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Oil Sands Environmental Management Bibliography

The Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA)partnered with the Oil Sands Research and Information Network (OSRIN) to create the new Oil Sands Environmental Management Bibliography, which includes documents relevant to the environmental management of oil sands development in Alberta. The majority of the documents focus on the mineable oil sands in the Athabasca deposit, though some documents relate to in-situ developments. This bibliography was last updated in November 2014.

Evaluation of membrane fouling for in-line filtration of oil sands process-affected water: The effects of pretreatment conditions

Authors Kim, E. - S., Liu Y., & Gamal El-Din M.

Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
Membrane filtration is an effective reclamation option for oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). However, fresh OSPWs contain suspended solids and inorganic constituents in suspended and dissolved forms that can severely foul membranes. Pretreatment of OSPW with coagulation–flocculation (CF) was investigated to determine the effects of different coagulant aids (anionic, cationic, and nonionic polymers) on membrane surface properties and fouling. Our results showed that CF pretreatment effectively enhanced nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane permeate flux and salt rejection ratio through reducing membrane fouling. It was shown that coagulants and coagulant aids applied to OSPW feedwater can affect membrane physicochemical properties (surface hydrophilicity, zeta potential, and morphology), membrane performance, and the fouling indexes. Membrane rejection of ionic species increased significantly with the inclusion of an anionic coagulant aid and slightly with a cationic coagulant aid. Among three coagulant aids tested, anionic coagulant aids led to the most enhanced membrane performance through increasing membrane surface negativity and decreasing the formation of a fouling layer. Conversely, although cationic coagulant aids were the most effective in reducing OSPW turbidity, the application of cationic coagulant aids promoted the adsorption of foulants on membrane surfaces.

Citation:

Kim, E. - S., Liu Y., & Gamal El-Din M. (2012). Evaluation of membrane fouling for in-line filtration of oil sands process-affected water: The effects of pretreatment conditions. 46(5), 7 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of metals release from oil sands coke: An ecotoxicological assessment of risk and hazard to aquatic invertebrates

Authors Puttaswamy, N. V.

Year of Publication: 2011

Citation:

Puttaswamy, N. V. (2011). Evaluation of metals release from oil sands coke: An ecotoxicological assessment of risk and hazard to aquatic invertebrates.

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Evaluation of microbial biofilm communities from an Alberta oil sands tailings pond

Authors Golby, S., Ceri H., Geig L. M., Chatterjee I., Marques L. R., & Turner R. J.

Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
Bitumen extraction from the oil sands of Alberta has resulted in millions of cubic meters of waste stored on-site in tailings ponds. Unique microbial ecol- ogy is expected in these ponds, which may be key to their bioremediation potential. We considered that direct culturing of microbes from a tailings sam- ple as biofilms could lead to the recovery of microbial communities that pro- vide good representation of the ecology of the tailings. Culturing of mixed species biofilms in vitro using the Calgary Biofilm Device (CBD) under aerobic, microaerobic, and anaerobic growth conditions was successful both with and without the addition of various growth nutrients. Denaturant gradient gel elec- trophoresis and 16S rRNA gene pyrotag sequencing revealed that unique mixed biofilm communities were recovered under each incubation condition, with the dominant species belonging to Pseudomonas, Thauera, Hydrogenophaga, Rho- doferax, and Acidovorax. This work used an approach that allowed organisms to grow as a biofilm directly from a sample collected of their environment, and the biofilms cultivated in vitro were representative of the endogenous environ- mental community. For the first time, representative environmental mixed spe- cies biofilms have been isolated and grown under laboratory conditions from an oil sands tailings pond environment and a description of their composition is provided.

Citation:

Golby, S., Ceri H., Geig L. M., Chatterjee I., Marques L. R., & Turner R. J. (2012). Evaluation of microbial biofilm communities from an Alberta oil sands tailings pond. 79(1), 10 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of off the shelf and off the wall tailings treatment technologies: A cautionary tale

Authors Mikula, R.

Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:

Mikula, R. (2012). Evaluation of off the shelf and off the wall tailings treatment technologies: A cautionary tale.

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Evaluation of oil sands coke leachate toxicity using Ceriodaphnia dubia

Authors Puttaswamy, N., & Liber K.

Year of Publication: 2007

Citation:

Puttaswamy, N., & Liber K. (2007). Evaluation of oil sands coke leachate toxicity using Ceriodaphnia dubia. 25 pages .

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Evaluation of passive sampling systems at TEEM jack pine monitoring sites: Part I. Field evaluation

Authors

Year of Publication: 1999

Citation:

[Anonymous] (1999). Evaluation of passive sampling systems at TEEM jack pine monitoring sites: Part I. Field evaluation. (EPCM Associated Ltd., Ed.). 24 pages .

