Title | Profiling stable isotopes of water signatures to define mass transport mechanisms from water capped fluid fine tailings in the oil sands industry |
Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Dompierre, K., & Barbour L. |
Date Published | 10/2014 |
Publisher | Geological Society of America |
Place Published | Boulder Colorado. |
Publication Language | eng |
Keywords | analytical methodology, end pit lake, field, model, modelling, pit lake, Syncrude, tailings water, U of S |
Abstract | Thirty End Pit Lakes (EPLs) are planned for remediation of open pit oil sands mines in the Athabasca Oil Sands region, however their feasibility as a reclamation feature has yet to be fully evaluated. End Pit Lakes are constructed within mined-out pits and many will contain fluid fine tailings (FFT). The main objectives of these lakes are to: (1) provide an effective means of isolating these soft, consolidating tailings within the closure landscape; (2) passively treat mine site water, including expressed FFT pore water; and (3) support the development of a sustainable biological system. Mass transport processes from the FFT to the overlying lake will have considerable influence on EPL performance. Physical mass transport from the FFT to the lake will occur due to diffusion, but will also be affected by advective transport due to tailings self-weight consolidation. Defining physical mass transport mechanisms and rates through the FFT provides insight on geochemical conditions at the FFT – lake water interface, and offers a better understanding of mass balance in the EPL. |
URL | https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2014AM/webprogram/Handout/Paper244877/GSAPresentation.pdf |
Locational Keywords | Athabasca oil sands region |
Group | OSEMB |
Citation Key | 53348 |