Stop Oil-Contaminated Water From Draining Your Mining Profits

Mining operations depend on heavy equipment and constant cleaning—but those processes continuously introduce oil, grease, and fuel into wash water and sumps.

Abanaki oil skimmers remove oil continuously, helping mining operations reduce water usage, lower disposal costs, and maintain efficient, reliable operations.

The Ongoing Challenge in Mining Wash Bays

Oil-Contaminated Wash Water Is a Hidden Cost Driver

In mining environments, oil contamination typically comes from:

• Equipment washdown (haul trucks, loaders, drills)
• Diesel fuel, hydraulic oil, and grease runoff
• Mud, debris, and process residues

When this contamination builds up:

• Wash water becomes unusable
• Sumps fill with oily sludge
• Cleanup becomes labor-intensive
• Disposal costs increase rapidly

➡️ Result: higher operating costs, increased downtime, and inefficient water use

Water Reuse Isn’t Optional in Mining—It’s Critical

Especially in Remote or Water-Limited Locations

Mining operations are often located in remote areas where:

• Water supply is limited or expensive
• Wastewater treatment infrastructure is minimal
• Hauling contaminated water offsite is costly

Without effective oil removal:

• Water cannot be reused
• Fresh water demand increases
• Environmental risk rises

👉 Efficient oil removal enables onsite water reuse and reduces dependency on external resources

Why Traditional Cleanup Methods Don’t Work in Mining

Manual Cleaning Is Costly and Inconsistent

Common approaches include:

• Absorbent pads or socks
• Manual skimming
• Periodic sump cleanouts

These methods:

• Require constant labor
• Do not operate continuously
• Fail to keep up with heavy contamination
• Increase downtime during cleaning

➡️ Result: rising labor costs, inconsistent performance, and ongoing maintenance issues

The Abanaki Advantage

Continuous Oil Removal Built for Harsh Mining Conditions

Abanaki oil skimmers are designed to operate continuously in rugged mining environments—removing oil before it accumulates.

How It Works

• A belt or tube passes across the water surface
• Oil adheres naturally to the material
• A wiper removes oil into a collection container

This simple system runs automatically with minimal supervision.

👉 Outcome: reduced labor, improved uptime, and consistent water quality for reuse

Purpose-Built Oil Skimmer Solutions for Mining

Designed for Wash Bays, Sumps, and Remote Applications

Model 4 Belt Oil Skimmer (Most Common Mining Solution)

• Heavy-duty construction for harsh environments
• Designed for continuous operation in wash bays
• Effectively removes a wide range of oil contaminants

👉 Ideal for:

• Equipment wash bays
• Central sumps
• Daily washdown operations

👉 Benefit impact: reduces water disposal, supports reuse, and lowers operating costs

Portable Tote-It Oil Skimmer (Flexible, Mobile Solution)

• Portable design for multiple locations
• Available in corrosion-resistant materials
• Quick deployment in changing environments

👉 Ideal for:

• Smaller wash bays
• Remote or temporary setups
• Maintenance operations

👉 Benefit impact: increases flexibility while reducing equipment and labor requirements

Oil Viper® Tube Skimmer (Confined or Shallow Sumps)

• Flexible tube design reaches difficult areas
• Works effectively in shallow or irregular pits
• High recovery rate in compact spaces

👉 Ideal for:

• Small pits and trenches
• Irregular sump geometry
• Tight or hard-to-access areas

👉 Benefit impact: improves oil removal coverage and prevents buildup in overlooked areas

Why Mining Operations Choose Abanaki

Lower Costs, Less Labor, and Reliable Water Reuse

✔ Continuous oil removal reduces manual cleanup
✔ Enables reuse of wash water onsite
✔ Minimizes water hauling and disposal costs
✔ Performs reliably in remote and harsh environments
✔ Helps maintain environmental compliance

👉 Result: lower total cost of operation with improved resource efficiency

Real Impact in Mining Operations

From Costly Wastewater to Reusable Resource

Abanaki oil skimmers deliver measurable improvements:

• Reduce fresh water consumption
• Lower wastewater disposal and hauling costs
• Decrease labor required for cleanup
• Improve equipment wash efficiency
• Support sustainable mining practices

👉 Transforms wastewater management into a cost-saving, controlled process

Turn Contaminated Wash Water Into a Cost-Saving Resource

Not an Ongoing Operational Expense

With Abanaki oil skimmers, mining operations can:

• Reduce water consumption
• Lower disposal and hauling costs
• Minimize maintenance and labor
• Improve environmental performance
• Increase operational efficiency

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)