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Evaluation of passive sampling systems at TEEM jack pine monitoring sites: Part II. Dry deposition of SO2

Authors

Year of Publication: 2000

Citation:

[Anonymous] (2000). Evaluation of passive sampling systems at TEEM jack pine monitoring sites: Part II. Dry deposition of SO2. (EPCM Associates Ltd, Ed.). 23 pages .

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Evaluation of preferential flow processes in reclamation soil covers

Authors Welter, D. C.

Year of Publication: 2009

Abstract:
To predict the effectiveness of land reclamation, it is important to understand how water and solutes are transported within reconstructed landscapes. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of preferential flow on salt leaching in reclamation soil covers. The study site was a reconstructed landscape where saline- sodic minespoil from oil sands mining was capped with layers of glacial and peat mix soil. Preferential flow was investigated using laboratory column experiments and in situ adsorptive dye and conservative tracer experiments. Results from column experiments and dye tracer experiments indicate that preferential flow is an important and prevalent mechanism of solute transport. Column experiments, which used time-domain reflectometry to monitor the transport of a chloride tracer through an undisturbed core of peat mix soil, determined immobile water fractions (θim/θ) ranging from 80-99% and diffusive mass transfer rates (α) between 0.15 - 2.0 h-1. Breakthrough curves showed the early arrival of chloride and extended tailing. Dye tracer experiments, in which Brilliant Blue dye was applied in solution to the soil surface, were carried out at 6 hillslopes plots. Approximately 24 hours after dye application, a vertical soil face was excavated to reveal stained flow patterns. Preferential flow as macropore flow, fingering, and / or funneling was observed at each plot. Results from the conservative tracer field study indicated soil solutes were flushed by a combination of vertical and lateral flow processes. A large pulse of bromide and chloride was applied across the lower slope of the 0.35-m cover. Soil sampling at approximately 1 and 2 years later determined vertical leaching, lateral translocation downslope, and upwards movement of soil solutes. Matrix flow during the spring melt, combined with matrix flow and / or preferential flow during summer and fall periods, was responsible for the vertical leaching of solutes. Subsurface flow generated in response to the spring melt or due to differences in soil hydraulic conductivity was responsible for the lateral transport of solutes. As a result of advective or diffusive processes, solutes were transported upwards into the overlying soil. These results suggested that despite the existence of preferential flow, there were other mechanisms of solute transport which served to leach and flush salts from the soil.

Citation:

Welter, D. C. (2009). Evaluation of preferential flow processes in reclamation soil covers. 101 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of protein expression signatures in the assessment of toxicity of oil sands extracts

Authors Van Es, S. J., Walsh S. K., Nero V., Farwell A. J., Dixon D. G., & Lee L. E. J.

Year of Publication: 2005

Citation:

Van Es, S. J., Walsh S. K., Nero V., Farwell A. J., Dixon D. G., & Lee L. E. J. (2005). Evaluation of protein expression signatures in the assessment of toxicity of oil sands extracts. (Dixon, D. G., Munro, S., Nimi, A.J., Ed.). 43 pages .

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Evaluation of reclamation success in Alberta's oil sands

Authors May, L. L., Warner C., Acton C. A., Salifu K. F., Anderson H. B., & Tedder W. S.

Year of Publication: 2011

Citation:

May, L. L., Warner C., Acton C. A., Salifu K. F., Anderson H. B., & Tedder W. S. (2011). Evaluation of reclamation success in Alberta's oil sands.

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Evaluation of small volume techniques for broad spectrum analysis of biofilm materials and bleached kraft mill effluents

Authors Headley, J. V.

Year of Publication: 1995

Abstract:
The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the utility of small volume extraction techniques for Broad Spectrum Analyses of biofilm from riverine environments, and (2) to compare the results obtained with those obtained by conventional extraction techniques of pulp-and-paper mill effluents.

Citation:

Headley, J. V. (1995). Evaluation of small volume techniques for broad spectrum analysis of biofilm materials and bleached kraft mill effluents. (National Hydrology Research Institute, Ed.). 19 pages . Abstract

Download: 0-662-23833-8.pdf (1.42 MB)

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Evaluation of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute for monitoring reclaimed oil sands sites

Authors

Year of Publication: 2007

Abstract:
This report describes the evaluation of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute for use on reclaimed oil sands sites (mining and in-situ).

