BHP Northern Borefield Water Supply System (NBWSS)

Opifex completed a focused geotechnical site investigation to support BHP’s Northern Borefield Water Supply System at the West Musgrave Project. Over an intensive eight‑day field campaign, our team assessed ground conditions along the 38 km pipeline alignment by drilling more than one hundred shallow boreholes and undertaking extensive in‑situ strength testing. Complementary thermal resistivity testing was carried out to inform the design of the adjacent power supply corridor, while carefully selected soil samples were recovered for detailed laboratory analysis.

In addition to the pipeline works, Opifex investigated groundwater conditions at the proposed Tailings Storage Facility by drilling a series of shallow boreholes to confirm groundwater depths and material characteristics. All works were delivered under strict West Musgrave safety, cultural heritage and environmental protocols, ensuring full compliance with BHP’s operational requirements.

The investigation provides BHP with high‑quality geotechnical data essential for pipeline trenching, construction planning and long‑term asset performance, ensuring the NBWSS can be delivered efficiently and with confidence in the underlying ground conditions.