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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.

Fine tails disposal utilizing nonsegregating mixes

Authors Scott, J. D., Liu Y., & Caughill D. L.
Year of Publication: 1993

Citation:
Scott, J. D., Liu Y., & Caughill D. L. (1993).  Fine tails disposal utilizing nonsegregating mixes. 19 pages .
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Fine tails reclamation utilizing a wet landscape approach

Authors Gulley, J. R., & MacKinnon M.
Year of Publication: 1993

Citation:
Gulley, J. R., & MacKinnon M. (1993).  Fine tails reclamation utilizing a wet landscape approach. 24 pages .
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Fines capture in a long tailings beach at the Shell Muskeg River Mine external tailings facility: Hydraulic and depositional aspects

Authors Esposito, G., & Nik R.
Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
At Shell Albian Sands oilsands operation, bitumen extraction produces three tailings streams, namely coarse sand tailings, thickened tailings, and tailings from the solvent recovery unit. The three streams differ in flow rate, concentration, and particle size distribution of the solid fraction. Since 2004, these three tailings streams have been continuously discharged in the same area, the north-east corner of the External Tailings Facility where they have formed a long beach. The average fines content observed in this deposit is between 25% and 30% using 44 micron as the fines cut off. It may have the highest fines capture for an un-engineered tailings deposit in the oil sands industry. It is important to understand the depositional and hydraulic aspects associated with sub-aerial tailings placement on this beach and provide insights into the possibility of maximizing fines captured in beaches by conventional tailings operation techniques. Several years of sample profiles and testing are provided, along with general observations and potential implications for the oilsands industry.

Citation:
Esposito, G., & Nik R. (2012).  Fines capture in a long tailings beach at the Shell Muskeg River Mine external tailings facility: Hydraulic and depositional aspects. (Sego, D., Wilson, G.W., Beier, N., Ed.). Abstract
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Fiscal treatment of oil sands development in Alberta

Authors Precht, P., & Stringham G.
Year of Publication: 1989

Citation:
Precht, P., & Stringham G. (1989).  Fiscal treatment of oil sands development in Alberta. (Meyer, R.F., Wiggins, E. J., Ed.). 7 pages .
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Fish and fish habitat bibliographic database for the Peace Athabasca and Slave River basins

Authors Barton, B. A., & Courtney R. F.
Year of Publication: 1993

Abstract:
This study was conducted for the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) to develop a database of all reports pertaining to fisheries and fish habitat in the NRBS Study Area. This area encompasses the Peace, Slave and the Athabasca rivers and all their tributaries. We collected over 1500 reports for this study. For each report, we have recorded bibliographic information including keywords and a short abstract, biological information on species, lifestage, habitat, and collection methods, and geographic information on waterbody, watershed and location in UTM coordinates. The use of UTM coordinates increases the functionality of this database. Users can query for all the records within a user-specified distance of any UTM coordinate. For example, a user may ask for all records within 30 km of Fort McMurray. As part of this project, we developed a simple menu-driven database interface that runs in dBase IV. The interface allows users to edit, input new records, query the database by filling out a form, and print in an easy to use system. The user is insulated from learning complex dBase IV commands by a simple menu system. All menu selections have a prompt at the bottom of the screen to guide the user. The primary deliverables of this project are a large bibliographic database and a dBase IV application to allow users to easily and quickly access the data. It should prove to be a valuable tool.

Citation:
Barton, B. A., & Courtney R. F. (1993).  Fish and fish habitat bibliographic database for the Peace Athabasca and Slave River basins. (Environmental Management Associates Ltd., Ed.). 9 pages . Abstract  Download: 0-662-20982-6.pdf (11.9 MB)
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Fish collections: Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins, September to December, 1994

