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Mandate and Research Goals

Limited progress with respect to improved tailings management was recognized as an impediment to the future success of the oil sands industry.  Members of the University of Alberta’s Geotechnical Centre understood that substantial fundamental tailings research at a pilot scale using tailings manufactured to a research specification held the key to sustainable and cost-effective utilization of the oil sands resources.  Initially a meeting to discuss the need for a focussed effort related to tailings was held with H. Hamza, T. Lord and D. Sego in attendance.  The next meeting brought together a broader group from industry and the concept of the Oil Sands Tailings Research Facility (OSTRF) was developed.  They envisioned that the OSTRF would provide the innovative and novel research required to develop the next generation of environmentally superior tailings disposal options.  The Oil Sands Tailings Research Facility will interact with and be a part of the Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development (CONRAD) Extraction Research Group and interact extensively with the Environmental Research Group.

The main purpose for the Oil Sands Tailings Research Facility (OSTRF) is to facilitate research and development of the new tailings processes and provide research support to the existing tailings management practices. The pilot plant is equipped with specialized equipment to allow testing of a variety of processes and technologies, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of oil sand tailings disposal. It is also desired that the facility supply early career, technically competent staff for the oil sands industry. The research themes for the OSTRF are based on the November 6th 2002 Workshop and include:

  •     - Tailings Production: MFT, CT, Paste, Separators and Thickeners
  •     - Engineered Tailings: Deposition, Dewatering (Natural Processes), Rapid Progressive Reclamation and Sustainability
  •     - Water: Recovery, Reuse and Release
  •     - Interdependency: Extraction- Tailings- Environment
  •     - Energy: Recovery and GHG Reduction
  •     - Instrumentation: Tailings process, Disposal and Reclamation
  •     - Regional Impacts: Stakeholders, Landscapes and Certification
  •     - By-products

Current OSTRF Projects

Click on the project titles to view details.

Project TitleDegreeStatusDiscipline
Dewatering Behaviour of Oil Sands Tailings from Different ProcessesphdOngoing
Expected in 2010
Geoenvironmental Engineering
Foam Tailings: A New Methodology of stabilization of TailingsphdOngoing
Expected in 2010
Geotechnical Engineering
Implications of Tailings Management and Planning OptionsphdOngoing
Expected in 2009
Geoenvironmental Engineering
The Potential Role of Aliphatic Diluent in Biogenic Methane Production and Accelerated Densification of Tailings at Albian SandsmscOngoing
Expected in 2009
Biological Sciences
Water Treatment Options and Their Applicability to Oil Sands Operations for Recycle and Safe DischargemscOngoing
Expected in 2009
Environmental Engineering
Approaches to Achieve Non-Segregating (Oil Sands) Tailings with Higher Solids ContentphdOngoing
Expected in 2008
Geotechnical Engineering
Experimental Study of Sand and Slurry Jets in One and Two Phase Flow ImscOngoing
Expected in 2008
Water Resources Engineering
Experimental Study of Sand and Slurry Jets in One and Two Phase Flow IIpostdocOngoing
Expected in 2008
Water Resources Engineering
Mineralogy of oil sand solids using electron microscopy and quantitative x-ray diffractionphdOngoing
Expected in 2008
Chemical Engineering
Thickening of Oil Sands Tailings using Longitudinal, Inclined Vibrating Plate ThickenermscOngoing
Awaiting suitable student
Geotechnical Engineering

Completed OSTRF Projects

Click on the project titles to view details.

Project TitleDegreeStatusDiscipline
Recovery of Commercial Grade Kaolin from Oil Sands Fine TailingsmscAwaiting Exam
Expected in 2008
Chemical Engineering
Impact of Clay Mineral-Water-Bitumen Geochemistry on Oil Sand Tailings Behavior and Recycled Water QualitymscAwaiting Exam
Expected 2008
Geoenvironmental Engineering
Tailings Processes using Natural Processes: Field Experiment of Biological DewateringmscAwaiting Exam
Expected 2008
Geotechnical Engineering and Renewable Resources
Freeze-Thaw Dewatering of Oil Sands Tailings as Part of a Natural Remediation StrategymscCompleted
2007
Geoenvironmental Engineering
Freeze Separation of Saline Oil Sands Mine Waste WatermscCompleted
2006
Geoenvironmental Engineering
The Use of CPT and SPT in Loose SandsmscCompleted
2006
Geotechnical Engineering
Compression Beahviour of Thixotropic Oil Sands TailingsmscCompleted
2005
Geotechnical Engineering
Response of Dense Beach Above Water Tailings to Cyclic Equipment Loading at Syncrude’s Southwest Sand Storage FacilitymscCompleted
2003
Geotechnical Engineering
CFD Modeling of Oil Sands SluriesphdAwaiting ExamGeotechnical Engineering
Fundamentals of SegregationphdAwaiting ExamGeotechnical Engineering
Rapid Densification of MFTphdAwaiting ExamGeotechnical Engineering

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