1. Resume
Michael Royle
Principal Consultant (Hydrogeology)
Profession Hydrogeologist (Geology)
Education MAppSc (Hydrogeology), University of New South Wales, 1992
BSc (Geology), University of British Columbia, 1987
Registration and
Affiliations
Registered Professional Geoscientist (BC and SK)
International Mine Water Association
International Association of Hydrogeologists
Specialization Mining hydrogeology, mine closure, pit slope depressurisation, groundwater
instrumentation, hydraulic testing, dewatering, and ground water resources.
Expertise Michael is a Principal Hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting. He has over 25 years’
experience with projects in Canada, PNG, Australia, Africa, USA, China, and Turkey.
Recent project management experience has included running multidisciplinary
programs up to PFS level, often carried out under difficult conditions in the Canadian
arctic and northern regions. His varied geological experience and instrumentation
knowledge have been used to guide the planning and investigation of groundwater
projects in both mining and groundwater resource evaluation. His project experience
includes slope stability investigations and depressurisation, open pit and underground
mine dewatering, rock mass characterization, mine closure, tailings dam seepage,
environmental monitoring, and contaminant hydrogeology.
Employment May 2015 –
Present
SRK Consulting Inc. (Canada)
Principal Hydrogeologist, Vancouver, BC
April 2013 – April
2015
Schlumberger Canada Ltd
Principal Hydrogeologist – Technology Transfer and Operations
Manager (SWS Canada)
Aug 1995 – April
2013
SRK Consulting Inc. (Canada, SA, and Australasia)
Principal Hydrogeologist, Vancouver (2011 – 2012)
Principal Consultant, Perth (2010 - 2011)
Snr Hydrogeo, Port Elizabeth, South Africa (1995 & 1999)
Senior Hydrogeologist, Vancouver (1995 – 2009)
Jan 1993 – June
1995
Golder Associates Ltd (Canada)
Hydrogeologist, Vancouver, BC
Nov 1989 – Aug
1991
Westbay Instruments Inc. (Canada)
Hydrogeological/Technical Representative, Vancouver, BC
Volunteer Position March to Dec
1998
WaterAid (Dodoma, Tanzania)
Rural water supply. 10 month volunteer position

2. Page 2
Innovation
Much of the mining hydrogeology work Michael has been involved in has been at depths of 750m or more, and in
the Canadian arctic working in regions with permafrost to depths of up to 400m. To provide hydrogeological
services in these areas, Michael has been the lead hydrogeologist in developing new techniques, modifying
equipment, and adapting techniques from other industries (i.e.: oil and gas).
 First to use Westbay multilevel wells for monitoring directly through deep permafrost in arctic mining
projects as system can operate below 0°C (adapted from work in arctic oil drilling).
 First to use cemented VWP strings in diamond core holes > 750m deep (adapted from work in oil sands).
 SRK was first consulting company to use IPI SWiPS hydraulic packers for mining projects, and through
Michael SRK Canada adapted and became primary user of what is now internationally recognised testing
equipment. Several modifications Michael introduced for the tool were:
o Modified the SWiPS to incorporate downhole transducers for test monitoring (now standard
equipment)
o Added dual transducer set up for testing bypass in low K testing
o Designed down hole sampler for use when airlifting column above packer
 Prior to changing to hydraulic SWiPS packers, Michael designed a downhole deflate valve for using
pneumatic packers at depth (> 750m) by hydraulically inflating to get away from safety hazard of high
pressure gas lines.
 FEFLOW numerical modelling: promoted non-standard modelling methods (see publications).
o Use of a block model approach to mesh with 3DEC slope design modelling to deal with complex
geology and devised the “air” domain to allow for the “building block” approach.
o Use of discrete elements to model tunnel reflood conditions for an underground mine.
 Pressurised sampling
o First to send formation pressure samples to lab to prevent degassing and pH change for a deep
mining project (adapted from oil and gas techniques).
o Worked with the lab set up transfer equipment so they could draw directly from Westbay steel
sample bottles for radon gas testing to avoid normal off-gassing when sampling from depth.
Key Experience: Mining Hydrogeology
As part of SRK Vancouver’s mine design, operational support, and closure work, Michael has been
involved in numerous projects to delineate the hydraulic characteristics of the bedrock within the mine
hydrogeological system. Many of the programmes have involved deep drilling programs in challenging
conditions, with testing and instrumentation at depths exceeding 900 m.
A key part of the hydrogeological assessments at SRK is the integration with other mining specialists
within the company to provide a full mine water management expertise that ties in with the mine design,
financial evaluation, operational challenges, environmental assessment and risk reduction, and social
implications of mining.

