Modern Data Management for Large Scale Dewatering Tests

Modern technology allows collection, transmission, and compilation of enormous amounts of data in near-real time. Mine permitting, engineering tradeoff studies and design of mine dewatering systems all benefit from large scale pumping tests to evaluate impacts to water resources. Tests to stress the hydrologic system to the extent that can be used to reasonably evaluate future mining and post mining impacts can involve large pumping rates over long durations with dozens to hundreds of monitoring points that ultimately accumulate millions of data values. A pumping test at Newmont’s Long Canyon mine in Eastern Nevada is a good example. The test was conducted at 4,000 to 5,600 gpm pumping from three wells over a span of 75 days was monitored at 192 groundwater monitoring wells and piezometers and 35 surface water monitoring stations that recorded data on 1 to 15-minute intervals, producing a very large volume of data. Automated data are telemetered SCADA database and uploaded to a web page that displays tables and time plots in near real time. Expedited data management allow a more rapid use of model predictions to support mine planning trade-off studies and permitting.