Numerical evaluation of grouting scenarios for reducing water inflows in underground excavations – Goldcorp’s Éléonore mine study case

Catherine Domingue, Jean-Michel Lemieux, Martin Grenon, René Therrien, John Molson, Pierre-Luc Lajoie, Daniela Blessent

In the proceedings of: GeoOttawa 2017: 70th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 12th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Mining / Oil and Gas

ABSTRACT: Water inflows through fracture networks are one of the many challenges that the Éléonore mine has to face. Although pre-grouting of pilot holes during mine development has been proven to efficiently reduce water inflows into mine excavations, the actual design methods are empirical and can be optimized to increase grouting efficiency and decrease the associated costs. Optimization of the amount of cement needed for pre-grouting is achieved by designing the grouting approach based on the location of major faults around the excavations. Here, a base case finite-element numerical model and associated sensitivity analyses are used to simulate groundwater inflows into a stope, based on the Éléonore mining site characteristics. Simulations are conducted for testing various grout injection scenarios for various major fault locations around the stope. Sensitivity analyses have shown that for a fault located above the stope, the inflow reduction is greater when the zone between the fault and the stope is grouted instead of directly grouting the fault itself. Also, in the case of a fault intersecting a stope, the results have demonstrated that the fault itself should be grouted as widely as possible, instead of sealing only the immediate surroundings of the stope.

RÉSUMÉ: par le réseau de fractures représentent un défi majeur à la mine Éléonore. La pré-cimentation par Néanmoins, les approches adoptées pour effectuer la pré-cimentation sont empiriques et peuvent être optimisées pour la pré-hes de cimentation reposant sur la position des fractures aux léonore. Les simulations sont effectuées pour -dessus du chantier, la réduction des infiltrations est plus grande lorsque la zone entre le chantier et la fracture est cimentée plutôt que lorsque la fracture elle-même est cimentée. Aussi, pour le n maximum lorsque

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