A quick overview of Suncor's new approach to tailings management - mature fine tailings drying.
View this video on Suncor's website
(www.suncor.com)
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.
Read more about Tailings Reduction Operations
(suncor.com)
Source:
www.suncor.com
More about Dry Tailings Technology
Suncor Tailings Management Plan: New “Drying” Process Accelerates Tailings Reclamation
(PDF | English | Jan 2010)
In The News
Suncor Energy completes surface reclamation of first tailings pond
On September 23, 2010, Suncor Energy marked an industry milestone, becoming the first oil sands company to complete surface reclamation of a tailings pond, a key step in returning the site back to nature.
Read more via suncor.com
Wapisiw Lookout Reclamation
Suncor is the first oil sands company to have transformed an oil sands tailings pond into a surface solid enough to be actively re-vegetated and reclaimed. Once complete, Wapisiw Lookout (formerly Pond 1) will be a 220-hectare area of mixed wood forest and a small wetland, supporting a variety of plants and wildlife.
Watch the progress at Wapisiw Lookout from Suncor's live web camera:
www.suncor.com/wapisiw