126, Indonesia email: ida.bagus.donni.viryatha@nnt.co.id:
+62 8113941190
c) PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, , Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Dept., Jl. Sriwijaya # 258 Mataram 83126, Indonesia email: trijanto.poespito@nnt.co.id: +62 8113949575

Abstract
The establishment of an appropriate open pit operation and slope design criteria evolves throughout the life of a mine and is
based primarily on an ever increasing understanding of the rock mass conditions, including surface water, underground
water and associated underground water pressures that may be acting within the slopes. It has been highlighted over the past
decade that geotechnical engineering has not advanced significantly with respect to the integrated tools that are available to
assist in the optimization of large open pit slopes. However,, t has long been realised that the reduction of groundwater
related to pore pressures is an important component in the determination of whether a design can be or has been successfully
achieved. Therefore, it is essential to implement an extensive multidisciplinary technical program incorporating mine,
geotechnical and hydrogeological engineering expertise sourced both internally and externally to the mining operation.

An integrated mine dewatering and slope depressurization program are necessary to increase the likelihood of mine plan to
be achieved at an acceptable level of risk. How much slope depressurization is appropriate in a large open pit environment
is difficult to quantify, and often a philosophy of “more must be better” has to be adopted due to the lack of integrated
modelling tools that are available to assist in the optimization of the slope design. The slope designers often work in
isolation of, or in parallel with hydro geologists whereas ideally technically sound hydrogeological models need to be made
available to the slope designers well in advance. Scheduling pressures often require that results are needed within unrealistic
time frames and it often leads to a “silver bullet” approach, primarily revolving around the desire to numerically model
problems, prior to there being a fundamental understanding of the potential issues. Programs that lead to the establishment
of reliable hydrogeological models in a relatively complex hard rock mining environment often take years to develop and
must be sustained and improved upon so that relatively reliable predictions can be made, as to what the future
hydrogeological conditions may be.

This paper presents pit dewatering; well dewatering and on-going horizontal drain construction program at the PT Newmont
Nusa Tenggara’s Batu Hijau mine in West Sumbawa and includes how this is integrated with the operation of the mine,
aspects of drilling related to productivity, summary economics and a review of the results achieved. In addition, this paper
will discuss the value of appropriately installed groundwater monitoring infrastructure which has allowed the results of
the program to be quantified and provided site specific data to allow for an on-going optimisation measurement. The
program to date has had its challenges, but has been largely successful with results in confirming the benefit of installing
horizontal drains in the right locations and at the right time.

Key words: horizontal drain, pit dewatering, well dewatering, slope stability, open pit, Vibrating Wire
Piezometer, Indonesia.

Introduction
The Batu Hijau open pit mine (Figure 1) is owned and operated by PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), and is
located in the eastern Indonesian archipelago, on the island of Sumbawa (Figure 2). Total material to be mined is
currently planned at about 3.8 billion tonnes; with an average strip ratio of 1.7:1, at 0.49 % Cu, 0.34 g/t Au and
1.06 g/t Ag. Overall slope heights are planned to be in excess of 900 meters. Given the size of the mineral
deposit, the mine life is relatively short, at 25 years, which includes about six years of stockpile rehandle after
completion of open pit development.

As with many relatively low grade, high tonnage mineral deposits, the economics of the Batu Hijau mine are
primarily driven by maximising slope angles, material movement and mill throughput, and by minimising unit
costs. Relatively small changes in any of these parameters can have significant impacts on the economics of the
deposit.
Figure 1 Map of the Batu Hijau mine

Figure 2 Location of the Batu Hijau mine within the eastern Indonesian archipelago

Batu Hijau
Background
PTNNT was formed in 1985 for the purpose of carrying out systematic exploration for epithermal gold
mineralisation on the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa. A Contract of Work was granted by the Government of
Indonesia in 1986. Surface exploration led to the discovery of porphyry copper-gold mineralisation at Batu Hijau
in 1990, with further work up to 1996 leading to the delineation of a deposit.

