Freeport-McMoRan Sierrita Operations Pit Dewatering Project

WestLand prepared engineering design plans and specifications for a dewatering project to remove over 6 billion gallons of water from two open pits. WestLand designed a series of pumping stations including a barge pumping system, two in-line booster stations, and three open-system booster stations. The project also included the equipping of a water-filled ventilation shaft with a vertical turbine pump and the design of 7 miles of steel pipeline, including 0.5 miles to be mounted on an existing conveyor system to overcome the construction challenges associated with steep slopes surrounding the pit. The project also included instrumentation and control design, structural and geotechnical design, surge analysis, detailed cost estimates, and environmental permitting.