Citation:

[Anonymous] (2007). Evaluation of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute for monitoring reclaimed oil sands sites. (Golder Associates Ltd., Ed.). 55 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the analyses of tert-butyldimethysilyl derivatives of naphthenic acids by gas cromatography-electron impact mass spectrometry

Authors Clemente, J. S., & Fedorak P. M.

Year of Publication: 2004

Abstract:
Naphthenic acids are a complex mixture of carboxylic acids with the general formula CnH(2n+Z)O2 and they are natural, toxic components of crude oils. GC-MS analyses of tert-butyldimethylsilyl esters of naphthenic acids are used to estimate component distribution within naphthenic acids mixtures. Our evaluations of the GC-MS method showed that ions from column bleed erroneously appear as C14 Z = -4 acids and that correcting for heavy isotopes of C and Si do not significantly affect ion distribution plots. Overall, the GC-MS method appears to overestimate the relative proportion of low-molecular-mass acids.

Citation:

Clemente, J. S., & Fedorak P. M. (2004). Evaluation of the analyses of tert-butyldimethysilyl derivatives of naphthenic acids by gas cromatography-electron impact mass spectrometry. 1047(1), 11 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the baseline hydrometric and water quality networks in the AOSERP study area

Authors Yaremko, E. K., & Murray R. B.

Year of Publication: 1979

Abstract:
Prior to 1975 information on surface water hydrology in the oil sands area was very limited. During 1975 and 1976 a number of hydrometric gauging stations were provided by AOSERP to bring the total number of stations in the area to 32. Measurements of standard water quality parameters began at these stations in 1976 and a regular monthly sampling program was instituted in 1977. As data became available from this extensive network, a need to analyze the data for redundancies or gaps was recognized within AOSERP. Thus, this project was initiated with the general objective to evaluate the streamflow, suspended sediment, lake level, and water quality networks in the AOSERP study area so as to provide the basis for continuation and/or redirection.

Citation:

Yaremko, E. K., & Murray R. B. (1979). Evaluation of the baseline hydrometric and water quality networks in the AOSERP study area. 216 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the capability of aggregated oil sands mine tailings: Biological indicators

Authors Li, X., Feng Y., Slaski J. J., & Fung M.

Year of Publication: 2003

Abstract:
An experiment was initiated in 1997 in northeast Alberta at the Syncrude Canada Ltd. Mildred Lake site to field test an innovative technique for reclamation of oil sand mine tailings. This technique was used to create an aggregated soil material from oil sand tailings. A plant community was successfully established on the soil material created by this technique. However, whether the site would be capable of supporting a self-sustainable ecosystem for the long-term remained a challenging issue. We evaluated the capability of these aggregated oil sand tailings by using biological indicators of the abundance and diversity of soil microbial biomass. Soil respiration rates and soil microbial biomass measurements were used to assess the abundance and activities of soil microbial communities. The ability of soil microbial biomass to utilize a diverse range of carbon substrates was used to assess the diversity of soil microbial communities. Soil biological activity increased with increasing growth of plant biomass and over time. Increasing the amount of peat moss or muskeg incorporated into the soil during reclamation resulted in higher organic carbon and nitrogen content and caused an increase in abundance and diversity of soil microbial biomass. These results indicate that measurements of soil respiration and substrate utilization by soil microbial communities may be used as biological indicators for assessing the capability of reclaimed soils.

Citation:

Li, X., Feng Y., Slaski J. J., & Fung M. (2003). Evaluation of the capability of aggregated oil sands mine tailings: Biological indicators. 42(9), 3 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the dermal carcinogenic potential of liquids produced from the Cold Lake heavy oil deposits of northeast Alberta

Authors McKee, R. H., & Lewis S. C.

Year of Publication: 1987

Abstract:
This study assessed the dermal carcinogenic potential of raw bitumen derived from the Cold Lake Oil Sands deposit (located in Northeast Alberta, Canada) and two liquids which were under evaluation as part of a process tad refine the crude bitumen at the Cold Lake site. The crude bitumen was dermally carcinogenic, inducing tumors in 2606 of the treated animals with a median latency of 106 weeks. This response was significantly greater than the tumor yield previously reported for a raw bitumen derived from Athabasca tar sands by the Syncrude process, but was not substantially different from the carcinogenic potential of two crude petroleum oils. The GO-FINING product, a high boiling (259-5 19"C), catalytically cracked gas oil was a relatively potent dermal carcinogen, inducing tumors in 86% of the treated animals with a median latency of 46 weeks. This result is consistent with the fact that the GO-FINHNG product contained appreciable levels of high boiling aromatic compounds. The HYCRACK- ING product, a high boiling (102-498"C), severely hydroprocessed liquid was noncarcinogenic. This result was also consistent with the compositional data; the high boiling components were predominantly saturated species. Thus the carcinogenic properties of the liquid products prepared by these two processes were as predicted from the compositional information.