Authors Jacobson, T. - L., & Boag T. D.
Year of Publication: 1995

Abstract:
The purpose of this project was to collect and prepare fish from 23 sites on the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River drainages for conducting physical, physiological, contaminant and biophysical analyses. Sites were located on the Peace, Smoky, Little Smoky, Wapiti, Wabasca, Athabasca, McLeod, Pembina, Lesser Slave and Clearwater Rivers. The fish species targeted for collection and analyses were burbot (primary target species), northern pike, longnose sucker and flathead chub. The sampling and handling protocols for the collection of fish tissues were designed to allow for a wide range of contaminant and biochemical analyses on an individual fish. There analyses included gross pathology, contaminant, metals (e.g., mercury), liver mixed function oxygenase induction, sex steroids and gonad morphology, retinols (Vitamin A), metallothioneins (proteins produced by exposure to heavy metals) and basic life history information.

Citation:
Jacobson, T. - L., & Boag T. D. (1995).  Fish collections: Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins, September to December, 1994. (EnviResource Consulting Ltd., Ed.). 222 pages . Abstract  Download: 0-662-24483-4.pdf (28.93 MB)
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Fish distribution movement and gross external pathology information for the Peace Athabasca and Slave River basins

Authors Mill, T. A., Sparrow-Clark P., & Brown R. S.
Year of Publication: 1997

Abstract:

Citation:
Mill, T. A., Sparrow-Clark P., & Brown R. S. (1997).  Fish distribution movement and gross external pathology information for the Peace Athabasca and Slave River basins. Abstract  Download: 0-662-24831-7.pdf (5.47 MB)
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Fish health effects from oil sands wastewater discharges and naturally-occurring oil sands compounds in the Athabasca River system

Authors Parrott, J., Gibbons W., Van Meer T., Baker M., Coavecchia M., & Sherry J. P.
Year of Publication: 1999

Citation:
Parrott, J., Gibbons W., Van Meer T., Baker M., Coavecchia M., & Sherry J. P. (1999).  Fish health effects from oil sands wastewater discharges and naturally-occurring oil sands compounds in the Athabasca River system. 27 pages .
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Fish overwintering use of the lower Athabasca River 2001 to 2004

Authors
Year of Publication: 2004

Abstract:
The main objectives of the present study were to determine the use of the mainstream lower Athabasca River for overwintering by key fish species, identify main overwintering areas, and determine habitat preferences of the overwintering fish. The results of the study are intended to be used in the determination of instream flow needs for fish and other users of the lower Athabasca River.

Citation:
[Anonymous] (2004).  Fish overwintering use of the lower Athabasca River 2001 to 2004. (Golder Associates Ltd., Ed.). 77 pages . Abstract
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Fish radio telemetry demonstration project, upper Athabasca River, May to August, 1992

Authors McLeod, C., & Clayton T.
Year of Publication: 1993

Abstract:
Report of a fish radio telemetry demonstration project carried out on the upper reaches of the Athabasca River, central Alberta, in spring and summer 1992. The objective was to describe and implement a technical assessment of underwater radio telemetry using several fish species (bull trout, mountain whitefish, burbot, rainbow trout, arctic grayling and lake whitefish).

Citation:
McLeod, C., & Clayton T. (1993).  Fish radio telemetry demonstration project, upper Athabasca River, May to August, 1992. (R. L. & L. Environmental Services Ltd., Ed.). 42 pages . Abstract  Download: 0-662-20765-3.pdf (36.83 MB)
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Fish tagging along the Athabasca River near Whitecourt, October, 1993

Authors
Year of Publication: 1994

Abstract:
Researchers endeavored to individually tag as many fish as possible within a 40 kilometer stretch of river above and below Whitecourt to determine the composition and relative abundance of all fish species as well as facilitate subsequent field sampling and monitoring

Citation:
[Anonymous] (1994).  Fish tagging along the Athabasca River near Whitecourt, October, 1993. (Golder Associates Ltd., Ed.). 95 pages . Abstract  Download: 0-662-22556-2.pdf (17.19 MB)
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Fisheries and aquatic habitat investigations in the Mackay river watershed of northeastern Alberta

