Engineering a Reliable, Durable, Effective & Efficient Borehole Solution

By combining its flagship ZSM connection with STÜWA’s slotted well bridge screen and other screens, CHPPS has unlocked a reliable, durable and effective solution to the common problem of well/borehole development for mines and other industries in Africa. The launch - when mines are ramping up production and need reliable sources of pure water - could not have been more perfectly timed.

Most mines in DRC and Zambia are overwhelmed with underground water. KCM in Zambia is the wettest mine in the World, remote areas construct boreholes to access underground water from areas they identify. However, for boreholes to deliver longevity they must pump pure water – which is achieved by filtration i.e. screens keeping solids away from pumps - and the only equipment that has proven to be durable and effective in tough conditions should be employed.

Thus, to deliver the best possible borehole solution to mining companies, Carl Hamm selected STÜWA as the ideal partner.

After being asked about the decision to partner with STÜWA, Chris Munnick, CEO of Carl Hamm PPS, justifies precisely,” After extensive research, it was a no-brainer.”

Carl Hamm PPS, the supplier of specialised pumps and pipes for the agricultural and mining industries, is widely respected for its flagship flangeless high-pressure ZSM riser connection. This is an innovation which has set the industry benchmark in dewatering applications. And so, with its track record in providing relevant solutions, it was only natural that CHPPS needed an organisation that shared its values.

Perfect partnership

In STÜWA, there could not have been a more perfect partner to enable CHPPS to realise the goal to deliver the best possible borehole/ well solutions. STÜWA is synonymous with the universally-endorsed slotted bridge well screen.

The Stuwa slotted-bridge well screen

Typically, a well screen is a part of the casing at the bottom of a well or borehole that stabilises the structure of the hole, while also preventing debris such as the rocks and dirt surrounding the borehole wall from entering the water supply system. But, there is no question that STÜWA’s slotted bridge well screen blazes a trail.

Particularly, Chris Munnick, mentions the design of the screen and the quality of the material as two elements that make the well screen stand out.

The shape of the holes in the screen renders the slotted bridge well-screen effective. The holes appear to have bridge-like structures over them, ensuring that water can still pass through the holes while still preventing any rocks and sand from doing the same.

All the more worth underlining is that the slotted bridge well screen is produced according to internal STÜWA standards. Munnick describes STÜWA bridge slotted screens and casings as ‘at the cutting edge when it comes to stability and material quality’. “The well screen stabilises the aquifer strata and helps water flow into the borehole at a consistent rate, therefore protecting the area around it.”

Currently, the well screens are available in different size ranges to cater for client needs.

Depending on the wall thickness of each well screen, slot widths are approximately 0,5 mm or more. The wall itself can be up to a thickness of 12 mm. Screens are available in plastic and stainless steel, making them rust-resistant and durable.

The ZSM riser connection

The ZSM connection perfectly complements STÜWA’s bridge-slotted well screens. It has a restraining pin that slides into the slot to form a perfect seal. This pin acts as a hook that holds the opposite part of the connection perfectly in place. In addition, unlike screw connections,

ZSM has no grooves. Specifically, due to the material of construction, as well as the design and engineering, the ZSM riser connection has several features that are ideal for boreholes/ wells. Mainly, these are:

• Quick and easy to install

Several unique features make the coupling quick and easy to install. The reduced diameter of the ZSM connection is the ideal choice for any project where there is little wiggle room. The Stuwa pipes can be installed into wells of up to 300 m deep and 250 mm in diameter. Carl Hamm has designs in excess of 1500m deep with the ZSM available up to 1400 mm in diameter.

• Sand and waterproof

The tight seal ring prevents sand and water from making their way in.

• Handling high pressure

Last but not least, the Stuwa ZSM riser connection can handle a lot of pressure — up to 40 bar! The Carl Hamm ZSM can be used for more than 150 bar.

Adequately resourced

Largely, in combining its flagship ZSM riser connection with STÜWA’s slotted-bridge well screen, CHPPS has engineered a reliable, durable and effective borehole solution. The company is now adequately resourced to solve complex challenges that industries in Africa are confronted with in well/borehole construction. Most importantly, in the bigger scheme of things, its partnership with STÜWA underscores CHPPS’s quest to increase the scope of turnkey solutions it provides to clients under one roof.