| Australia 
Energy & Resources Acoustical Consulting
Work with a team of experienced acoustical engineers and consultants to manage noise, minimize costs and mitigate risks
Patching Associates specializes in collaborating with stakeholders across all project phases to deliver practical, actionable and cost-effective noise mitigation recommendations for oil and gas, power generation and mining facilities. We work closely with project teams to navigate complex regulatory environments and ensure compliance with noise standards. Our proven people, processes and technology deliver noise control solutions that reduce the risk for energy and resource companies by mitigating noise complaints and costly regulatory delays.
We assist Energy & Resource Clients with:
- Noise Impact Assessments
- Complaint investigation and resolution
- Predictive modeling and noise control design
- Noise source diagnostics
- Representation at open house events as technical experts
- Comprehensive Sound Survey (CSS)
- Noise Management Program (NMP)
- Noise Mitigation Plan
- Occupational exposure studies
- Workplace noise maps
- Equipment vibration diagnostics and mitigation
- Expert witness testimony
- Ongoing compliance monitoring
- Collecting and assessing multiple bids from noise equipment vendors
NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
Predict noise levels from proposed or existing energy facilities at the nearest or most impacted occupied dwellings. Noise Impact Assessments (or NIAs) benefit facility owners by assessing regulatory compliance, proactively managing noise, and allowing for engagement with landowners and stakeholders.
Our models simulate how sound propagates in a facility environment, which accurately predicts noise levels at the closest resident or occupied dwelling. Our model can be designed to achieve regulatory compliance, pinpoint noise levels in any location, or eliminate guesswork from noise control design.
We’ve conducted thousands of Noise Impact Assessments for clients operating in complex regulatory environments for 30 years. Our NIA clients are typically facility designers and operators looking for regulatory assurance and acoustic support in the design or modification of oil and gas and power generation facilities.
Patching Associates offers a spectrum of noise assessments designed to suit the needs of your facility. Our unique Screening Noise Impact Assessment Tool is a free, easy to use online tool to quickly determine if your facility is compliant with best practice noise regulations. By entering information about your facility, noise generating equipment and nearby residences or adjacent facilities, you can easily determine noise compliance. If your facility achieves a passing grade, Patching Associates offers an engineered-stamped simplified NIA that can be submitted to regulators to demonstrate compliance. Check out the tool to assess your facility.
Patching Associates also offers detailed, full analysis noise assessments, ranging from single point sources to complex 3D modeled sources for all types of sites and equipment. We tailor the level of detail to meet project requirements and provide detailed reporting and analysis. Our recommendations can be used to obtain competitive quotes for noise control upgrades for effective comparative analysis.
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS
Determine whether an environmental nuisance has been caused, or a standard has been exceeded by the emission of noise.
Patching Associates collaborates with facility operators, landowners, engineering firms and regulators to investigate and recommend solutions to successfully resolve complaint investigations. We address noise complaints by completing Comprehensive Sound Surveys (CSS), which includes assessing complaint conditions, setting up noise monitors at the facility and affected occupied dwellings to capture the noise levels in the area, and creating detailed models to assess noise sources and simulate noise control strategies.
In addition to measurements at the concerned receiver, we typically perform field reconnaissance to identify other noise sources in the area and conduct detailed noise measurements at the subject facility.
Our precision equipment and unique processes allow us to effectively gather and analyze robust data, and provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions.
NOISE DIAGNOSTICS & NOISE CONTROL
Quickly and accurately identify and measure individual noise sources at energy and resource facilities.
Patching Associates performs advanced noise diagnostics using sound level meters to gather data-rich information and create precise noise models. Major facility noise sources are identified and measured under representative operating conditions, and detailed contour maps are created that capture sound emissions and their impact on the surrounding area. The quantified data is used to construct comprehensive noise models, targeted noise mitigation strategies and optimized noise control plans.
Through the use of customized data collection applications in the field, we are able to effectively record a range of live data sources including sound pressure levels, photos and GPS locations at residences and adjacent facilities. By leveraging these technologies, we can increase the accuracy of our models and minimize the overdesign of noise control by significantly reducing or eliminating hypothetical conservative assumptions. Clients benefit by better understanding the sound levels attributed to specific equipment under operating conditions, providing assurance that the resulting analyses are reliable and mitigation measures are appropriate.
Effective noise control solutions for oil, gas and mining facilities can be a costly endeavor, especially when regulatory action is taken. Patching Associates collaborates with clients to optimize noise control design and achieve ideal performance levels, reducing the risk of costly complaints, delays or disruptions.
Our accurate and detailed modelling ensure noise control recommendations are fit for the purpose and avoid overdesign.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Contact us today to ask a question, discuss your project or arrange a consultation