Authors Machniak, K., Bond W. A., Orr M. R., Rudy D., & Miller D.
Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
The MacKay River basin is the largest basin on the west side of the Athabasca in the Athabasca Oil Sands region. The lower parts of this basin are part of the lease holding of Syncrude Canada Limited and this project was supported and partially funded by Syncrude. The general objective of this study was to describe the baseline states of the fish component of the MacKay River watershed. This study was part of a broadly based fisheries investigation of the Athabasca River and selected tributaries in the oil sands region of northeastern Alberta. Please refer to the following AOSERP research reports for more fisheries information: Nos. 26 and 76 (Muskeg), 36 (Clearwater), 61 (Steepbank), 84 and 89 (Athabasca), and 92 (Christina, Gregoire, and Hangingstone).

Citation:
Machniak, K., Bond W. A., Orr M. R., Rudy D., & Miller D. (1980).  Fisheries and aquatic habitat investigations in the Mackay river watershed of northeastern Alberta. 273 pages . Abstract
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Fisheries and habitat investigations of tributary streams in the southern portion of the AOSERP study area: Volume I: Summary and conclusions

Authors Tripp, D. B., & Tsui P. T. P.
Year of Publication: 1980

Citation:
Tripp, D. B., & Tsui P. T. P. (1980).  Fisheries and habitat investigations of tributary streams in the southern portion of the AOSERP study area: Volume I: Summary and conclusions.
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Fisheries and habitat investigations of tributary streams in the southern portion of the AOSERP study area: Volume II

Authors Tripp, D. B., & Tsui P. T. P.
Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
This report presents the results of studies conducted from May to October 1978 on tributary streams in the southern portion of the AOSERP study area. The major objectives of these investigations were: 1. To describe the baseline states of the major components of the aquatic ecosystems in the southern portion of the AOSERP study area; 2. To describe, in detail, aquatic habitats of the southern portion of the AOSERP study area; and 3. To provide a quantitative estimate of the biological significance of the watersheds to the Athabasca River system. Three streams, the Christina, Gregoire, and Hangingstone, were selected for detailed study and were examined in early and late spring, late summer, and late autumn. Together, these three streams are representative of most of the major stream habitat types occurring within the project study area. Other waterbodies were sampled once only during late summer. This report consists of two volumes. Volume I is an explanatory text complete with summary tables and maps, while Volume II contains benthic macroinvertebrate and fish catch data.

Citation:
Tripp, D. B., & Tsui P. T. P. (1980).  Fisheries and habitat investigations of tributary streams in the southern portion of the AOSERP study area: Volume II. 236 pages . Abstract
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Fisheries survey of the Beaver Creek Diversion System, 1978

Authors O'Neil, J. P.
Year of Publication: 1979

Abstract:
On three occasions during the period May-October, 1978, R.L.& L. Environmental Services Ltd. conducted fish sampling in the Beaver Creek Diversion System. These efforts were oriented towards providing an inventory of postdiversion fish populations. The study was designed not only to update the existing data base, but to provide quantified and reproducible catch/unit effort data (CUE) which could effectively serve as a basis for future monitoring of fish populations. Sampling gear employed in the study included gill nets, beach seine, and back-pack electrofisher. While a total of 11 species were encountered in the study area, only 6 were recorded in the upper diversion system (i.e., upstream of the Poplar Creek dam). Included in this latter group were two species of catostomids (white sucker, longnose sucker), the fathead minnow, brook stickleback, lake chub and spoonhead sculpin (Upper Beaver Creek only). Species collected in Poplar Creek, additional to those recorded in the upper diversion system, were Arctic grayling, northern pike, yellow perch, burbot and troutperch. The spoonhead sculpin was not collected in Poplar Creek. Pertinent life history information was collected for each of the species in the study area and subsequently analysed by computer. This material is provided in a separate data volume. Because of the significance of the white sucker in the diversion system, life history data for this species are presented in this report.

