Repository of the Athabasca River Basin

The magnitude of fog occurrence and associated problems in the oil sands area

Year of Publication: 1977

Citation:

Croft, B. R., & Lamb A. (1977). The magnitude of fog occurrence and associated problems in the oil sands area. 3 pages .

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The metabolism of selected organic compounds by microorganisms in the Athabasca River

Authors Nix, P. G., Westlake D. W. S., Coutts R. T., & Pasutto F. M.

Year of Publication: 1981

Abstract:
In this study, the ability of microorganisms to degrade selected organic substrates in samples of Athabasca River water and water-sediment has been determined. Analysis of laboratory-incubated samples using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry has shown that trace amounts (100 µg/L) of m-cresol and camphor can be quantified and a \"50% depletion time\" determined. Sites both above the oil sands region and downstream from the area of mining activity had a noticeably high level of activity regarding the degradation of these compounds. In addition, the incubation of samples taken along a transect of the river just downstream from the oil sands plants showed higher rates of microbial degradation on the west bank where effluents and drainage would likely be concentrated. Other substrates, 2,6-xylenol and methylsalicylate, were not suitable for degradation studies due to depletion caused by non-biological processes. Analysis of 14C-labelled substrates indicated that \"natural\" compounds (amino acids and starch) were degraded more quickly than hydrocarbons and that significant degradation of hydrocarbons occurred only after nutrient supplementation.

Citation:

Nix, P. G., Westlake D. W. S., Coutts R. T., & Pasutto F. M. (1981). The metabolism of selected organic compounds by microorganisms in the Athabasca River. 97 pages . Abstract

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The MITD process for dealing with MFT

Authors Bonem, J. M., & Kimball G.

Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:

Bonem, J. M., & Kimball G. (2012). The MITD process for dealing with MFT.

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The mobility of petroleum hydrocarbons in Athabasca oil sands tailings

Authors Brickner, H. A.

Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
Several oil sands tailings from Suncor Energy Inc. were analysed with respect to the mobility and solubility of the petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contaminants. At sites where oil sands tailings materials have been disposed of and are covered with a growing medium, the PHCs from the tailings may slowly migrate into the reclamation cover, increasing their availability to the plants in the cover system, which could be detrimental to the development and establishment of the plant cover system. This study characterized the PHC content of the tailings and quantified the desorption and diffusion coefficients for F2 and F3 fraction PHCs. All tailings materials collected from Suncor were characterized for initial PHC content. Desorption coefficients were experimentally determined using batch tests for 9 tailings materials (MFT, LG MFT, PT MFT, Tailings Sand, P4 UB Surface, P4 UB Auger, 2:1 CT, 4:1 CT and 6:1 CT). The experimental results from the batch tests were fitted to a Langmuir hyperbolic isotherm model. Diffusion coefficients were determined by fitting the experimental results from a radial diffusion 1-dimensional experiment to a Finite Difference Model. Diffusion coefficients for F2 and F3 Fraction PHCs were developed for 7 tailings materials (MFT, LG MFT, PT MFT, Tailings Sand, 2:1 CT, 4:1 CT and 6:1 CT). The diffusion coefficients (D*) and the Langmuir desorption constants ( and ) developed from these experiments are included in Table A.1 below.

Citation:

Brickner, H. A. (2013). The mobility of petroleum hydrocarbons in Athabasca oil sands tailings. 219 pages . Abstract

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The multiple toxicity of vanadium nickel and phenol to fish

Authors Anderson, P. D., Spear P., D'Apollinia S., Perry S., Deluca J., & Dick J.