The Government of Indonesia approved the Batu Hijau Project feasibility study in May 1997, at which time
construction permits were granted. Pre-stripping of the open pit began in October 1997, with the mill process
commissioned late in 1999.

At Batu Hijau the climate is seasonal, subject to a ‘wet’ monsoon from October to April and a ‘dry’ monsoon
from May to September. About 85% of the 2,500 millimetre annual rainfall occurs during the wet season.
Typically rainfall events are relatively short duration, but with high intensity.

The country rock in the area of Batu Hijau consists of andesite volcanics, volcaniclastic sediments and
porphyritic andesite (Figure 3). In the north-eastern area of the mine this sequence was intruded by a quartz
diorite. Multiple tonalite porphyries were intruded along the contact between the volcanics and diorite, with the
majority of mineralisation associated with earlier tonalite intrusions and higher intensity of quartz veining. As
part of the mineralization process the basic lithology has been overprinted by extensive hydrothermal alteration.
On a district scale there are two major fault zones, the northeast trending Bambu-Santong and northwest trending
Tongoloka-Batu Hijau Fault Corridor. The two intersect three kilometres northwest of the centre of the deposit.
Major faults that transect the open pit are those associated with the Tongoloka-Batu Hijau Fault Corridor, with
discrete faults spaced at about 50 meters. There is also a less persistent orthogonal fault set.

Figure 3 Simplified geology of the Batu Hijau deposit

Hydrogeogeology
At Batu Hijau the pre-mining groundwater level in and surrounding the mineral deposit were typically a subdued
reflection of the topography. The steep gradients suggested that formation permeability was low and typically in
the 1x10-6 to 1x10-8 meters per second range, but with some preferential flow paths providing for relatively rapid
drain-down following recharge events. Although a number of fault zones were identified prior to the initiation
of dewatering operations within the open pit, their influence on groundwater flows were not well understood.

The on-going hydrogeological characterisation program at Batu Hijau has lead to a continued refinement of the
conceptual groundwater flow model, which in general terms is as follows:

• Recharge in the deposit area is derived primarily from rainfall with minimal regional groundwater
through-flows.
• Deposit permeability is greatest within the orebody and reduces radially from the centre of the mineral
deposit.
• Deposit porosity is low and is estimated to be in the 0.1% to 0.5% range.
• Weathering of the upper 100-150 meters of the host or country rock has resulted in reduced permeability
nearer to the deposit surface.
• South-westerly, shallowly dipping faults in the southern sector of the deposit provide a barrier to lateral
groundwater flow with heads in this area not impacted by open pit dewatering operations.
• Permeability along the northwest trending Tongoloka-Batu Hijau Fault Corridor is enhanced.

As additional geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological information becomes available the hydrogeological
model for Batu Hijau will continue to be updated and refined.

Mining
Development of the Batu Hijau open pit is achieved by a conventional truck and shovel operation. The primary
loading fleet currently consists of one hundred and eleven 240 tonne haul trucks, with loading provided by seven
electric rope shovels.

The ore body is cylindrical in shape and is mined in a number of concurrent, concentric phases. Currently the
fourth, fifth and ultimate phases are being developed. The concentric nature of the phases and the geometry of
the ore body mean that mine sequencing flexibility is relatively limited. In particular, in-pit haul road layouts are
relatively inflexible and must be maintained in a spiral configuration. As a result, any larger scale slope
instability cannot be left for an extended period and design changes would be required so that mining activities
can continue.

The vertical advance achieved in any one mining phase is typically about 200 meters per annum (Figure 4), over
its entire circumference. The cumulative vertical advance peaks at 600 meters over three concurrent phases.
Open pit slope design criteria aside, the rate at which the deposit is being mined is relatively aggressive, with
annual material movement generally ranges from 200 to 250 million tonnes over much of the open pit life.

