ORE2_Tailings integrated platform for Tailings Dams risk analysis and portfolio prioritization

ORE2_Tailings integrated platform for Tailings Dams risk analysis and portfolio prioritization is unique, proven and offers great advantages for its users with great economy of means.

© Google Earth, image date 10/4/2018

Following past experience ORE2_Tailings is based on an integrated approach including:

• A symptom driven approach which includes 30 diagnostic points covering “the dam’s life” of from inception to the analysis date.
• A rock-solid benchmarking based on hundred years history of failure and on a theoretical general approach to the evaluation of the probability of failure of tailings dams.
• Seamless link to Space Observation data (if clients chose this option) and finally
• Seamless link to sophisticated stability analysis software (If clients chose this option).

Symptom driven risk assessment

Riskope has deployed symptom driven approaches in many risk assessment areas (landmines and unexploded ordnance, dikes, highways, railroads, etc.). In addition third parties testing has proven its validity. Furthermore there are academic papers showing it reliability and efficiency, while considering the inevitable uncertainties.

Benchmarking of risk assessment

We carry out the benchmarking by using third party accident databases, as well as a UBC thesis in addition to our estimates of the world-wide dams’ portfolio performance of 2013, a first in the world, which proves correct year after year to this day.

One part of the benchmarking also looks at recent catastrophic failures (Samarco and Mount Polley), for which we evaluated the probability of failure based on publicly available data known before the accidents. We have recently performed the same kind of analysis for the Brumadinho Corrego dam failure and will publish the results in due time.

Seamless link to Space Observation

The seamless link to Space Observation is a weapon of choice we have developed in cooperation with MDA. We have already published on this subject and even taught courses. The joint capabilities are growing day after day.

Here are deformation measurement of the failed dam shown above, showing serious distress months before failure. The SAR/InSAR Space observation can pick-up millimetric deformations and covers areas instead of monitoring points. There are other advantages we will discuss in due time.

^{© MDA Geospatial Services Inc. (2019) – All Rights Reserved.}

^{A Division of Department of Finance, Services and Innovation}

Seamless link to sophisticated stability analysis

ORE2_Tailings integrated platform for Tailings Dams risk analysis and portfolio prioritization has the capability to link with sophisticated slope stability analyses software.

Who are the intended users of ORE2_Tailings?

• Miners with a portfolio of dams (design, construct, operate)
• Governments and regulators willing to keep an eye on the structures under their jurisdiction (permit, follow-up) and finally
• Insurers willing to know where their insured portfolio stands in terms of exposure (quantify global exposure of portfolio, by type of dam, etc.)

ORE2_Tailings integrated platform for Tailings Dams risk analysis and portfolio prioritization

We have already successfully deployed ORE2_Tailings integrated platform for Tailings Dams risk analysis and portfolio prioritization on dams portfolios in Canada, Peru, Brazil. It allows for transparent risk communication and rational decision making, operational, tactical and strategic planning of dams’ risks mitigations.

The last two weeks blogposts discussed various directions converging toward the need for rational prioritization:

• traps along the decision making generated by our good old limbic brain.
• Bad image that miners have seeded, as reported by the Responsible Mining Foundation, due to their inability to properly communicate risks and lack of transparency.

Last week we also mentioned the ORE2_Tailings application presentation which can be freely downloaded.

Closing remarks

Something has to change if miners want to:

• thrive,
• foster sustainability,
• enhance Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and finally
• Social License to Operate (SLO).

That change requires new tools. ORE2_Tailings is precisely what fills a gap that has the potential to ruin forever the image of the industry. The damage has already scared insurers, it is scaring investors and that does not do any good to anyone.

ORE2_Tailings integrated platform for Tailings Dams risk analysis and portfolio prioritization can be deployed on dams portfolios word-wide, scattered over various countries. There are no limits to the control and comfort that ORE2_Tailings will deliver to its users.

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