Year of Publication: 1979

Abstract:
This study was initiated in early 1976 during the early stages of the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program. The goal of the project was the establishment of criteria safeguarding fish from toxic effects of mixtures of vanadium, nickel, and phenol to fish. All three constituents are associated with oil sands developments. Such knowledge could be used for an assessment of aquatic environmental problems that could be caused by oil sands development activities. A number of parallel aquatic toxicological investigations were also conducted. For further information, the reader is referred to AOSERP Report 23 \"Acute Lethality of Mine Depressurization Water to Trout-Perch and Rainbow Trout\", AOSERP Report 41 \"Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Vanadium to Fish\", and AOSERP Report 56 \"The Acute Toxicity of Saline Groundwaters and of Vanadium to Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates\".

Citation:

Anderson, P. D., Spear P., D'Apollinia S., Perry S., Deluca J., & Dick J. (1979). The multiple toxicity of vanadium nickel and phenol to fish. 109 pages . Abstract

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The Northern Athabasca River Basin Study: A native people's perspective on current and historical water resource issues

Authors

Year of Publication: 1988

Citation:

[Anonymous] (1988). The Northern Athabasca River Basin Study: A native people's perspective on current and historical water resource issues. (Fort McKay Indian Band, Fort Chipewyan Cree, Chipewyan Indian band, Ed.). 29 pages .

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The nucleolar organizer of the salivary gland polytene chromosomes as a measure of recent growth in laboratory-reared and field-collected Chironomus spp. (Diptera : chironomidae) larvae

Authors Martin, J. P.

Year of Publication: 2010

Citation:

Martin, J. P. (2010). The nucleolar organizer of the salivary gland polytene chromosomes as a measure of recent growth in laboratory-reared and field-collected Chironomus spp. (Diptera : chironomidae) larvae.

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The oil sands environmental footprint: Measuring pollutants and managing their impact

Authors Schindler, D., Miall A., & Hurley A.

Year of Publication: 2011

Citation:

Schindler, D., Miall A., & Hurley A. (2011). The oil sands environmental footprint: Measuring pollutants and managing their impact.

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The oil sands of Alberta

Authors Berkowitz, N., & Speight J. G.

Year of Publication: 1975

Abstract:
Northern Alberta's oil-sand deposits contain some 143 Gt (900 × 109 bbl) of bitumen from which at least 36 Gt (250 × 109 bbl) of marketable light ‘synthetic crude oil’ are expected to be ultimately producible. Representing Canada's largest potential ‘petroleum’ reservoir, and of a size large enough to be compared with the total recoverable oil reserves of the Middle East, these deposits may become the country's principal source of future petroleum supplies. This review briefly describes the geological setting of the oil sands, and the methods by which bitumen can be extracted and upgraded; outlines current and planned commercial projects; and notes some of the factors bearing on future exploitation of the oil sands.

Citation:

Berkowitz, N., & Speight J. G. (1975). The oil sands of Alberta. 54(3 ), 11 pages . Abstract

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The oil sands of Alberta: Source of Canada's future oil supply?

Authors Towson, D. E.

Year of Publication: 1979

Citation:

Towson, D. E. (1979). The oil sands of Alberta: Source of Canada's future oil supply?. 18(4), 2 pages .

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The oil sands tailings roadmap and action plan: Oil sands tailings state of practice overview

Authors McKenna, G., Dawson, Burns R., Hyndman A., LeSueur P., & Sobkowicz J.

Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:

McKenna, G., Dawson, Burns R., Hyndman A., LeSueur P., & Sobkowicz J. (2012). The oil sands tailings roadmap and action plan: Oil sands tailings state of practice overview.

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The oil sands tailings technology roadmap and action plan: Introduction and key recommendations

Authors Sobkowicz, J.

Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:

Sobkowicz, J. (2012). The oil sands tailings technology roadmap and action plan: Introduction and key recommendations.

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The oil sands tailings technology roadmap project: The identification and improvement of tailings technology suites and pathways for technology development

Authors Boswell, J., Alostaz M. 'd, Sobkowicz J., Abraha D., Gidley I., Kofoed M., et al.

Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
In 2011, Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES) awarded a contract to the Consortium of Tailings Management Consultants (CTMC) to complete a study to develop an Oil Sands Tailings Technology Deployment Roadmap to improve the current tailings management in the industry. The study scope of work was divided into four main components: 1) to identify and describe all known tailings management technologies, throughout all stages of the mining life cycle, 2) to define important tailings reclamation objectives to which successful tailings technologies should contribute, 3) to evaluate the identified tailings technologies to determine their strengths and weaknesses, in light of these objectives, and 4) to identify technologies and/or suites of technologies which could improve the ability of tailings management practices to meet the previously defined objectives, and the pathways by which they could be brought through the research and development process to commercial implementation. This paper describes the work completed during Component 4 of this study including: improvement of existing commercial technology suites and identification of new technology suites, development of roadmaps for furthering selected technologies and technology suites to commercial implementation, leveraging of synergies and collaboration in the development process, and defining the " Big Picture " context for the roadmap work. The full text of the report is titled: OIL SANDS TAILINGS TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT ROADMAP Project Report – Volume 5 Component 4 Results

Citation:

Boswell, J., Alostaz M. 'd, Sobkowicz J., Abraha D., Gidley I., Kofoed M., et al. (2012). The oil sands tailings technology roadmap project: The identification and improvement of tailings technology suites and pathways for technology development. Abstract

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The oil sands technology roadmap and action plan: Leveraging ther power of collaboration for strategic success

Authors Nelson, R., & Fair A.

Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:

Nelson, R., & Fair A. (2012). The oil sands technology roadmap and action plan: Leveraging ther power of collaboration for strategic success.

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The oil sands: A new energy vision for Canada

Authors

Year of Publication: 1995

Citation:

[Anonymous] (1995). The oil sands: A new energy vision for Canada. (National Task Force on Oil Sands Strategies, Ed.). 58 pages .

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The oil sands: Canada's path to clean energy?

Authors Kelly, G.

Year of Publication: 2009

Citation:

Kelly, G. (2009). The oil sands: Canada's path to clean energy?. 324 pages .

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The Peace and Athabaska River systems : A synopsis of Alberta environment's monitoring programs and the water quality effects of existing pulp mill effluents

Authors Noton, L. R.

Year of Publication: 1989

Abstract:
Pulp mills discharge significant amounts of wastewater which have the potential to affect water quality in receiving waters. The Alberta-Pacific Environmental Impact Assessment Review Board has been established to examine the potential water quality impacts of pulp mills in the Peace and Athabasca River systems. Alberta Environment has monitored water quality in these rivers for a number of years and has carried out assessments of the impact of existing pulp mill effluents on river water quality and aquatic biota. It is the purpose of this document to outline the monitoring done to date, to summarize the findings of these assessments regarding pulp mill effects, and to indicate the direction of future river monitoring and assessments.

Citation:

Noton, L. R. (1989). The Peace and Athabaska River systems : A synopsis of Alberta environment's monitoring programs and the water quality effects of existing pulp mill effluents. Abstract

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The potential effects of climate change in the Peace Athabasca and Slave River basins: A discussion paper

Authors Cohen, S. J.

Year of Publication: 1995

Abstract:
Presents an overview of the preliminary findings of the Mackenzie Basin Impact Study, which set out to determine the potential impacts of climate change scenarios on the water, land, and people of the basin. Assesses the likely challenges to be confronted by residents, researchers, and resource managers in the future in response to such climate change related phenomena as longer growing seasons, increased frequency and severity of forest fires, extension of pest ranges, and altered use of land.

Citation:

Cohen, S. J. (1995). The potential effects of climate change in the Peace Athabasca and Slave River basins: A discussion paper. (Sustainable Development Research Institute, Ed.). 22 pages . Abstract

Download: 0-662-24360-9.pdf (1.3 MB)

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The potential for carbon dioxide sequestration in oil sands processing streams

Authors Mikula, R. J., Zrobok R., & Omotoso O.