Open Pit Dewatering

In addition to the slope stability and operational issues generated by the high intensity seasonal rainfall events, a
relatively large dewatering sump must be maintained at the bottom of the open pit; to which surface water run-
off and groundwater inflows report. Due to the relatively low geographical elevation of the mineral deposit,
mining is taking place below sea level; therefore water entering the sump must be pumped out and gravity
drainage opportunities are nil.

The open pit is kept dry via a system of floating sump pumps coupled through HDPE pipelines to booster pumps
installed in series on the edge of in-pit haul roads (Figure 5 and 6). Average sump pumping peaks in the wet
season at about 60,000 m3/day, of which about 50% is groundwater inflow. Sump pumping has been
demonstrated to be the only practical means to accommodate large wet season surface water inflows; trials of in-
pit wells was undertaken in 2000 and 2001 demonstrated the impracticality of operating such infrastructure
given the high vertical mining advance rates.
 P u m p in g m 3/d ay Curah Hujan (mm)

0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
0
1000

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1 - J an - 0 7
31 - J an - 0 7 Jan-01
2 - M a r- 0 7
1 - A pr -0 7
May-01
1 -M ay - 0 7 Sep-01
3 1 -M ay - 0 7
30 - J un - 0 7
Jan-02
3 0 -J u l- 0 7 May-02
2 9 -A u g -0 7
2 8 - Se p - 07
Sep-02
28 - O c t- 0 7 Jan-03
2 7 - N ov - 0 7
2 7 - D ec - 0 7 May-03
26 - J an - 0 8 Sep-03
25 - F eb - 0 8
26 - M a r- 0 8 Jan-04
25 - A pr -0 8 May-04
2 5 -M ay - 0 8

Batu Hijau Pit Sump

24 - J un - 0 8 Sep-04
2 4 -J u l- 0 8 Jan-05
2 3 -A u g -0 8
2 2 - Se p - 08 May-05
22 - O c t- 0 8
Sep-05
Figure 4 Summary of Rainfall open pit mining at Batu Hijau

2 1 - N ov - 0 8
2 1 - D ec - 0 8 Jan-06
Waktu

20 - J an - 0 9
May-06
19 - F eb - 0 9
21 - M a r- 0 9 Sep-06
20 - A pr -0 9
2 0 -M ay - 0 9
Jan-07
19 - J un - 0 9 May-07
1 9 -J u l- 0 9
1 8 -A u g -0 9
Sep-07
1 7 - Se p - 09 Jan-08
Grapik Curah Hujan Bulanan Di Tambang Batu Hijau

17 - O c t- 0 9
1 6 - N ov - 0 9
May-08
1 6 - D ec - 0 9 Sep-08
15 - J an - 1 0
Figure 5 Summary of pit pumping rate and sump water level open pit mining at Batu Hijau

14 - F eb - 1 0 Jan-09
16 - M a r- 1 0 May-09
Pit Pumping (m3/day)
Pit Water Level (mRL)

15 - A pr -1 0
1 5 -M ay - 1 0 Sep-09
14 - J un - 1 0 Jan-10
5

-85
-70
-55
-40
-25
-10

May-10

-160
-145
-130
-115
-100

Sep-10
P it S u m p E levatio n (m R L )

groundwater level of approximately 450 meters in the centre of the mineral deposit. However, the impacts to
Open pit dewatering operations which commenced in 2001 have resulted in a maximum reduction in

the current pit crest. From 2001 to 2005 un-aided slope depressurisation was achieved through the dewatering
regional groundwater levels have been minimal, with typically less than a 20 meter fall in head 500 meters from
required to sustain open pit development, coupled with the relatively high permeability of the intensely
hydrothermal altered rock mass around the centre of the mineral deposit.