3. Page 3
Mine Hydrogeology
Denison Mining Wheeler River, Saskatchewan: May 2016 - ongoing
 Project manager and Principal hydrogeologist for design and management of a
PFS level assessment and design of underground high grade uranium mine.
 Project includes direction of deep hydrogeological testing and monitoring system
installation, deep water sampling, and coordinating drill logging program.
MMG Ltd. Century Pit, QLD, Aus: Feb 2016 - ongoing
 Principal hydrogeologist for assessing closure options for the open pit, waste rock,
and tailings facilities at the Century zinc mine in QLD. Groundwater interaction with
the pit and waste materials will be a key component of the potential loading to
receiving streams in the area. Options for waste material closure will include final
groundwater conditions and potential for transport off site.
Petra
Diamonds
Finsch Mine, South Africa: Mar 2016 - ongoing
 Providing Principal Hydrogeology support and peer review for the assessment of
current underground dewatering system and design/cost estimates of Block 5
dewatering system for mine expansion.
MMG Ltd Kinsevere, DRC: Feb 2016 - ongoing
 Principal hydrogeologist and peer review for the Kinsevere pit expansion program.
Primary involvement is design and assessment of the saprolite depressurisation
and stabilisation dewatering program.
ARM Platinum Nkomati, South Africa: Feb 2016 - ongoing
 Providing principal hydrogeologist and peer review for the Nkomati pit expansion
program. Primary involvement is design and assessment of the saprolite
depressurisation and stabilisation dewatering program.
Xstrata Copper Frieda River Project, Papua New Guinea: 2010-2011 & 2015
 Lead hydrogeologist to provide design input to tailings facility design and assess
potential operating and closure impacts of the tailings storage facility.
BHP-Billiton
Potash Canada
Jansen Project, Saskatchewan, Canada: 2014
 Project manager for integrated testing of two deep (1800m) test wells at the Jansen
Potash deposit. Work included coordination of Water Services and Oilfield
Services for geophysical and geomechanical testing and deep fluid sampling.
BHP-Billiton
Potash Canada
Young Project, Saskatchewan, Canada: 2014
 Project manager and lead hydrogeologist on program to assess waste brine
injection at the Young Project site. Coordinated design of geophysical and
hydraulic testing program to test a 1400m deep drillhole to assess injection well
potential for long-term waste brine injection field. Field work consisted of managing
Oil Field Services teams for geophysical and fluid sampling.
Ok Tedi Mining
Ltd
Ok Tedi Mine, Papua New Guinea: 2011 - 2013
 Technical lead and manager for the hydrogeological investigation of the West Wall
push back, as part of the Mine Life Extension program and East Slope UG mine
design options study. The project was linked with SRK-Perth to provide combined
hydrogeological/geotechnical support for the wall design.
 Project duties included on-site supervision and coordination of project team, drill
program design and testing, and installation of long-term monitoring equipment.
Cameco
Corporation
McArthur River Project, Saskatchewan, Canada: 2010 - 2011
 Project manager and lead for the hydrogeological testing and instrumentation of
three shaft pilot holes at the operating McArthur River mine in northern
Saskatchewan. The project included hydraulic testing using IPI packer systems and
installation of Westbay MP wells for long-term hydraulic monitoring and included

4. Page 4
sampling and analysis of radon gas at full formation pressure to determine potential
radon levels in underground workings.
Rio-Tur (Rio
Tinto)
Kazan Project, Kazan (Turkey): 2000 - 2001
 Lead hydrogeologist on the deep hydrogeological testing and installation of
monitoring wells for an 850m deep UG trona deposit conventional or in-situ leach
mine options design.
Mine Hydrogeology – Cold Regions
Minto
Explorations
Ltd.
Minto Mine, YT: 2006 - ongoing
 Providing principal hydrogeological program design and costing for groundwater
monitoring system design and operation at the operating mine site.
 Provide ongoing operational support for monitoring groundwater environmental
conditions on site, providing inputs to pit slope design, and assessing tailings and
waste rock impacts.
Huckelberry
Mines Ltd.
Huckelberry Mine, BC: 2011 – 2012, 2016
 Hydrogeological monitoring system design and installation to assess tailings facility
impacts and long-term monitoring.
 Support for expansion permitting and closure planning.
Miramar
Resources,
TMAC
Hope Bay Project, NWT: 2003 – 2009, 2015 - ongoing
 Provided Principal level review and support for open pit and UG mine design and
development of new techniques for testing through deep permafrost.
 Groundwater monitoring plan design and peer level support for Water License
application.
Areva Canada Kiggavik Mine, NU: 2006 - 2012
 Principal hydrogeologist for open pit and underground mine design and
environmental impact assessment groundwater characterisation program in deep
permafrost.