Year of Publication: 2004

Abstract:
The consolidated tailings (CT) process involves chemical amendments to combine the clays and fines in oil sands mature fine tailings or thickened tailings with the coarser sand components to create a nonsegregating tailings (NST) mixture that will rapidly consolidate. Over the years, several amendment chemicals have proved useful in controlling the fluid tailings properties so that they may support sand loading and remain non-segregating. Suncor has several years of commercial-scale operating experience with' gypsum as the CT process aid and in the years leading up to the commercialization of the CT process at Suncor, carbon dioxide was also investigated as a CT process aid. With the concerns over carbon dioxide related to the Kyoto Protocol, the extent to which carbon dioxide is trapped and chemically sequestered in the CT process has been investigated. The mechanism by which carbon dioxide addition affects the strength 'of the mature fine tailings or fluid tailings component has been investigated, and the potential for carbon dioxide sequestration has been quantified. Depending upon the availability of gypsum as a CT or NST additive, carbon dioxide could be a useful alternative.

Citation:

Mikula, R. J., Zrobok R., & Omotoso O. (2004). The potential for carbon dioxide sequestration in oil sands processing streams. 43(8), 4 pages . Abstract

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The potential for hydraulic mining by sluicing in the oil sands

Authors Boswell, J., Cooke R., & Kofoed M.

Year of Publication: 2013

Citation:

Boswell, J., Cooke R., & Kofoed M. (2013). The potential for hydraulic mining by sluicing in the oil sands.

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The potential of forest floor transfer for the reclamation of boreal forest understory plant communities

Authors Fair, J. M.

Year of Publication: 2011

Abstract:
We examined a direct forest floor transfer reclamation technique to establish a native boreal forest understory plant community on a reclamation site at a coal mine. Forest floor material was salvaged from an aspen-dominated (Populus tremuloides Michx.) donor forest at two depths (15 and 40 cm) and placed at a reclamation site at those same depths. We conducted vegetation surveys at the donor site prior to salvage and at the reclamation site in the first year. The surveys showed that the donor site had a later successional plant community than the reclamation site, which had a recently disturbed / early successional plant community. The 15 cm depth treatments had higher percent cover and species richness than the 40 cm treatment but the species compositions were similar. This reclamation technique shows potential to effectively establish a species-rich native understory forest plant community in the future.

Citation:

Fair, J. M. (2011). The potential of forest floor transfer for the reclamation of boreal forest understory plant communities. 140 pages . Abstract

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The potential use of black worms (Lumbriculus variegates) to assess surface-ground water interactions

Authors Boutsivongsakd, M., Farwell A., & Dixon D. G.

Year of Publication: 2007

Citation:

Boutsivongsakd, M., Farwell A., & Dixon D. G. (2007). The potential use of black worms (Lumbriculus variegates) to assess surface-ground water interactions. 24 pages .

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The proposed Alberta-Pacific pulp mill: Report of the EIA Review Board

Authors

Year of Publication: 1990

Abstract:
Report of the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Board of the bleached kraft pulp mill proposed by Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. for the County of Athabasca, Alberta between the Athabasca, La Biche and Wandering Rivers and Pine Creek. Reviews the environmental impact of the proposed mill including the effects of timber harvesting on Indian Reserve Lands. Recommends that the mill not be built, primarily because of effluent discharge into the Athabasca-Peace River System. Although the proposed mill would be one of the least polluting bleached kraft pulp mills in the world, and even though it would have economic benefits associated with it, the Review Board recommends that it not be approved at this time. The major reason for this recommendation is the effluent which would be discharged to the Athabasca River, and in particular, its content of chlorinated organic compounds and the cumulative effects this effluent and that from other mills would have on the Athabasca-Peace River system. The Alberta-Pacific would use technology which would reduce the chlorinated organic compounds to a low concentration. However, the limited available data indicate that there are already measurable amounts of dioxins and furans in fish in the river system near existing mills and extending to more than 1000 km downstream.

Citation:

[Anonymous] (1990). The proposed Alberta-Pacific pulp mill: Report of the EIA Review Board. Abstract