Author: Grigoriy Bedenko
Source: https://informburo.kz
The exclusive story on how using a helicopter and a high voltage current the minerals are being explored for in Kazakhstan.
SkyTEM -the unique airborne geophysical survey technology for solid minerals exploration, developed in Denmark, is being used in Aktyubinsk oblast. The survey is being performed 20km east from the Molodezhnoye village of Khromtau rayon. It is assumed, that this remote region, that is away from major settlements might bear polymetallic and precious metals that were unknown earlier. This exploration was arranged by Aurora Minerals Group, a Kazakhstan company. The company makes a speciality of new technologies transfer and attraction of investment to mining and oil and gas industry of our country. Grigory Bedenko, our special correspondent visited the place setting and viewed the technology in action.
The Molodezhny village is located in the Aktyubinsk steppe in the valley of the river with a terse name Or. It is necessary to go to the east from Khromtau for about a hundred kilometres, and then turn south and go shaking another 25 miles on the “grader road" to get here by land transport. Molodezhny village was built back in the Soviet times and it was a village for gas workers - the main compressor station is located here. As times go, the settlement is quite prosperous, as well as everything that is related to the production and transportation of crude hydrocarbons.
(Photo: View of Molodezhny village from the bird’s eye)
It was here where the field airborne - geophysical system was deployed, and next days all fly outs for exploration of the predetermined areas were made from the site on the outskirts of the village. The team of specialists consists of 10 people. These are two employees of the Danish developer SkyTEM Surveys, four representatives of Kazakhstan's Aurora Minerals Group and two drivers of a tanker and a truck for equipment transportation.
(Photo: Light helicopter Н-125 (AS 350 B3) Sky Service airline)
Two more experts represent Sky Service the Kazakh airline, operating in the market of ultra-light aviation. These are the pilot and flight engineer of five-seat H-125 helicopter (AS 350 B3), which lifts into the air a special airborne-geophysical platform with research equipment hanging on a 35m cable-wire. Full helicopter refuelling requires 400 litres of aviation kerosene. The machine is considered as very economical, since it is almost half built of composite materials.
(Photo: Heliborne )
The SkyTEM technique was originally developed for detection and characterization of aquifers. It was first used in Denmark. The Ministry of Environment of this country has mapped more than a third of the aquifers. Today SkyTEM is widely used all over the world as the best technology for displaying water resources.
(Photo: Or River valley)
At the same time, to date, the SkyTEM technique is actively used to detect metallic types of minerals. The search for anomalies in rock massifs, which may indicate the presence of metallic types of minerals in these massifs is performed by an electromagnetic method. The specificity of the technology is that light aviation is widely used here, and that it allows looking underground to a great depth. Usually it is about a few hundred meters.
(Photo: Setting of the equipment)
The most difficult part of the job is installation and configuration of equipment, which is being performed by Danish specialists of SkyTEM Surveys John Blyth and Jonas Steenguard together with specialists from Aurora Minerals Group. All equipment placed on the platform operates off-line and is powered by a generator that is also lifted into the air. Assembling is an extremely complicated procedure: numerous wires, connectors to be properly attached.
(Photo: The flight lasts about 3 hours)
The task of the helicopter crew is no less difficult: it is necessary to estimate the direction and strength of the wind very accurately so that the load was not swaying. It requires making three flights to calibrate the equipment: two at an altitude of 400 meters, and one at an altitude of 1,000 meters. The total weight of the platform, made of rigid aerodynamic composite material is 650 kilograms. The generator is installed on the platform, which powers the equipment, magnetometer, laser altimeter, differential GPS, digital video camera and other devices. The area for scanning is in 20 kilometres east of Molodezhny. For the first, the crew ascends to provide acceleration and reduce aerodynamic loads. Then descends to the working height of 20-35 meters.
(Photo: Damir Kyzyr, AMG Managing Director )
-The target in Aktyubinsk oblast is surely not the first one for your team. What is the most difficult in work arrangement?
Fieldwork includes not only the scientific part, calibration, check-ups, etc. first of all it is the logistics. All the surveyed sites are located remotely, and in order to optimize costs, we try to have our base right near the site, so that the flight hours, arrival time did not increase. In this regard, there are difficulties - these areas are away from cities, large villages - and often we have to live in quite uncomfortable conditions, but the most important thing is that the work is being done. Another important thing are the skills of the pilot. There is a high current inside the system which is potentially dangerous. The high current is fed by a powerful generator that works on gasoline. Take-off and landing are the most dangerous parts of the job. Each member of our team clearly knows his task and in case of emergency, everyone has its specific role. All risks of the future work are assessed prior commencing of every project.
- Could you tell me about the technology itself.