Figure 6 Open pit dewatering system at Batu Hijau

Open Pit Design

As with many large, relatively low grade mineral deposits the economic returns are potentially great, but
relatively minor adjustments in specific variables (e.g. slope angles) have a significant impact on the minable
reserve. At Batu Hijau, from a geotechnical perspective, the slope design philosophy and the associated
programs adopted are very much tools implemented to reduce the risk to a level acceptable to the owner.

Recommended open pit slope design criteria for use in mine planning at Batu Hijau have caveats associated with
them (Leech, 2007), including:

“Acceptable” levels of slope depressurization can be achieved – although somewhat difficult to quantify,
the assumption is that a “more is better” philosophy is accepted and adopted.

Figure 7 Open pit dewatering summary from Batu Hijau

Open Pit Dewatering at Batu Hijau

12000 300
11000 250
10000
200

Open Pit Floor (mRL)

Volume (m3 X1000) /

9000
Open Pit Dewatering

150
8000
Rainfall (mm)

7000 100
6000 50
5000 0
4000
-50
3000
-100
2000
1000 -150
0 -200
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Years

Rainfall(mm) Open Pit Dewatering Volume (m3 X1000)

Open Pit Floor Elevation (mRL) Piezometer MOBHP-12 (mRL)
Although the statement could be construed as being vague, it highlights the commitment required to establish
and maintain an integrated mine dewatering and slope depressurization program that will lead to an increase in
the likelihood that mine plans can be achieved, and at an acceptable level of risk. Programs that lead to the
establishment of reliable hydrogeological models in a relatively complex hard rock, large open pit mining
environment often take years to develop, and must be sustained and improved upon so that relatively reliable
predictions can be made.

Dewatering Well
The decision to applied dewatering well was taken on 2007. Since then 10 of wells were planned to drill. Two
of well DW-10 and DW11A were drilled up to 500m depth each other at south of the pit. Both of the holes were
equipped with grundfos submersible pump which was installed at 330m depth bellow surface and continued
pumping with pumping rate 4-8lt/s (DW-10) and 15lt/s (DW-11A). The programme was postponed because the
contractor was unable to catch up the schedule.

Figure 8 Dewatering well drilling at Batu Hijau

ACTUAL COMPLETION DIAGRAM
DEWATERING WELL BHDW-10

Location : Shovel & Drill Workshop Northing : 8153.9

Date Completed : 5-Mar-08 Easting : 6263.8
Drilling Method : Mud Rotary Elevation (mRL) : 298.1
Drilled by : PT SPA Rest Water Level : 257.0

Wellhead Stick-up 0.30 meters

0 (mbgl)
13 3/8" Casing set at 56.4m
and cemented to the surface
RWL 41.1 mBGL

100 (mgbl) 9 5/8" Blank casing topped

with adaptor, 51.97 - 145.81m

4“ Dia, Schedule 40, Rising

200 (mbgl) main, 54 X 6 m Joints, 323.61m

9 5/8" Slotted casing 145.81 to

344.1m
7.5” Grundfos SP 46-37
300 (mbgl) Submersible Pump intake set
at 327.91m

7" OD casing, 26 Joints

400 (mbgl) Perforated

500 (mbgl)

Horizontal Drains
The construction of horizontal drains began at the Batu Hijau mine in 2004, when a small-scale trial was
undertaken to evaluate their potential effectiveness in aiding and accelerating the slope depressurization process.
The results of the trial (Golder 2004) suggested that there was minimal potential for substantially improving the
“natural” rate of depressurisation using horizontal drains, primarily due to the higher rates being achieved with
the rapid advance of the open pit.

In response to a relatively large-scale slope failure (Figure 9), where groundwater pressures appeared to play a
significant role, a horizontal drain construction program totalling about 1,500 meters was completed. This
program followed the construction of three standpipe piezometers, which were installed with the objective of
determining what benefit the horizontal drains would have in terms of reducing groundwater heads behind the
failed slope.
As a result of apparent benefits of this program, NNT made the decision to commit to a longer term program of
horizontal drain construction and from 2006 to Sept 2010 a total of about 1923,000 meters was completed.

