Acid mine drainage is often associated with historic abandoned mines, and in certain situations, impounded water is a significant risk to safety and the environment. Traditionally, vertical holes may be installed into a mine pool to pump down the water level prior to re-entering the mine for remediation, but the drill site development and pumping requirements can be cost prohibitive in remote or high-volume sites. Horizontal directional drilling provides a useful alternative. Through steered borehole and controlled wellheads, REI sets up below the water level and intentionally intercepts the abandoned mine to create a gravity drain system. By utilizing gravity drainage, REI can lower long-term operational costs for mine operations, as well as minimize the amount of piping and trenching that must be installed to the treatment area.
