OLEOLOGY’S Research and Engineering Team wins “Energy Industry Team of the Year” Award
In a celebration of innovation and excellence, OLEOLOGY emerged as a shining star at the 2023 Energy Club’s 2023 Industry Awards held in December.
OLEOLOGY’s Research and Engineering team clinched the Energy Industry Team of the Year Award. Let's delve into the remarkable project that earned them this accolade.
The Challenge: Underground Mine Water and Pump Efficiency
The backdrop of this success story lies deep within the earth—an international mining company grappling with a critical challenge. Their client’s underground operations demanded substantial water usage, and the disposal of mine water posed environmental risks. Additionally, the high levels of solids passing through underground pumps significantly shortened their service life. The client needed a sustainable solution that would allow them to reuse a substantial portion of the underground mine water while ensuring the longevity of their pumping stations.
Success through Collaboration
The R&D team at OLEOLOGY embarked on a multi-phased project that exemplified collaboration, innovation, and technical skill. Here's how they achieved it:
1. Diverse Expertise: The team comprised of individuals from diverse specialties, including chemical, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and process engineering. Their collective expertise, contributed by both men and women, formed the bedrock of success.
2. Holistic Approach: Recognising that solving complex challenges requires a holistic perspective, the team analysed every facet of the problem. They considered water treatment, pump efficiency, and environmental impact in equal measure.
3. Innovative Solutions: OLEOLOGY’s team explored original approaches to water treatment. They developed a customised system that efficiently removed solids from the mine water, allowing safe reuse. Their solution not only addressed the immediate issue but also aligned with sustainability goals.
4. Consultancy Excellence: The project's success reverberated beyond the company. OLEOLOGY’s commitment to excellence earned them the Consultancy of the Year Award at the 2023 Waste Innovation & Recycling Awards. Their impact extended far beyond the client's operations.
The results have already proved transformative, including realising positive impacts within other areas of the client’s business, including:
- Water Recycling: The client now recycles a significant portion of their underground mine water. This conservation effort safeguards a finite and precious resource, contributing to responsible water management.
- Pump Longevity: By reducing solids passing through the pumps, OLEOLOGY’s solution dramatically increased the service life of the underground pumping stations. No more premature failures, no costly outages—just smooth operations.
- Safety Assurance: The client operates with confidence, knowing that their pumping infrastructure won't fail unexpectedly. Safety and reliability go hand in hand.
The innovation provides a blueprint for success and sets a high standard. As OLEOLOGY replicates this solution in other areas, they continue to shape a future where resource efficiency and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Raymond Ooi, Director of Engineering shares, “At OLEOLOGY we work collaboratively with our esteemed clients to ensure that we are able to help our clients maximise value from projects through implementation of OLEOLOGY’s three key value drivers in Value Creation, Value Delivery and Value Retention. The level of teamwork demonstrated by the engineers and technicians in providing value to the client is exemplary and winning this team award is a good recognition by the industry and keeps the team motivated for more success!”
Thank you to the 2023 Energy Industry Award Sponsor ExxonMobil.