Citation:
O'Neil, J. P. (1979).  Fisheries survey of the Beaver Creek Diversion System, 1978. 76 pages . Abstract
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Fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Volume I

Authors Bond, W. A.
Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
Central to the surface water system of the Athabasca Oil Sands region is the Athabasca River. This large river connects the Lake Athabasca fisheries with virtually all tributary rivers in the oil sands region. Thus, an adequate description of the fishery resources of this river was sought at the beginning of the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program. Investigation of the fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray to the Athabasca Delta was an early component of a broadly based program designed to describe the baseline states of this resource throughout the oil sands area. The study of this portion of the river took place during the open water seasons of 1976 and 1977. Specific objectives of this project can be found in the Introduction. The reader is referred to AOSERP Reports 36 and 84 for work on the Athabasca River upstream of Fort McMurray.

Citation:
Bond, W. A. (1980).  Fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Volume I. 81 pages . Abstract
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Fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Volume II

Authors Bond, W. A., & Berry D. K.
Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
Central to the surface water system of the Athabasca Oil Sands region is the Athabasca River. This large river connects the Lake Athabasca fisheries with virtually all tributary rivers in the oil sands region. Thus, an adequate description of the fishery resources of this river was sought at the beginning of the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program. Investigation of the fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray to the Athabasca Delta was an early component of a broadly based program designed to describe the baseline states of this resource throughout the oil sands area. The study of this portion of the river took place during the open water seasons of 1976 and 1977. Specific objectives of this project can be found in the Introduction. The reader is referred to AOSERP Reports 36 and 84 for work on the Athabasca River upstream of Fort McMurray.

Citation:
Bond, W. A., & Berry D. K. (1980).  Fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Volume II. 158 pages . Abstract
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Fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Volume III

Authors Bond, W. A., & Berry D. K.
Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
Central to the surface water system of the Athabasca Oil Sands region is the Athabasca River. This large river connects the Lake Athabasca fisheries with virtually all tributary rivers in the oil sands region. Thus, an adequate description of the fishery resources of this river was sought at the beginning of the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program. Investigation of the fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray to the Athabasca Delta was an early component of a broadly based program designed to describe the baseline states of this resource throughout the oil sands area. The study of this portion of the river took place during the open water seasons of 1976 and 1977. Specific objectives of this project can be found in the Introduction. The reader is referred to AOSERP Reports 36 and 84 for work on the Athabasca River upstream of Fort McMurray.

Citation:
Bond, W. A., & Berry D. K. (1980).  Fishery resources of the Athabasca River downstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Volume III. 262 pages . Abstract
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Flocculation and dewatering of Alberta oil sands tailings

Authors Rao, S. R.
Year of Publication: 1980

Abstract:
Extraction of bitumen from the oil sands of Alberta with hot water produces a tailing sludge which is very difficult to filter or dewater. The exceptional stability of the sludge is due to the presence of clays, chiefly kaolinite and montmorillonite. Methods of flocculating this sludge have been investigated. Flocculation by an anionic polyacrylamide after pretreatment with optimum concentration of Mg2+ or Ca2+ ions gave best results. Dewatering of the flocculated sludge by drainage on a sand bed and on a wire mesh has been investigated. Compact flocs carrying < 40% moisture could be obtained.

Citation:
Rao, S. R. (1980).  Flocculation and dewatering of Alberta oil sands tailings. 7(3), 8 pages . Abstract
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Flocculation of lime-treated oil sands tailings

Authors Hamza, H. A., Stanonik D. J., & Kessick M. A.
Year of Publication: 1996

Abstract:
Whole oil sands tailings resulting from water-based bitumen extraction processes can be co-flocculated, after treatment with slaked lime, with low dosages of a high molecular weight anionic polyacrylamide. The resulting composite sand-clay particles settle and dewater rapidly to a stackable product that can be hand-squeezed to 40–83 wt% solids. The final solids content depends on the initial bitumen extraction process used. The procedure is particularly appropriate for use with the alkali recycle process, in which bitumen is extracted from oil sand by flotation after conditioning with dilute alkali at ambient temperatures. Treatment of the resulting tailings with lime is the key step that releases alkali, by ion-exchange mechanisms, into the recyclable process water. This step is the first in the co-flocculation sequence

