Sei sulla pagina 1di 17

Syncrude Canada Ltd.

New Tailings Concepts

International Oil Sands Tailings Conference


Edmonton, Alberta December 9, 2008

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

1
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Acknowledgements
Syncrude has been working closely with internal experts,
other Oil Sand developers, and with a number of third parties,
notably:

Randy Mikula - CanmetENERGY


David Carrier - Argila Enterprises
Ed McRoberts - AMEC
Gord McKenna - BGC Engineering
Glen Welch Pocock Industrial

Along with;
University of Alberta, University of Saskatchewan, OKane
Consultants, Barr Engineering.
OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

2
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Introduction
Update on two of the several tailings technologies
Syncrude is actively progressing through lab and
field trials:

MFT Centrifuge
MFT Accelerated Dewatering

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

3
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Syncrude Tailings R&D is focused on a


number of parallel fronts.
progressing tailings technologies aimed at meeting our
Reclamation and Closure plans
Two technologies Syncrude is actively investigating are;
1) MFT Centrifuge and,
2) MFT Accelerated Dewatering
these MFT dewatering technologies, are primarily targeting
possible implementation at Syncrudes Mildred Lake operation
but we see the potential application at other Syncrude leases.

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

4
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

MFT Centrifuge Process overview


Syncrudes vision for MFT Centrifuge - a two step process;

Centrate:
Relatively solids free water
having 0.5% to 1.0% wt solids
returned to the tailings water
system for recycle.

MFT
Nominal >30wt% solids

Cake:
60%wt solids - soft soil material
capturing greater than 95% of
the solids. Cake is almost the
original volume.

Dilution
Flocculent

Step 1: MFT dewatering utilizing horizontal solid bowl scroll


centrifuge technology with flocculent addition forming 2 streams:

Centrate to
Settling Basin
Nominal 1.0 %wt solids

Cake - Soft Soil


Nominal 60wt% solids

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

5
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

MFT Centrifuge Process overview


Step 2: Subsequent dewatering of the cake by natural
processes; consolidation, desiccation and freeze thaw via
either/ or:

1 to 2 metre annual layers or lifts, delivering a trafficable


surface that can be reclaimed terrestrially;

A very thick, potentially 30 metre layer deposited in the mined


out pits where, with time, consolidation further dewaters the
cake to deliver a deposit that can be reclaimed terrestrially or
by water capping.
OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

6
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

MFT Centrifuge Completed Testing


2005 MFT Centrifuge bench trials
Continuous feed bench scale centrifuge test at @ CanmetENERGY

2007 MFT Centrifuge Field test


Initial feasibility studies via a 2 week test using relatively large
oilfield centrifuges

2008 MFT Centrifuge Field test a 2 month test focusing


on:
MFT flocculation and centrifuge process;
Preliminary cake transportation assessment - conveyors and
positive displacement pumps / pipeline;
Providing material to;
Determine deposit performance subjected to natural consolidation,
desiccation and freeze thaw; and
Longer tem monitoring to assess environmental issues.
OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

7
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

2008 MFT Centrifuge Field Test - Scope


Two pods of oilfield scale centrifuges were operated in
parallel;
1. Two Alfa Laval Lynx 40s (nominal 400 mm dia.) running
in parallel and operated by BOS Solutions Inc.

Prime focus was to provide centrifuge cake for:

2.

transportation assessment conveyor and positive displacement pump /


pipeline studies
Bulk materials for geotechnical and environmental studies.

Single MiSWACO 518 centrifuge ( nominal 355 mm dia.)

Advance MFT flocculation and MFT centrifuge process


understanding:

Flocculent optimization studies


Centrifuge operational parameter assessments.

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

8
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

2008 MFT Centrifuge Field Test


2008 MFT
Centrifuge
Test site
Plant
Arrangement

Test Plant

Centrifuge cake
deposits

Interim MFT
supply pond

MFT & process


water tanks

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

9
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Video of BOS Solutions Centrifuge operation, conveyor and deposit formation

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

10
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

2008 MFT Centrifuge Positive Displacement Pump


Testing

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

11
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Note: immediate additional water release


(no rain experienced prior to photograph)
OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

12
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

MFT Centrifuge looking ahead


Compile 2008 centrifuge process data with the report early
in 2009
Preliminary results show promise
Technology is robust
Flocculent consumption reducing with machine performance
Machine solids throughput on target / high solids capture in cake

Centrifuge cake transportation and deposits


Preliminary results are encouraging and equipment scoping studies

are planned for 2009


Geotechnical monitoring will continue into late 2009.

Multi year environmental assessments are underway with


internal experts, academic partners and consultants.
Centrifuge scale up studies possible 2009 testing.
Scale up required from the nominal 400 mm to 1000 mm diameter
machines.
OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

13
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

MFT Accelerated Dewatering Process overview


Utilized in Florida phosphate industry:

30m+ deep impoundment constructed in the mined out pit and filled with MFT;
Water removal is enabled and actively managed via decant structure and rim ditching;
Results in a reduction of MFT volume by up to 50% after some 3 to 5 years;
Delivers a soft soil material, that when suitably capped, can be reclaimed terrestrially;
Offers promise for implementation in Syncrudes mined out pits.

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

14
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

MFT Accelerated Dewatering


Completed Lab Testing
Process testing at CanmetEnergy:
Small scale drying experiments to assess impacts of chemical amendment optimization; and
Large lab test (bins) carried out to provide data to allow full scale projections.

Significant improvement in MFT volume reduction was observed


2 to 5 times increase in net consolidation

Process likely scale sensitive

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

15
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

2009 MFT Accelerated Dewatering


Field Test - Scope
Construction planned: 80m x 80m x 10m deep MFT test pond constructed
and filled in 2009 and operated for several years;
Objective: to provide planning and geotechnical parameters and to act as a
platform on which environmental assessments can be carried out over the
complete development cycle pond filling through to reclamation.

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

16
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Summary quotes from Al Fairs Summary

No silver bullet it will take more than one technology to deal with oil sands tailings
Syncrude is progressing MFT Centrifuge, MFT Accelerated Dewatering along with
CT and other technologies.

Different MFT management technologies will need to be used at different sites, dependent of
site specifics (i.e. existing MFT inventories, presence of an upgrader, (heat integration) nature
of ore body, lease geography etc.).
Mildred Lake operations has a relatively large legacy MFT volume, therefore it is the
prime candidate for possible implementation of these technologies.

It will take time to develop and commercially implement the various MFT management
technologies.
Development plans for these technologies will take several years as the operational
and environmental details need to be well understood before implementation.

Syncrude is committed to successfully managing its tailings in a manner that meets the needs of
the environment and our stakeholders.
These R&D activities are major undertakings emphasizing Syncrudes commitment
to meeting its Closure Plan obligation.

OSTRF Conference
December 7-10, 2008

17
( New Tailings Concepts
OSTRF.ppt)

Potrebbero piacerti anche