Since early 2006, a contracted and specialist directional drilling rig has been used to drill and complete
horizontal drains. The constructional plant (Figure 10) consists primarily of:

• Vermeer™ D50x100A Navigator drill rig.

• ELGI™ 350psi/1100cfm screw compressor.
• Air Research™ 350psi/1200cfm booster compressor capable of compressing air up to 900psi.
• Various support trucks, etc.
• Safety features including enhanced rockfall protection, self-loading drill rod carousels, etc.

Figure 9 Slope failure (height about 270 meters) at Batu Hijau in Sept 2009

Figure 10 Contracted directional drilling rig in operation at Batu Hijau

A typical horizontal drain is constructed as follows:

 • Set up Construction Plant at the rig site as per guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Collar hole at 5o above the horizontal.
• Drill 8” (200 mm) conventional open hole hammer top hole up to a length of 6 meters.
• Run 6” (150 mm) OD PVC Surface Casing and fully grout the annulus.
• Drill ahead at 5 ½” (140 mm) by conventional open hole hammer to a length of 350 meters.
• Run 1 ½” (40 mm) OD Schedule 80 PVC blank and machine slotted Production Liner.

Typically, working on a double 10-hour shift basis a 350 m long drain is completed in a day.

Over 2006 to 2010 period the total average cost per meter of horizontal drain constructed was about US$44,
comprising the following:

• Direct contractor costs (drilling, running casing/liner, work time, rig moves, etc) US$37.
• Diesel fuel US$2.
• Construction consumables and materials (casing, liner, grout, etc) US$5.

A pragmatic approach to horizontal drain construction has been developed with drilling taking place primarily
from in-pit ramps. The drilling plan is coordinated with both the Mine Engineering and Operations groups to
ensure platforms and safety barriers are constructed prior to drill rig moves. In some locations just a single drain
is drilled perpendicular to the slope. In other locations, a fan of 4 to 6 drains are drilled from a single platform
(Figure 11), primarily to reduce the interference with mine operations but also to reduce the drilling contractors
exposure to various hazards.

Figure 11 Multiple horizontal drains completed at Batu Hijau from a single drilling platform

Initially the horizontal drain program at Batu Hijau focussed on areas where historical slope instability had been
prevalent, with the logic being that depressurisation of those areas would lead to enhanced stability. In some
instances horizontal drains were drilled which yielded very low groundwater flows and this was initially
interpreted to reflect very low rockmass permeability, rather than possible pre-drained conditions, suggesting
additional, more closely spaced drains were required to achieve adequate depressurisation. The misinterpretation
was primarily due to there being insufficient groundwater monitoring infrastructure in particular areas or the
data available was not being reviewed to a required level of frequency or detail.
Monitoring Methods
In order to address the issues of inadequate groundwater monitoring data and differing groundwater head
distribution resulting from variability in rockmass permeability, a series of vibrating wire piezometer (VWP)
sensor installations was initiated in 2006.
The initial VWP installation program utilised conventional open hole hammer to drill holes to depths up to 400
meters. However, this was relatively unsuccessful and the program was completed using conventional core
drilling methods. These holes were then completed with up to four VWP sensors each, and grouted following the
reasoning and methodology of Mikkelsen and Green (2003). A thorough review of the data from these
completions was undertaken about six months after completion, and determined that in the majority of cases the
grout seals were inadequate with the groundwater levels being measured often reflecting a standpipe style head
and not the piezometric head. The inconsistency of the seals was determined to be the result of inappropriate site
methodology, poor grout mixing, inadequate pumping capacity and/or equipment. In order to address these
issues, the VWP design and installation process were revised and modified.