Citation:

McKee, R. H., & Lewis S. C. (1987). Evaluation of the dermal carcinogenic potential of liquids produced from the Cold Lake heavy oil deposits of northeast Alberta. 65(8), 4 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the effects of convection on plume behavior in the AOSERP study area

Authors Venkatram, A.

Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
This report examines the effect of convective turbulence on the dispersion of pollutants emitted from tall stacks in the AOSERP area. As an introduction to this subject the structure of the convective boundary layer is described. Recent models to account for the effects of convection on plume rise are then presented. The body of this report is devoted to a new model to describe dispersion under convective conditions when tall stacks are most likely to cause significant groundlevel concentrations. The model is applied to the Suncor and Syncrude stacks for selected meteorological conditions. In this connection, the relationship between model predictions and short-term observations is examined in some detail. Finally, suggestions for a field study to verify the model are provided.

Citation:

Venkatram, A. (1980). Evaluation of the effects of convection on plume behavior in the AOSERP study area. 83 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the immobilized soil bioreactor for treatment of naphthenic acids in oil sands process waters

Authors McKenzie, N.

Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
Extraction of bitumen from Alberta oil sands produces 2 to 4 barrels of aqueous tailings per barrel of crude oil. Oil sands process water (OSPW) contains naphthenic acids (NAs), a complex mixture of carboxylic acids of the form CnH2n+ZOx that are persistent and toxic to aquatic organisms. Previous studies have demonstrated that aerobic biodegradation reduces NA concentrations and OSPW toxicity; however, treatment times are long. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an immobilized soil bioreactor (ISBR) for treatment of NAs in OSPW and to determine the role of ammonium and ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in NA removal. ISBRs have been used to successfully remediate water contaminated with pollutants such as pentachlorophenol and petroleum hydrocarbons. A system of two ISBRs was operated continuously for over 2 years with OSPW as the sole source of carbon. Removal levels of 30-40% were consistently achieved at a residence time of 7 days, a significant improvement compared to half-lives of 44 to 240 days reported in the literature. However, similar to biodegradation experiments in the literature, a significant portion (~60%) of the NAs was not degraded. The role of AOB in NA removal was investigated by decreasing ammonium concentration and inhibiting AOB activity with allylthiourea, neither of which significantly affected removal, indicating that AOB did not enhance NA removal. Furthermore, high AOB populations actually inhibited the removal of a simple NA surrogate. Therefore, a moderate ammonium concentration of 0.3 g/L is recommended. NA degradation occurred with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source, however, removal levels were lower than those achieved with ammonium. Exploratory studies involving ozonation or biostimulation were conducted with the aim of increasing NA removal. Ozonation decreased NA concentration by 94% and total organic carbon (TOC) by 6%. Subsequent ISBR treatment removed ~30% of the remaining TOC. Addition of a NA surrogate increased heterotrophic NA-degrading populations due to the increase in available carbon, resulting in a significant increase in NA removal levels. However, use of a surrogate may result in a population that is only adapted to degradation of the NA surrogate.

Citation:

McKenzie, N. (2013). Evaluation of the immobilized soil bioreactor for treatment of naphthenic acids in oil sands process waters. 125 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of the use of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) for biomonitoring in the Athabasca oil sands region

Authors Enns, K. A.

Year of Publication: 2001

Citation:

Enns, K. A. (2001). Evaluation of the use of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) for biomonitoring in the Athabasca oil sands region. 27 pages .

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Evaluation of tree and shrub species for reclamation of oil sands mine wastes

Authors Russell, W. B.

Year of Publication: 1985

Citation:

Russell, W. B. (1985). Evaluation of tree and shrub species for reclamation of oil sands mine wastes. 95 pages .

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Evaluation of trees and shrubs for oil sands reclamation: Field trial results

