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Client

Private Client

Year

2024

Location

Elkford, BC

Project Summary

In the fall of 2024, our team partnered with a major coal mining operation in Elkford, British Columbia, located in the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains. The client required a reliable solution to keep portions of their taling pond ice-free through the onset of winter, enabling uninterrupted dredging operations critical to site management and environmental compliance. We were tasked with designing, supplying and installing a robust bubbler de-icing system that could withstand the harsh and frigid climate. The solution had to be deployed quickly, function effectively in shallow waters, and create a navigable ice-free corridor for workboats servicing the dredging system.

De-Icing for Coal Mine in the Rocky Mountains

Project Objective & Goals

  • Create an ice-free channel for work boats to reach the dredge system

  • Prevent freezing of dredge intake and discharge pipelines

  • Extend operational dredging as far into the winter season as possible, with an initial goal of maintaining access up to December 10th, 2024.

Methods 

  • Design a fine-bubble de-icing system tailored to the site’s specific depth and layout constraints

  • Installed 74 Can-air Mega X2 diffusers, aligned in two paths to ensure clear navigation paths for boats

  • Deployed over 3,000 feet of perforated de-icing airline across the surface to create uniform bubble curtains

  • Deploy thousands of feet of custom sinking airline to deliver air from onshore compressors to the underwater diffusers

  • Constructed and installed custom air distribution manifolds to precisely regulate airflow across zones of varying depth

Challenges 

  • Rapid temperature drop in the fall created a very short window for installation before ice formation could begin

  • Shallow water conditions provided only a small heat reservoir to pull from, making de-icing more difficult than in deeper systems

  • Remote mountain location required meticulous logistical coordination for transport, labour scheduling, and equipment setup

Timeline

Design: Fall 2024

System Installation: Late Fall to Early Winter 2024

Planned Solutions 

  • To accommodate the tight schedule and environmental challenges, our team implemented the following measures:

  • Expedited delivery through express shipping to get components on-site as quickly as possible

  • Used in-stock and pre-tested products to minimize potential installation delays

  • Worked extended hours to ensure on-time installation before freeze-up

  • Implemented suspended bubble tubing in especially shallow areas to maintain de-icing effectiveness

  • Fine-tuned system performance using adjustable ball valves to balance airflow and maximize open water retention

Results 

  • Navigable ice-free corrider created for workboats servicing the dredging system

  • Although the initial goal was to maintain access through December 10, 2024, dredging continued well into February 2025, thanks to our efforts

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