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Ecotoxicity assessment of treated oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) : 2019 toxicity and mesocosms studies

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This technical report, compiled by Hatfield Consulting, describes the experimental design used to determine the toxicity of oil sands process-affected water (OSPWW) treated using Syncrude's... More ≫

Description

This technical report, compiled by Hatfield Consulting, describes the experimental design used to determine the toxicity of oil sands process-affected water (OSPWW) treated using Syncrude's coke-slurry treatment process. The three primary components of the study design are: chemical characterization of untreated and treated OSPW; toxicological testing of treated OSPW; and assessment of aquatic invertebrate community mesocosm responses to treated OSPW.

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Assessing toxicity of treated oil sands process-affected water : experimental study design

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Describes efforts being taken by provincial regulators (Alberta Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator) to gather scientific information to inform future decisions around the... More ≫

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Describes efforts being taken by provincial regulators (Alberta Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator) to gather scientific information to inform future decisions around the potential for the release of treated oil sands process water into the Lower Athabasca River.

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GHG emissions from oil sands tailing ponds : overview and modelling based on fermentable substrates

Description

Extraction and upgrading/refining of mined bitumen are energy intensive operations that require significant fuel consumption resulting in emissions of greenhouse gases. The less understood part of... More ≫

Description

Extraction and upgrading/refining of mined bitumen are energy intensive operations that require significant fuel consumption resulting in emissions of greenhouse gases. The less understood part of GHG emissions from surface mining operations is methane and carbon dioxide production from fluid tailings ponds. Part I of this paper explains past, current and future practices that affect greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds and presents a few facts that contrast with assumptions commonly made in literature regarding fugitive emissions from oil sands mines. Part II of the paper then proposes a Base GHG Model for calculating future greenhouse gas emissions. This modelling effort presents a different approach to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from ponds based on fermentable substrates with a focus on diluent, which has been shown to be the most bioavailable part of tailings. Different scenarios based on the Base GHG Model show potential pathways toward lowering the Alberta...

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