Subsequent to the review VWP sensors are installed in core holes that form part of ongoing geological and
geotechnical drilling programs. The use of smaller diameter holes coupled with the ability to set the VWP
sensor through the coring rods typically results in more consistent settings at the planned depth and significantly
less grout volumes required. The coring rods are pulled before the grout is injected down a sacrificial tremmie
pipe, and grout injected through the bottom of the pipe until returns are seen at the surface. Following the
assessment of a number of different material types to serve as the tremmie, the Batu Hijau site has selected a
standard NPT threaded ¾” ID galvanised iron pipe, which is supplied in three meter lengths. At installation, the
first two lengths of tremmie pipe are perforated, which act as ports allowing injected grout to exit the tremmie
pipe, thus increasing the likelihood that the VWP sensors are fully grouted. Typically two VWP’s are installed
per core hole, with the deeper (5,000 kPa) sensor set 200 to 300 meters below the estimated piezometric level
and the shallower (3,000 kPa) sensor 40 to 50 meters below the estimated piezometric level (Figure 12).

A second but less frequently utilised methodology is the installation of a single VWP sensor in a horizontal
drain. This method uses the same ¾” ID galvanised iron tremmie used for core hole installations, but is
significantly more labour intensive than is the case for vertical or steeply inclined core holes. When installed in
a horizontal drain the tremmie pipe, complete with sensor must be pushed by hand (Figure 13). There are
physical and safety limitations as to how far the sensor and tremmie string can be pushed before the frictional
resistance becomes too great (a setting of 280 meters has been achieved).

Location of the VWP presented at figure 14

Monitoring Results
A view, commonly held is that if on completion groundwater emerges from the collar of a horizontal drain then
it is successful and if not, it is unsuccessful. Undoubtedly these two generalisations are often correct, but they
should not be used as the sole basis for evaluating the success or otherwise of a horizontal drain program.

Without adequate groundwater monitoring, assessing the relative success of horizontal drains is not possible. By
evaluating groundwater head data collected at monitoring sites located behind a slope that the horizontal drains
have been installed, a thorough understanding of the relative success of the program can be reached. To
illustrate this, four examples from the Batu Hijau program are presented:

Figure 12 Installation of a Vibrating Wire Piezometer at Batu Hijau in a horizontal drain

Figure 13 Typical design of a Vibrating Wire Piezometer at Batu Hijau in a core hole

Figure 14 Long term VWP monitoring location map

1. South Sector
In 2008 a series of horizontal drains were drilled into the South slope of the open pit at an elevation 105mRL
with individual drain yielding up to 10 litres per second. Monitoring of the VWP sensors SDB 499 clearly
showed positive impact and these horizontal drains had on the piezometric head distribution in this sector of
the open pit (Figure 15). The sensor recorded a fall in head of 45 meters over one month period. Later in Q4
2009 a series of horizontal drains were also drilled into the South slope at elevation 30mRL with individual
drain yielding up to 1.5 litres per second. Monitoring of the VWP sensors SDB 499 also clearly showed
positive impact these horizontal drains where is the piezometric head fall in head of 5 meter over 1 month
period.

Figure 15 Data from Vibrating Wire Piezometer SBD 499 at Batu Hijau

SBD499
300
Piezometeric Head (mRL)

280
260
240
220
SBD499P1 (98mRL)
200
180
160
Piezometric response to
140
horizontal drain
120

26-Nov-09
4-Jul-08

24-Jan-09

26-Jun-09

16-Jan-10

18-Jun-10
2-Feb-08

14-May-08
24-Mar-08

24-Aug-08

14-Oct-08

4-Dec-08

16-Mar-09

6-May-09

16-Aug-09

6-Oct-09

8-Mar-10

28-Apr-10
Meanwhile Monitoring of the VWP sensors SDB 503 clearly shows the positive impact of the dewatering
well DW-11A which is continues pump at stable pumping rate of 15 litres per second. The sensor is
recorded a fall in head of 20 meters over a one month period (Figure 16).

