Suncor recognizes the importance of addressing the tailings challenge associated with the development of oil sands mines. Oil sands mines produce tailings — left over material produced during the extraction process that separates bitumen from the oil sand. We have developed a new tailings technology called Tailings Reduction Operations (TRO) that’s a significant advance in tailings management and reclamation. We believe TRO will help us meet provincial regulatory requirements and, just as importantly, the changing expectations of our stakeholders.
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Tailings Ponds, An Ongoing Challenge
Oil sands mines produce tailings that are a mixture of water, clay, sand and residual bitumen producing during the extraction process. When tailings are released to a pond, the heaviest material — mostly sand — settles to the bottom, while water rises to the top. The middle layer, the mature fine tailings (MFT), is made up of fine clay particles suspended in water. Some of these particles settle, but much remains suspended. The challenge is that MFT does not settle within a reasonable timeframe. As a result, Suncor has needed more and larger oil sands tailings ponds over the years.
In the 1990s, we pioneered consolidated tailings technology to help speed up the consolidation of MFT into a soil-like deposit that can be re-vegetated and reclaimed. Since then we have developed a new technique called Tailings Reduction Operations, which promises significant improvements.
A New Approach to Tailings Management
The implementation of TRO involves converting fluid fine tailings more rapidly into a solid landscape suitable for reclamation. In this process, MFT is mixed with a polymer flocculent, then deposited in thin layers over sand beaches with shallow slopes. The resulting product is a dry material that is capable of being reclaimed in place or moved to another location for final reclamation. This drying process occurs over a matter of weeks, allowing for more rapid reclamation activities to occur.
The new process is expected to improve tailings management going forward, and can also be used to reduce existing tailings inventory at Suncor’s operations.
Watch a video to see how TRO works
The Tailings Reduction Operation Application
In October 2009, Suncor filed a Tailings Reduction Operations application that seeks approval to implement TRO.
Suncor has applied to:
- The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) to proceed with a change for the Millennium and North Steepbank Extension Mines. Millennium currently supplies the majority of bitumen ore to our Oil Sands facility. North Steepbank is approved but not yet active.
- Alberta Environment to amend existing approvals we have under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
TRO at the Millennium and North Steepbank Extension Mines requires changes to:
- The mine plan
- The integrated tailings plan
- The Closure, Conservation and Reclamation plan
Review Suncor’s TRO application on the ERCB website
Consulting with Stakeholders
Suncor has been working closely with key stakeholders to ensure they understand the proposed new process and technology and the company understands any concerns they may have. This stakeholder engagement will continue through the regulatory review process. Pending approvals, Suncor plans to begin rapidly accelerating the implement of TRO in 2010.
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