Solid Energy has released a dossier of documents it considered before calling off the Pike River Mine re-entry, which show in startling detail the risks considered, from helicopter crashes to skin disorders.
The State-owned enterprise has released close to 20 documents on its website, totalling hundreds of pages.
It spent a whole year on the risk assessment process, which cost $5.4 million, before calling off the re-entry last week.
One report by Australian consultants HMS considers almost every possible scenario, from people getting trapped, to fire on a mobile plant, gas ignition and even a helicopter accident.
For each one, it explains in detail what would happen, and what individuals would in turn need to do, right down to the exact size of the rope and piping needed, the risk of fungi in the tunnel, and the contents of the emergency kits. It even considers accidents while loading the helicopters.
Everything from skin disorders to loss of life is mulled over in more than 100 pages in one report.
These are accompanied by an additional 11 flow charts, again showing scenarios, and responses.
"They couldn't see the forest for the trees," West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor said yesterday.
If anyone analysed their ordinary, regular activities in detail, there would be a range of risks, Mr O'Connor said.
A report last month by Pacific MGM and Dr Dennis Black found mine re-entry was complex and fragile, with 600-plus "problems".
The nitrogen line had already been damaged by a storm, and the site was not always accessible. A failure in just one area could lead to things spiralling out of control, they said.
Solid Energy's own steering group last month asked them, "have all potential accident scenarios been identified and fully considered?" and was there "unwarranted optimism".
It noted conditions inside the mine had deteriorated, including possibly significant fire-related damage to parts of the roof, problems with maintaining gas and ventilation, unpredictable weather and unreliable services and infrastructure including electricity supply.
It said if someone did get trapped, there was no guarantee they could get a drill rig of the size needed to bore down to rescue them.
The full reports are publicly available at http://www.solidenergy.co.nz/operations/pike-river-project/
By Laura Mills of the Greymouth Star
