Characterization of physical mass transport through oil sands fluid fine tailings in an end pit lake: a multi-tracer study

Dompierre, Kathryn A.; Barbour, S. Lee

doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2016.03.006

Cited by 36 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The Reynolds number of mixing during the test was calculated to be 786, characteristic of a gentle laminar flow regime. The OSPW cap layer in oil sands tailings ponds is known to be well mixed by wind and waves [39][40][41], and NAs are furthermore constantly replenished to the interface by methanogenic bubbling in a similar process to dissolved gas flotation (estimated flux of 12 g CH 4 m −2 day −1 ) [42]. Thus, as the above photocatalytic results were observed under gentle mixing conditions, it is anticipated that the natural mixing processes provided in the tailings ponds could be sufficient for OSPW treatment, although this question will be the topic of future studies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floating Photocatalysts for Passive Solar Degradation of Naphthenic Acids in Oil Sands Process-Affected Water

Leshuk

Krishnakumar

Livera

et al. 2018

Water

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Abstract:Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), generated from bitumen extraction in the Canadian oil sands, may require treatment to enable safe discharge to receiving watersheds, as dissolved naphthenic acids (NAs) and other acid extractable organics (AEO), identified as the primary toxic components of OSPW, are environmentally persistent and poorly biodegradable. However, conventional advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are impractically expensive to treat the volumes of OSPW stockpiled in the Athabasca region. Here we prepared floating photocatalysts (FPCs) by immobilizing TiO 2 on glass microbubbles, such that the composite particles float at the air-water interface for passive solar photocatalysis. The FPCs were demonstrated to outperform P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles in degrading AEO in raw OSPW under natural sunlight and gentle mixing conditions. The FPCs were also found to be recyclable for multiple uses through simple flotation and skimming. This paper thus demonstrates the concept of a fully passive AOP that may be scalable to oil sands water treatment challenges, achieving efficient NA reduction solely through the energy provided by sunlight and natural mixing processes (wind and waves).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floating Photocatalysts for Passive Solar Degradation of Naphthenic Acids in Oil Sands Process-Affected Water

Leshuk

Krishnakumar

Livera

et al. 2018

Water

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“…However, Cl concentrations transition to a value representative of deeper FFT pore water within 0.5 m from the FFT‐water interface. The transition zone depth was similar to that observed for the stable isotopes of water [ Dompierre and Barbour , ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evidence of FFT disturbance was observed in the field as the water cover turbidity exhibited a rapid increase during unstable periods in the lake when the water column was completely mixed [ Lawrence et al ., ]. Disturbance within the FFT was also supported by the previous tracer study [ Dompierre and Barbour , ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The release of chemical constituents from the FFT will influence the long‐term geochemical and biological evolution of an EPL [ Dompierre et al ., ]. Mass transport between the FFT and overlying water cover can occur via two key processes: (1) advection and hydrodynamic dispersion driven by FFT dewatering and elevated solute concentrations in FFT pore water [ Dompierre et al ., ]; and (2) FFT disturbance due to fluid movement in the water cover (e.g., internal waves) causing a rapid, but intermittent, mass release to the water cover [ Dompierre and Barbour , ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results will assist in the development of monitoring and management plans for future EPLs. This study also provides insight on the potential for the mass flux over the FFT‐water interface to change over time, as it can be compared to previous work on mass movement through the FFT at the first EPL [ Dompierre and Barbour , ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical mass transport between fluid fine tailings and the overlying water cover of an oil sands end pit lake

Dompierre

Barbour

North

et al. 2017

Water Resources Research

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Fluid fine tailings (FFT) are a principal by-product of the bitumen extraction process at oil sands mines. Base Mine Lake (BML)-the first full-scale demonstration oil sands end pit lake (EPL)-contains approximately 1.9 3 10 8 m 3 of FFT stored under a water cover within a decommissioned mine pit. Chemical mass transfer from the FFT to the water cover can occur via two key processes: (1) advection-dispersion driven by tailings settlement; and (2) FFT disturbance due to fluid movement in the water cover. Dissolved chloride (Cl) was used to evaluate the water cover mass balance and to track mass transport within the underlying FFT based on field sampling and numerical modeling. Results indicated that FFT was the dominant Cl source to the water cover and that the FFT is exhibiting a transient advection-dispersion mass transport regime with intermittent disturbance near the FFT-water interface. The advective pore water flux was estimated by the mass balance to be 0.002 m 3 m 22 d 21 , which represents 0.73 m of FFT settlement per year. However, the FFT pore water Cl concentrations and corresponding mass transport simulations indicated that advection rates and disturbance depths vary between sample locations. The disturbance depth was estimated to vary with location between 0.75 and 0.95 m. This investigation provides valuable insight for assessing the geochemical evolution of the water cover and performance of EPLs as an oil sands reclamation strategy. End pit lakes (EPLs) offer long-term FFT containment with relatively low initial costs [Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA), 2012]. These mine closure landscapes contain FFT deposits under a water cover within decommissioned mine pits. In the future, EPLs will be incorporated into the larger mine Key Points: First study of solute release from fluid fine tailings (FFT) stored under water cover in first oil sands end pit lake Mass balance confirmed constituents in FFT pore water largest mass input to water cover Numerical models show advectiondispersion during FFT settlement controls mass transport

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Impact of atmospheric pressure variations on methane ebullition and lake turbidity during ice‐cover

Zhao

Tedford

Zare

et al. 2021

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

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Methane ebullition from ice-covered lakes is an important contributor to atmospheric greenhouse gases. Ebullition can also have a negative impact on lake water quality. However, despite the global abundance of seasonally ice-covered lakes, there is a lack of continuous, high-frequency ebullition data during ice-cover, and consequently the factors controlling ebullition are unknown. We have collected a 1-month, high frequency record of ebullition using an autonomous echo sounder mounted below the ice. The record shows that ebullition occurs almost exclusively when atmospheric pressure drops below a threshold that is approximately equal to the long-term average pressure. The ebullition intensity is proportional to the amount by which the pressure drops below this threshold. We also show that episodic ebullition events are the cause of previously unexplained turbidity fluctuations.

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Characterization of physical mass transport through oil sands fluid fine tailings in an end pit lake: a multi-tracer study

Cited by 36 publications

References 45 publications

Floating Photocatalysts for Passive Solar Degradation of Naphthenic Acids in Oil Sands Process-Affected Water

Floating Photocatalysts for Passive Solar Degradation of Naphthenic Acids in Oil Sands Process-Affected Water

Chemical mass transport between fluid fine tailings and the overlying water cover of an oil sands end pit lake

Impact of atmospheric pressure variations on methane ebullition and lake turbidity during ice‐cover

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