Process Tanks For Northern Territory Mining Project

Darwin based fabricator Specialised Labour and Engineering (SLE) is finalising fabrication work on 29 process tanks for a new Northern Territory mine.

SLE began fabricating the tanks in December 2006 for Compass Resources NL base metal exploration at Batchelor, about 100 kilometres south of Darwin.

"We're fabricating the mixing tanks in three sizes, 3.5 tonnes, 4.4 tonnes and 16 tonnes," Managing Director Jav Jovanovich said. "There are 16 large tanks measuring 7.1 metres in diameter and 7.8 metres high, which will be used as acid leach tanks, and resin in pulp tanks."

"The smaller tanks, measuring 3.7 metres in diameter and 3.1 metres high, and 2.8 metres in diameter and 3 metres high, will be used for iron precipitation and nickel cobalt precipitation."

SLE ordered 300 tonnes of Grade 250 XLERPLATE® steel for the project through distributor OneSteel Metaland.

"We're using XLERPLATE® steel in eight millimetre thicknesses for the tank bases, and six millimetre thicknesses for the walls," Mr Jovanovich said.

"XLERPLATE® steel is a reliable product with consistent roll forming quality."

The company has delivered the smaller tanks to Batchelor, and is now finalising work on the large tanks, which will be delivered in two pieces (top and bottom halves) before being assembled on site.

SLE also contracted Darwin fabricator EC&E to help with fabrication, allowing the company to meet the tight deadline.

All tanks have been designed to meet American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 650 for above ground storage tanks.

SLE, established in 1987, employs about 30 people at its 1,500 square metre Pinelands workshop.

"We're very well set up to carry out medium to heavy fabrication work, and also have the largest capacity machine shop in Darwin," Mr Jovanovich said. "Our machinery includes horizontal borers, lathes, and six overhead cranes with a total lifting capacity of 47 tonnes."

SLE regularly carries out work for the marine, defence, oil and gas, mining, and construction industries. Clients include Alcan G3, Darwin Port Corporation, Thiess, Woodside and Origin Energy.

"We're also currently working on the Darwin LNG project for Bechtel Australia, undertaking design changes and minor modifications to the recently commissioned LNG plant," Mr Jovanovich said.

SLE also operates a team of boilermakers, and fitters and turners who conduct on site maintenance work at mines