Figure 16 Data from Vibrating Wire Piezometer SBD 503 at Batu Hijau

SBD503
Piezometeric Head (mRL)

420
SBD503 (164mRL)
400
380
Piezometric responses to
360 dewatering well
340
320
300
280
3-Mar-08

5-Jun-08
22-Jul-08

26-Jan-09
14-Mar-09

16-Jun-09

4-Nov-09

25-Mar-10
11-May-10
27-Jun-10
19-Apr-08

7-Sep-08
24-Oct-08
10-Dec-08

30-Apr-09

2-Aug-09
18-Sep-09

21-Dec-09
6-Feb-10

13-Aug-10
29-Sep-10

`
2. South East Sector
In early 2008 DW-10 was completed and continues pump produces a water with debit around 4-8 litres per
second. Monitoring of a multiple VWP (BHMW01) confirmed the positive impact this dewatering well had
on the piezometric head distribution in this sector of the open pit (Figure 17). All the sensor recorded a fall
in head of 20 meters over a four months period. In the Q3 and Q4 2008 the sensor showed increasing of
ground water head in accordance with some trouble event at DW-10 pump and raining season. However
since Q1 2009, the sensor has been indicating positive response in which the groundwater head fall down
around 25 meter.

Figure 17 Data from Vibrating Wire Piezometer BHMW01 at Batu Hijau

BHMW01 P1, P2, P3 & P4.

310
P1 (232mRL)
300
PiezometericHead(mRL)

290
P2 (181mRL)
280
P3 (81mRL)
270

260
P4 (-19mRL)
250
Piezometric response to
240
the dewatering well
230
9-Nov-07

27-Jun-08
30-Jul-08

6-Nov-08

25-Jun-09
28-Jul-09

4-Nov-09

23-Jun-10
26-Jul-10
14-Jan-08

25-May-08

11-Jan-09

23-May-09

30-Aug-09

9-Jan-10

21-May-10

28-Aug-10
7-Oct-07

12-Dec-07

16-Feb-08
20-Mar-08
22-Apr-08

1-Sep-08
4-Oct-08

9-Dec-08

13-Feb-09
18-Mar-09
20-Apr-09

2-Oct-09

7-Dec-09

11-Feb-10
16-Mar-10
18-Apr-10

30-Sep-10
A series of horizontal drains carried out on Q1 2009 at an elevation 100mRL with individual drain yielding
up to 5 litres per second showed positive impact. Monitoring of the VWP sensors SDB 516 indicated the
ground water head a fall in a head 8 meter (Figure 18).

Figure 18 Data from Vibrating Wire Piezometer SBD 516 at Batu Hijau

SBD516 P1&P2
Piezometric Head (mRL)

260
SBD516 P2 (121 mRL)
255
250
245 SBD516 P1 (-15 mRL)

240
Piezometric response to
235 the dewatering well
230
17-Nov-08

12-Nov-09
5-Jul-08

1-Jan-09

30-Jun-09

25-Jun-10
21-May-08

19-Aug-08
3-Oct-08

15-Feb-09

14-Aug-09

11-May-10
1-Apr-09

16-May-09

28-Sep-09

9-Aug-10
27-Dec-09

10-Feb-10

27-Mar-10

23-Sep-10
3. West Sector
A series of horizontal drains were drilled into West slope of the open pit at varied elevation depending on the
mine progress. In Q4 2009 a series of horizontal drains were drilled at an elevation 235mRL and produced a
water with individual yield up to 10 litres per second. Monitoring of the VWP 484 clearly showed positive
impact, whereas the head fall 20 meter over one month period (Figure 19).

