Diavik Diamond Mine Smoke Remediation
Large-Scale Industrial Media Blasting — Northwest Territories
Belfor Restorations awarded Ocean Pacific Media Blasting a major industrial smoke remediation project at the Diavik Diamond Mine, one of the most remote and demanding work environments in the world.
Owned by Rio Tinto, the Diavik Diamond Mine is located approximately 300 miles northeast of Yellowknife, near the Arctic Circle. The site operates year-round under extreme conditions, making logistics, safety, and execution critical factors for any contractor working on location.
Fire Damage in a Remote Industrial Facility
The remediation was required after a welder accidentally started a fire inside one of the mine’s large industrial buildings. While the fire was contained, smoke spread throughout the interior, contaminating surfaces with soot and smoke residue.
The affected structure—described as the largest cement facility of its kind—required complete interior cleaning to remove smoke damage and prepare surfaces for inspection and continued operation.
Extreme Logistics and Arctic Deployment
Due to the mine’s remote location, transporting personnel and equipment posed a significant challenge. Ocean Pacific deployed a 12-member crew, and all blasting equipment had to be flown into the site aboard a Hercules aircraft.
This level of logistical coordination required detailed planning, redundancy, and experienced personnel capable of working in isolated, high-risk environments.
Key logistical challenges included:
Remote Arctic location with no road access
Airlift-only transport for equipment and crew
Extended on-site deployment
Extreme weather and operational conditions
24-Hour Media Blasting Operations
Once mobilized, Ocean Pacific organized two rotating crews working 24 hours a day to meet the project timeline. Both dry ice blasting and crushed glass media blasting were used to remove smoke contamination from interior surfaces without damaging industrial substrates.
The work continued around the clock to ensure consistent progress.
This dual-media approach allowed crews to:
Remove heavy soot buildup
Eliminate embedded smoke odor
Clean sensitive and structural surfaces
Minimize downtime for critical operations
A Project Recognized by the Client
The scale, complexity, and execution of this project set it apart. When asked why Ocean Pacific was selected over other contractors, the response from the client was simple:
“Because Ocean Pacific Media Blasting’s mobile crew are the best in the business.”
The remediation effort took three months to complete and remains a point of pride for the entire Ocean Pacific team.
Proven Expertise in Extreme Environments
This project demonstrates Ocean Pacific Media Blasting’s ability to perform complex industrial remediation in some of the most challenging environments on the planet.
From Arctic logistics to 24-hour operations, the Diavik Diamond Mine project stands as a testament to experience, capability, and trust earned at the highest level of industry.
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Project Brief
Large-scale smoke remediation completed at Diavik Diamond Mine using round-the-clock media blasting operations.
Client Name
Belfor Restorations
Category
Fire & Smoke Restoration
Location
Northwest Territories, Canada
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