 Design and management of field programs in deep drilling and monitoring system
program.
De Beers
Canada
Victor Mine, Ontario: 2000 - 2003
 Hydrogeological assessment of kimberlite deposit for open pit mine design.
 Environmental impact assessment monitoring system design and installation.
Areva Canada Shea Creek Project, Northern Saskatchewan: 2008 - 2010
 Principal hydrogeologist for design of deep environmental baseline monitoring
system and later for hydrogeological assessment of underground mine planning.
 Position involved design, management, and implementation of deep groundwater
monitoring and assessment programs during drilling campaigns.
Mine Closure Hydrogeology – Cold Regions
INAC-NCSB Artic Gold and Silver, YT: 1997-98, 2015 - ongoing
 Lead hydrogeologist for planning and implementation of initial hydrogeological
characterisation drilling and testing program, assessment of data and remediation
planning/design. Periodic review during remediation.
 Provided program design, costing, peer supervision, and assessment during 2015
follow-up drilling program and resulting hydrogeological assessment.
INAC-NCSB Venus Mine, YT: 1997-98, 2015 - ongoing
 Lead hydrogeologist for planning and implementation of initial hydrogeological
characterisation drilling and testing program, remediation design, and periodic
review during remediation.
 Provided program design, costing, peer supervision, and assessment during 2015

5. Page 5
follow-up drilling program and resulting hydrogeological assessment.
INAC-NCSB Giant Mine, Yellowknife: 2000-20011, 2015 - ongoing
 Lead hydrogeologist for the closure planning of the abandoned underground mine
site. Key underground tasks included assessment and support/backfill planning for
the stopes containing arsenic trioxide dust. The investigation of groundwater
conditions at the currently dewatered mine was used to predict reflooding
behaviour under various remediation options as part of the arsenic trioxide
remediation program.
 Design and implementation of a 10 well, 150 m deep groundwater monitoring
system in fractured rock to provide background data and input for remediation of an
underground mine system as part of remediation/closure, with work carried out
under arctic winter conditions.
 SRK project manager (2008 –11).
INAC-NCSB,
Deloitte &
Touche, YG
Anvil Range - Faro Mine, YT: 2001 - 2009
 Principal hydrogeologist on cover and waste rock characterisation programs.
 Review of seepage control system design and installation
INAC-NCSB Colomac Mine, NWT: 2001 - 2005
 Principal level design and review of groundwater assessment for tailings covers
and dam design during closure of abandoned site.
 Design and implementation of site drilling and drive-point installation programs and
monitoring.
INAC-NCSB Yukon Abandoned Mines, YT: 1997 - 1998
 Provided hydrogeological support for the assessment of abandoned mine sites in
the Yukon in order to assess potential impacts. If impacts expected, provided
groundwater assessment plan and costs.
Cameco Corp Beaverlodge Closure, SK: 2000 - 2003
 Hydrogeological support for the assessment of abandoned mine sites in the Yukon
in order to assess potential impacts.
 If impacts expected, provided groundwater assessment plan and costs.
Viceroy
Resources
Corp.
Brewery Creek, Heap Leach Closure Plan: 1999
 Senior hydrogeologist for design and implementation of field drilling program to
characterize the groundwater flow system, flowpaths, and residency time with
respect to possible attenuation of contaminants
Publications
1. Royle, M. Fagerlund, G. Scibek, J. (2013) “Integrating Complex Hydrogeological and Geotechnical
Models - a discussion of methods and issues”. Proceedings from Slope Stability 2013 conference,
Brisbane, 2013.
2. ROYLE, M (2007). “Giant Mine: Identification of Inflow Water Types and Preliminary Geochemical
Monitoring during Reflooding”, Mine Water and the Environment (Journal of the Intl Mine Water
Assoc.), Vol. 26: 2, pp. 102-109.
3. ROYLE, M, MACKIE, D, (2004). “Assessing Groundwater Conditions in Preparation for Post Closure
Reflood of the Giant Mine, Canada Using a 3-D Numerical Model: Idealized vs. Reality”. Paper
presented at IWMA, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
4. WELS, C, SHAW, S and ROYLE, M, 2000. “A Case of Intrinsic Remediation of Reactive Tailings
Seepage for Questa Mine”, in Proceedings ICARD 2000 Conference, Vol. 1, pp. 441-458.
5. NAHIR, M, SCOTT, C, ROYLE, M and PALMER, M, 2000. Case Study: “Development of
Rehabilitation Plan for the Abandoned Arctic Gold and Silver Mine Site”, in Proceedings 24th Annual
British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium, June 2000.