(20 min.) Reaping Maximum Benefits Out of Oil Analysis on Mobile Mining Fleet

Aaron Said , National Technical Manager, International Lubricant Distributors / Sinopec

Description

Oil analysis is a common practice at mobile mining operation as part of their maintenance program. There are multitude ways oil analysis can benefit their operation, however in reality, we saw many wasted opportunities. The huge potential of oil analysis has its function reduced to firefighting mode – reactive rather than proactive. Corrective actions are only taken after triggered by bad samples without a clear plan to eliminate core issues and prevent recurrence. As such most mobile mining operation do not gain the most benefits from oil analysis and the costs associated with it. To ensure that these sites get the most of out their oil analysis program, a different approach is needed. This case study demonstrates a successful introduction of a simple Excel-based analytics at an Australian open cut mine site that helps to discover recurring patterns or issues that could potentially lead to reliability issues. Identification of root cause from the analytics allows implementation of solutions that paves the way to a more reliable and longer lasting asset life. Issues faced by mobile mining operation with respect to oil analysis are also highlighted.

Takeaways
1. Common missed opportunities of having oil analysis program
2. Oil analysis best practices
​3. Insight into lubrication issues faced in mobile mining fleet operation

Bio

Aaron Said has more than 14 years experience in lubricants technical including 8 years with Shell Lubricants in Malaysia and now heads technical department for ILD/Sinopec in Australia. He has spent the last 6 years developing and delivering technical value-added services for mining customers, a great deal of which involves oil analysis and implementing lubrication management best practices. Aaron is qualified as Certified Lubrication Specialist and Oil Monitoring Analyst I from STLE as well as Machine Lubricant Analyst I from ICML. He holds Masters of Science in Advanced Computational Methods for Aeronautics, Flow Management and Fluid-Structure Interaction from Imperial College London and Bachelor (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from University of Sheffield in the UK. He is currently based in Perth, Western Australia.