Figure 19 Data from Vibrating Wire Piezometer SBD 484 at Batu Hijau

SBD484
320
Piezometeric Head (mRL)

310
300 SBD484 (200mRL)
290
280
270
260
Piezometric response to
250 the dewatering well
240
19-Nov-07

22-Jun-08
28-Jul-08

13-Nov-08

17-Jun-09
23-Jul-09

8-Nov-09

12-Jun-10
18-Jul-10
30-Jan-08

17-May-08

24-Jan-09

12-May-09

28-Aug-09

19-Jan-10

7-May-10

23-Aug-10
25-Dec-07

6-Mar-08
11-Apr-08

2-Sep-08
8-Oct-08

19-Dec-08

1-Mar-09
6-Apr-09

3-Oct-09

14-Dec-09

24-Feb-10
1-Apr-10

28-Sep-10
4. North West Sector
One of VWP monitoring MOBHP-12 has been installed around 1 km from the pit and over 9 years it has
been indicated a considerable reduction in groundwater head (100-120m). In Q2 2010 the sensor
demonstrated a stable head with approximately 1 meter reduction. It was indicated as continued response to
pit deepening and dewatering and interpreted that the rock mass was free drainage. (Figure 20)

Figure 20 Data from Vibrating Wire Piezometer MOBHP-12 at Batu Hijau

MOBHP-12
280
Piezometric Head (mRL)

260
240
220
200
180
160
140
1-Jan-01

1-Jul-01

1-Jan-02

1-Jul-02

1-Jan-03

1-Jul-03

1-Jan-04

1-Jul-04

1-Jan-05

1-Jul-05

1-Jan-06

1-Jul-06

1-Jan-07

1-Jul-07

1-Jan-08

1-Jul-08

1-Jan-09

1-Jul-09

1-Jan-10

1-Jul-10
Conclusions
The Batu Hijau open pit and mining operation has reached a level of maturity whereby past performance is a
strong indicator of what the future holds. The geotechnical and hydrogeological understanding and models of
the mineral deposit developed pre-mining have been modified and revised as more reliable data, including
operational impacts that have become available. This understanding and the reliability of the models will
continue to evolve and develop throughout the life of the mine and into the closure.

In order to assist in the optimization of the mineral deposit and the associated open pit slope design criteria,
depressurisation is of significant importance. From an initial understanding that little or no advanced
depressurization can be viably achieved. The program at Batu Hijau has evolved rapidly, sometimes with
execution taking precedence at the expense of hydrogeological understanding. The open pit slope
depressurization program has been centred around the construction of horizontal drains plus two dewatering well
and implementing a monitoring program, which has to in some extent involved trial and error, particularly with
respect to the construction of multiple sensor VWP’s. However, to optimize the slope depressurization program
at Batu Hijau it will not simply be an exercise in constructing “enough” horizontal drains, as operational
experience and monitoring have shown that the process is more elaborative. As the slope depressurization
program at Batu Hijau has evolved a few lessons have been learnt:

1. It is essential that adequate groundwater monitoring infrastructure be installed prior to the execution
of a horizontal drain drilling program, to assess whether it is appropriate or not
2. For relatively deep installations, monitoring infrastructure construction must be carefully executed so
that there is confidence in the data generated.
3. The horizontal drain program should be well integrated with the geotechnical and geology programs
so that costs can be minimised and more importantly the quality of data interpretation improved.

Acknowledgements
Authors would like to thank PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara for approving the publication of this paper, and to
those who reviewed the drafts.

References
Leech SJ (2007) Updated Open Pit Slope Design Criteria – July 2007. Unpublished Internal Memorandum prepared for PT
Newmont Nusa Tenggara.
Golder Associates (2004) 2004 Slope Depressurisation Trials Batu Hijau Copper Mine. Unpublished Consultant Report
prepared for PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara.
Mikkelsen PE, Green GE (2003) Piezometers in Fully Grouted Boreholes. Symposium on Field Measurements in
Geomechanics, FMGM 2003 Oslo Norway.
IB Donni Viriyatha, Q2 2010 Batu Hijau Pit Hydrogeological status review, Internal Memorandum prepared for PT
Newmont Nusa Tenggara