This technology is new and its advantage is that the significant amount of information may be obtained in a short time so that you can get to make a decisions. Considering that there is a degree of error in old Soviet data, then these data are much more accurate and the contours of the anomaly are known. Accordingly, knowing the contours of the anomaly, a denser drilling grid can be used, or vice versa - focus only on those areas where there were anomalies found and only there to drill. In other words, this technology allows the companies engaged in geological exploration save money and time. Since the beginning of cooperation with all bidding and tender procedures the work may be started in a month and a half. Upon completion of the work, the customers already have a picture in two weeks. This allows making the important decisions in geological prospecting in the shortest possible time.
(Photo: Vasiliy Koval, Sky Service airline pilot)
Vasily Koval, the pilot slowly pulls the cable and lifts the platform above the ground. Having lifted the platform up to a height of 35 to 60 meters, the crew makes a flight along the specified trajectory, reminding a zigzag, which provides scanning of certain areas of the terrain. The operation speed on the survey line varies from 80 to 100 km/h. It is curious that the system allows “looking under” the ground to a rather large depth - up to 500 meters.
(Photo: Helicopter refueling)
After the flight, which lasts from 2.5 to 3 hours, the platform is neatly put down on the site, the platform is then disconnected, the pilot fly aside and lands the helicopter. Now it is necessary to download the received data from the hard discs of the system, process and evaluate the quality of the data. Amid good weather, it is possible to survey about 200 running kilometres of the target area during one flight. Sometimes we have to stay idle for day or two and even more because of the weather conditions. Weather is the main and determining factor in airborne geophysics.
(Photo: Kaisar Kozhamuratov, AMG Director General)
This year we had quite a successful start of the field season, - says AMG General Director Kaisar Kozhamuratov. - Subsoil users timely, by the first decade of 2017, have held all the necessary tenders, estimated the results, and we were selected as the providers of airborne geophysical services. This is electromagnetic helicopter survey. The first project we’ve completed in the middle of May was the North-Kazakhstan region. More than 2 thousand running kilometres were surveyed. Similar works we performed last year - the client was very pleased with the results. Tthis year the work was done at a full scale as well.
- What are the plans for this year?
Now our team has already been mobilized to Aktyubinsk Oblast to perform survey for the next project. There we have a client who has four sites where gold will be explored for. After that, we plan mobilization already in the Almaty region. There we will also carry out a major project. In Aktyubinsk region, we have fifteen hundred of linear kilometres, in the Almaty region the volume is the same. At that, the field season has just begun, but we have already managed to conclude contracts for more than 5 thousand of linear kilometres of electromagnetic helicopter survey. June, July, August, as well as autumn months - September, October are ahead and there is still a lot of time. We are negotiating with a number of companies, so the prospects for this year are very good. As for the results, last year we performed survey for our regional clients, they are satisfied. I can say that there are certain positive results based on the data we’ve received. I hope that in the near future we will have new deposits.
- Are there other companies doing airborne geophysics except for AMG.
There are two types of airborne geophysical research. The first is an airborne magnetic aerial survey. Three groups are working in this field in Kazakhstan - Kazgeologiya with Geotech Ltd, its Canadian partner. There is a local company SPC Geoken and our group in partnership with Air Control. As for the helicopter electromagnetic survey, there are by two companies offering this service at present in Kazakhstan– our company with SkyTEM technology and Kazgeologiya JV with Canadian Geotech Ltd. There is a competition.
- Who are your clients?
-Our main clients are mining companies that perform exploration for solid minerals. These are precious metals such as gold, silver, polymetals, copper. For today, we have 3 clients for helicopter airborne magnetic survey. Contracts have been signed. We are negotiating with three more clients. If at least one of them agrees to work with us, we will consider this year as very successful. All of these companies have contracts for geological exploration. We perform primary works that serve as a basis for drilling programme implementation. We explore the most promising zones, determine the depth of the anomaly, if there is one and provide recommendations on the prospects of drilling. The exploration company thereby minimizes its risks at the stage of drilling.
- Is SkyTEM technology going to widen its localization in Kazakhstan?
We do as much as we can to localize our services. Currently we have three young fellows working in the field, all of them have higher education, and speak English.
This technology was created in Denmark. Initially, it was supposed to be used for mapping groundwater, but later the technology had been developed, and now it is used primarily for exploration for solid minerals. In the structure of global sales, more than 60% of orders are the ones for solid minerals exploration, 25-30% mapping of groundwater, 10% exploration for crude hydrocarbons. The technology is being very widely used around the world, based on the data for recent years the technology was dominating in the global market. We involve our young specialists to perform these works what opens up new prospects for them.
