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TitleNature and fate of oil sands fine tailings
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1996
AuthorsMikula, R. J., Kasperski K. L., Burns R. D., & MacKinnon M. D.
Pagination46 pages
Date Published12/1996
PublisherAdvances in Chemistry
Publication Languageeng
Keywordschemistry, federal government, physical properties, Suncor, Syncrude, tailings
Abstract

The chemical and physical properties of clay suspensions produced during oil production front oil sands are described. With a composition of approximately 70 wt% water (with some unrecovered bitumen) and 30 wt% solids (>90% less than 44 {mu}m in size), these clay suspensions consolidate very slowly. Clay aggregate or floc morphology has been shown to be a function of the water chemistry and can be manipulated to produce a tailings suspension that is easier to consolidate and dewater. Commercial oil sands processing has been going on in northeastern Alberta since 1967, and in that time approximately 250 million m of this difficult to dewater clay suspension has been produced. The reclamation options for this material (mature fine tailings) on a commercial scale are also outlined. 84 refs., 36 figs., 3 tabs.

Locational Keywords

Alberta oil sands

Active Link

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4438070229

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Citation Key52984

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