Fast and Safe Brine Transport in the Salar de Hombre Muerto

Pan American Energy implements an efficient and sustainable solution for brine transportation.

Case Study Nº

171 Customer

Lithos (PAE)

Argentina

2024

Working Conditions

Temperature: 20°C / 58°F | Flow rate: 80.3 m³/h | Pressure: 8.6 bar | Fluid: Brine

Pexgol Pipes

Pexgol 160 mm (6″) class 10

Application

Brine transport

Lenght

10,000 m / 32808.4 ft

The Challenge

Pan American Energy, a leader in oil, gas, and renewable energy exploration and production, faced a logistical challenge during the performance testing phase of its lithium mining project (Lithos) in the Salar de Hombre Muerto, Argentina. The company needed a reliable and ﬂexible transport line for brine transfer between pumping wells, in a demanding salt ﬂat environment.

The project called for a solution capable of withstanding abrasive terrain, enduring constant movement between wells, and ensuring pipeline integrity throughout the process. At the same time, Pan American Energy aimed to reduce operational costs and minimize environmental impact, in line with its sustainability objectives.

The Solution

To meet these challenges, Pan American Energy installed 10 kilometers of 6-inch Pexgol pipes in 450-meter coils. This solution proved ideal due to the following advantages:

Quick Installation: Each 450-meter coil was deployed in just 15 minutes, signiﬁcantly reducing installation time and enabling quick movement between wells.
High Chemical and Abrasion Resistance: Pexgol pipes withstood the abrasive terrain and extreme weather conditions of the Salar de Hombre Muerto, ensuring uninterrupted operation without damage.
Long Sections: The use of long-length coils minimized the number of joints required, reducing potential failure points and improving pipeline safety.

The operation was highly efﬁcient: each well was tested for a set duration, and afterward, the same pipe was dragged to the next well, eliminating the need for multiple lines. This method allowed Pan American Energy to optimize resources, lower costs, and speed up its testing schedule.