Authors

Year of Publication: 1987

Abstract:
The Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program (AOSERP) Subproject VE 7.1 was initiated to select suitable tree and shrub species for use in revegetating spoils and tailings resulting from oil sands mining operations in northeastern Alberta. As part of this program three field trials were established near the Mildred Lake field camp, approximately 38 km north of Fort McMurray, in 1980 and 1981. The purpose was to test one or more provenances (seed sources) of promising native and exotic woody species. The trial site was prepared to simulate an oil sands reclamation situation. Overburden and peat were hauled to the site from Syncrude Canada Ltd.’s mining lease and incorporated in native sand. The resulting reconstructed soil was alkaline (pH 7.5), non-saline, and low in available N, P, and K. No fertilizers were added. A fine-mesh fence was erected around the trial site to exclude small mammals. All species were outplanted as one- or two-year-old container stock. All seed used to rear the native species was collected from local populations in the oil sands region. In August 1986 the trials were assessed. Survival rates were high for most species. Girdling damage by small mammals was almost non-existent, probably because of the fine-mesh fencing. Populus Northwest and P. Tristis #1 were the tallest and fastest growing species. Among the native species, Pinus banksiana was the tallest and fastest growing. Several other species also performed well and may be suitable for oil sands reclamation: Caragana arborescens, Cornus stolonifera, Elaeagnus commutata, Empetrum nigrum, Picea glauca, Picea mariana, and Populus Brooks #6. Some species gave mediocre or inconsistent performances, including Betula glandulosa, Betula papyrifera, Populus Walker, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea. The remaining species were failures and may not be adapted to the test site environment: Acer negundo, Alnus tenuifolia/crispa, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Lonicera tartarica, Populus tremuloides, Rosa woodsii, Salix acutifolia, Salix fragilis var. basfordiana, Salix pentandra, and Ulmus pumila. There were few significant differences among provenances for any of the native species. This suggests that genotypic differences were small among the populations tested.

Citation:

[Anonymous] (1987). Evaluation of trees and shrubs for oil sands reclamation: Field trial results. (Russell Ecological Consultants, Ed.). 42 pages . Abstract

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Evaluation of wildlife interactions with above-ground pipelines

Authors Young, D. A.

Year of Publication: 1989

Citation:

Young, D. A. (1989). Evaluation of wildlife interactions with above-ground pipelines. 23 pages .

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Evaluation, analysis, and assessment of snowpack and precipitation data from a monitoring network in the AOSERP study area

Authors Davis, C. S., Fellin P., Stevens D., Todd S., & Heidorn K.

Year of Publication: 1985

Abstract:
The data and network operating procedures from the precipitation and snow sampling networks in the AOSERP area of Alberta were reviewed and assessed. The data was first reformatted into NAQUADAT format and then quality assured by several screening procedures including outlier tests, simultaneous high concentration tests, and anion/cation ratios. A computer tape for the reformatted and screened data was produced. The data were also analysed statistically by factor analysis and other procedures to determine its rel iability and level of confidence. A major deficiency found was the poor and highly variable collection efficiency for precipitation data which precluded conducting any detailed analysis. Since the determination of the environmental impact of two major pollution sources on precipitation quality in the study area was a primary project objective, poor collection effi ci enci es did not permit satisfaction of this objective. Extensive evaluation was also made of the operational procedures for both the field and laboratory methods. While laboratory methods were generally found to be adequate in the later years (1983, 1984), field procedures, particularly the method of sampling, were determined to be inadequate to meet the operationa 1 objectives of the network. Other major defi ci enci es were the absence of a documented quality assurance plan, the generally low level of quality control in network operations, and a poor level of documentation for all aspects of network operation. These factors limited the ability to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the data. Recommendations for mitigating these problems are suggested in the report.

Citation:

Davis, C. S., Fellin P., Stevens D., Todd S., & Heidorn K. (1985). Evaluation, analysis, and assessment of snowpack and precipitation data from a monitoring network in the AOSERP study area. 367 pages . Abstract

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Evaporation cracking and salinity in a thickened oil sands tailings

Authors Innocent-Bernard, T.

Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
This research investigates the evaporative behaviour of oil sands thickened tailings from a Pilot plant at the Total E&P operations in Alberta. The materials under study are of 50 and 55% solids concentration and have average sodium concentrations of 527 and 660 mg/L respectively. A series of small scale and medium scale drying tests were conducted in which mass loss through evaporation, crack propagation, total suction and solids concentrations were measured. Multilayer deposition was simulated and tailings were sectioned to analyse uniformity in drying and solute transport. Results indicate that high salinity shuts down evaporation due to the precipitation of salts on the surface causing an increase in total suction, while cracking facilitates drying through the exposure of underlying material with lower suctions. Additionally, multilayer tests show that the infiltration of water from new layers into desiccated underlying layers contributes to significant volume change and a more uniform drying of the tailings.

Citation:

Innocent-Bernard, T. (2013). Evaporation cracking and salinity in a thickened oil sands tailings. 298 pages . Abstract

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Everything you ever wanted to know about Syncrude

Authors

Year of Publication: 1995

Citation:

[Anonymous] (1995). Everything you ever wanted to know about Syncrude. (Syncrude Canada Ltd., Ed.). 24 pages .

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