Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications
Oil sand mine tailings are primarily contained by dykes constructed of permeable sand tailings. The environmental impacts of process waters released from these tailings facilities are controlled by groundwater flow within the impoundment structures. Transient groundwater flow characteristics were as...
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/t09-071 2024-04-07T07:50:50+00:00 Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications Ferguson, G. P. Rudolph, D. L. Barker, J. F. 2009 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t09-071 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/T09-071 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/T09-071 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Geotechnical Journal volume 46, issue 12, page 1446-1460 ISSN 0008-3674 1208-6010 Civil and Structural Engineering Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology journal-article 2009 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/t09-071 2024-03-08T00:37:44Z Oil sand mine tailings are primarily contained by dykes constructed of permeable sand tailings. The environmental impacts of process waters released from these tailings facilities are controlled by groundwater flow within the impoundment structures. Transient groundwater flow characteristics were assessed within the Tar Island Dyke structure at the Suncor Inc. site near Fort McMurray, Alberta, to assist in quantifying potential long-term environmental impacts. A sequence of low-permeability fine tailings underlying the tailings water pond is supported by coarse sand tailings that are connected to and form the containment dyke structure. A clay unit separates the foundation from the underlying limestone that is hydraulically connected to the Athabasca River. The primary groundwater flow pathways are through the toe of the dyke and through the foundation. Field data and numerical simulations indicate that drainage of process water within the structure remains transient yet decreases over time. The fine tailings and pond become perched atop unsaturated coarse tailings, significantly restricting seepage and producing an environmental legacy with reclamation implications. The release of potentially contaminated process water continues to decrease, resulting in diminishing environmental risk. The lowering of pore-water pressures within the main dyke has increased its strength and long-term stability. Article in Journal/Newspaper Athabasca River Fort McMurray Canadian Science Publishing Fort McMurray Athabasca River The Toe ENVELOPE(-59.167,-59.167,-62.333,-62.333) Tar Island ENVELOPE(-111.452,-111.452,56.984,56.984) Canadian Geotechnical Journal 46 12 1446 1460 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Civil and Structural Engineering Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology |
spellingShingle |
Civil and Structural Engineering Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology Ferguson, G. P. Rudolph, D. L. Barker, J. F. Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
topic_facet |
Civil and Structural Engineering Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology |
description |
Oil sand mine tailings are primarily contained by dykes constructed of permeable sand tailings. The environmental impacts of process waters released from these tailings facilities are controlled by groundwater flow within the impoundment structures. Transient groundwater flow characteristics were assessed within the Tar Island Dyke structure at the Suncor Inc. site near Fort McMurray, Alberta, to assist in quantifying potential long-term environmental impacts. A sequence of low-permeability fine tailings underlying the tailings water pond is supported by coarse sand tailings that are connected to and form the containment dyke structure. A clay unit separates the foundation from the underlying limestone that is hydraulically connected to the Athabasca River. The primary groundwater flow pathways are through the toe of the dyke and through the foundation. Field data and numerical simulations indicate that drainage of process water within the structure remains transient yet decreases over time. The fine tailings and pond become perched atop unsaturated coarse tailings, significantly restricting seepage and producing an environmental legacy with reclamation implications. The release of potentially contaminated process water continues to decrease, resulting in diminishing environmental risk. The lowering of pore-water pressures within the main dyke has increased its strength and long-term stability. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ferguson, G. P. Rudolph, D. L. Barker, J. F. |
author_facet |
Ferguson, G. P. Rudolph, D. L. Barker, J. F. |
author_sort |
Ferguson, G. P. |
title |
Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
title_short |
Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
title_full |
Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
title_fullStr |
Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
title_sort |
hydrodynamics of a large oil sand tailings impoundment and related environmental implications |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t09-071 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/T09-071 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/T09-071 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-59.167,-59.167,-62.333,-62.333) ENVELOPE(-111.452,-111.452,56.984,56.984) |
geographic |
Fort McMurray Athabasca River The Toe Tar Island |
geographic_facet |
Fort McMurray Athabasca River The Toe Tar Island |
genre |
Athabasca River Fort McMurray |
genre_facet |
Athabasca River Fort McMurray |
op_source |
Canadian Geotechnical Journal volume 46, issue 12, page 1446-1460 ISSN 0008-3674 1208-6010 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/t09-071 |
container_title |
Canadian Geotechnical Journal |
container_volume |
46 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
1446 |
op_container_end_page |
1460 |
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1795665613112213504 |