Reminder: Register Today

Water use and the associated environmental issues associated with the oil sands industry have become increasingly scrutinized by the public and stakeholders. However, oil sands water use is one of the most efficient of all industries. This talk will focus on two aspects of Syncrude Canada Ltd.’s (SCL) business: a review of how SCL utilizes water; and the industry’s first full scale aquatic reclamation project – the Base Mine Lake (BML).

In general, SCL uses two types of water: raw water (i.e. clarified Athabasca River water) and oil sands process water (OSPW). To maximize the water use efficiency, tailings facilities are required to store OSPW for recycle to the plant. The internal recycle water system will be discussed in terms of water quality and quantity for an integrated mining oilsands operation. Management challenges associated with operating a major recycle water system will also be highlighted.

SCL has conducted about 25 years of research on end-pit lake reclamation technology to manage inventories of fluid fine tails (FFT). Because the BML is an in-situ technology, it provides considerable advantages compared to other FFT management options. The BML will be a dynamic and evolving system and, over time, will develop into a self-sustaining ecosystem. Some of the key aspects of the research completed to date and how they have been incorporated into the BML design will be discussed. Demonstration of BML will provide significant design validation and optimization for future end pit lakes and provide the industry with a viable reclamation option.

To register, please contact Carol Edwards on or before Wednesday, Sept15th
Phone: 780-426-3990, ext. 2368
Email: cedwards@apega.ca

Registration can also be done online. *No refunds as of Sept 15th. No-shows will be billed. Payment can be made in advance by credit card: VISA, MasterCard or American Express. Please remember to register early, we have been selling out.

Next Branch Luncheon:
Tuesday, Oct 19th – Update on Alberta’s Carbon Capture Plan, Jim Carter, P.Eng., Chair, Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council.