Citation:
Hamza, H. A., Stanonik D. J., & Kessick M. A. (1996).  Flocculation of lime-treated oil sands tailings. 75(3), 4 pages . Abstract
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Flocculation of the Syncrude fine tailings Part I. Effect of pH polymer dosage and Mg2+ and Ca2+ cations

Authors Sworska, A., Laskowski J. S., & Cymerman G.
Year of Publication: 2000

Abstract:
In a new process of fine tailings disposal, after extraction of bitumen from Athabasca oil sands, the slurry, which contains clays, sand and a small amount of bitumen, is flocculated and thickened into a paste. The effects of pH, polymer dosage and presence of divalent cations on the flocculation of the Syncrude tailings have been studied. The tests were carried out using a high molecular weight polyacrylamide flocculant (Percol 727) over a pH range from 3 to 11. The effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions was also tested. These factors were analyzed by fitting the experimental data to a polynomial model, which plots flocculation response in the form of contour maps. The maps identify the conditions for obtaining high initial settling rates (isr) and/or low solids content (sc) in the supernatant. At low pH, in which clays tend to coagulate, the domains of a high initial settling rate (isr) and low solids content (sc) coincide. In alkaline pH, in which clays form stable suspensions, the addition of the flocculant leads to the development of bimodal size distributions consisting of flocs and dispersed fine particles. Flocculation is much more efficient in the presence of divalent cations over this pH range.

Citation:
Sworska, A., Laskowski J. S., & Cymerman G. (2000).  Flocculation of the Syncrude fine tailings Part I. Effect of pH polymer dosage and Mg2+ and Ca2+ cations. 60(2), 9 pages . Abstract
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Flow behaviour and robustness of non-segregating tailings made from filtered/centrifuged MFT

Authors Nik, R. M., Sego D. C., & Morgenstern N. R.
Year of Publication: 2010

Citation:
Nik, R. M., Sego D. C., & Morgenstern N. R. (2010).  Flow behaviour and robustness of non-segregating tailings made from filtered/centrifuged MFT. 10 pages .
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Flume deposition modeling of caustic and noncaustic oil sand tailings

Authors Miller, W. G., Scott J. D., & Sego D. C.
Year of Publication: 2009

Abstract:
As part of an overall study to evaluate the properties and processes influencing the rate and magnitude of con- solidation for oil sand tailings produced using different extraction processes, laboratory flume deposition tests were carried out with the objective to hydraulically deposit oil sand tailings and compare the effects of caustic and noncaustic extrac- tion processes on the nature of beach deposits in terms of geometry, grain-size distribution, and density. The characteristics of the beaches from this research study were compared with other flume deposition test results performed using a variety of tailings materials. A good correlation exists between flume deposition test results using oil sand tailings and the various other tailings materials, especially those with appreciable fines contents with respect to parameters that govern beach slope. These comparisons show the reliability and effectiveness of flume deposition tests in terms of establishing general relationships and can serve as a guide to predict beach slopes.

Citation:
Miller, W. G., Scott J. D., & Sego D. C. (2009).  Flume deposition modeling of caustic and noncaustic oil sand tailings. 46(6), 4 pages . Abstract
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Fluorescence spectrophotometer for cone-penetrometer applications

Authors Ho, T. T., Gupta M., Taschuk M. T., Alostaz M., Ulrich A., Sego D. C., et al.
Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:
Ho, T. T., Gupta M., Taschuk M. T., Alostaz M., Ulrich A., Sego D. C., et al. (2012).  Fluorescence spectrophotometer for cone-penetrometer applications.
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Fluorescence technology application in characterizing naphthenic acids in oil sands process affected water

Authors Alostaz, M.
Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:
Alostaz, M. (2012).  Fluorescence technology application in characterizing naphthenic acids in oil sands process affected water. 9 pages .
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