[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2014066974A1 - Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus - Google Patents

Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2014066974A1
WO2014066974A1 PCT/CA2012/050783 CA2012050783W WO2014066974A1 WO 2014066974 A1 WO2014066974 A1 WO 2014066974A1 CA 2012050783 W CA2012050783 W CA 2012050783W WO 2014066974 A1 WO2014066974 A1 WO 2014066974A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tailings
extraction
sand
compacted
fines
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/CA2012/050783
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Paul BACKMAN
Bill PIERCEY
Dan HIKITA
Ali ZULFIQAR
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Suncor Energy Inc
Original Assignee
Suncor Energy Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Suncor Energy Inc filed Critical Suncor Energy Inc
Priority to PCT/CA2012/050783 priority Critical patent/WO2014066974A1/fr
Publication of WO2014066974A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014066974A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B09B1/00—Dumping solid waste
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G1/00—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal
    • C10G1/04—Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil-shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
    • C02F11/12—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening
    • C02F11/14—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening with addition of chemical agents
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
    • C02F11/12—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening
    • C02F11/14—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening with addition of chemical agents
    • C02F11/147—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening with addition of chemical agents using organic substances

Definitions

  • the technical field relates to handling, disposal and management of extraction tailings including water, sand and fines produced or derived from a mined ore extraction operation.
  • Extraction tailings such as oil sands extraction tailings
  • hydrocarbon extraction operations often use processes in which water is added to the oil sands ore to enable the separation of the valuable hydrocarbon fraction from the oil sands minerals. Once the hydrocarbon fraction is recovered, the residual water, unrecovered hydrocarbons and minerals are generally referred to as extraction tailings.
  • a tailings pond can be contained within a dyke structure generally constructed by placing the coarse sand fraction of the tailings on beaches. The process water, unrecovered hydrocarbons, together with sand and fine minerals not trapped in the dyke structure flow into the tailings pond. In the tailings pond, solid mineral materials settle over time. The coarse sand tends to settle quickly to the bottom of the pond while the finer mineral solids settle much slower and tend to remain in suspension in the water phase creating a mature fine tailings (MFT) layer in the pond.
  • MFT fine fine tailings
  • a method for building an elevated sand dump from extraction tailings comprising sand, fines and water derived from a mined ore extraction operation comprising: providing a flow of the extraction tailings down at least one section of a sloped beaching area such that a substantial portion of the sand settles out of the tailings, thereby producing: a series of overlying lifts comprising settled sand, some captured fines and water; and thin fine tailings at a downstream end of the beaching area, the thin fine tailings comprising fines and water; collecting the thin fine tailings next to the downstream end of the beaching area; collecting drainage water below the lifts and removing the collected drainage water from below the lifts; and compacting and draining at least a portion of each lift to produce a compacted zone of the corresponding lift, such that the overlying lifts include a series of overlying compacted zones.
  • the method further includes, for each lift: ceasing the flow of the extraction tailings into the section of the sloped beaching area; after ceasing the flow, completing the compacting and draining of the compacted zone sufficiently so as to be non-liquifiable prior to providing a subsequent flow of the extraction tailings thereon to produce a subsequent lift.
  • the step of collecting and removing the drainage water further comprises: providing a drainage system below the beaching area for receiving drainage water and conveying the drainage water to a main collection zone; and pumping water out of the main collection zone.
  • the drainage system comprises: basal drains near a bottom of the sloped beaching area and configured so as to be spaced-apart and distributed across a width of the sloped beaching area in a generally lengthwise orientation with respect to the flow of the extraction tailings; and collector drains in fluid communication with a plurality of the basal drains and configured so as to be spaced-apart and distributed along a length of the sloped beaching area in a generally transverse orientation with respect to the flow of the extraction tailings.
  • the main collection zone comprises at least one gravel pad located proximate to a discharge location of the flow of the extraction tailings.
  • the at least one gravel pad comprises multiple gravel pads, each being provided below a corresponding discharge location of the flow of the extraction tailings.
  • the gravels pads are fluidly connected to each other.
  • the basal drains comprise gravel channels and/or perforated pipes.
  • the collector drains comprise gravel channels.
  • the drainage system is sloped in a generally opposite orientation as a slope of the beaching area.
  • the step of providing the flow of the extraction tailings comprises expelling the extraction tailings from a tailings supply system down a starter dyke located along an upstream end of the beaching area.
  • the main collection zone is located in a lower region of the starter dyke.
  • the step of pumping water out of the main collection zone further comprises providing at least one well extending through the starter dyke and into the main collection zone; and retrieving the water in the main collection zone out through the at least one well.
  • the drainage system comprises a slope of at least 1 % toward the starter dyke.
  • the compacted zones extend from the starter dyke in the downstream direction.
  • the compacted zones each have a length of at least about 100 meters from the starter dyke.
  • the method further includes providing a sets of lifts having corresponding compacted zones; and after each set of lifts, raising the starter dyke a sufficient elevation above a top one of the lifts to enable a subsequent set of lifts to be provided from the starter dyke.
  • the method further includes buttressing an upstream end of the starter dyke in order to support the raising thereof.
  • the compacting comprises stepping in the compacted zones and the raising of the starter dyke comprises stepping in the starter dyke.
  • the beaching area comprises an engineered bottom surface having a slope of at least 1 % toward a TFT collection basin located next to the downstream end of the beaching area.
  • the method further includes allowing sufficient sand to enter the TFT collection basin to raise the bottom thereof in conjunction with elevation of the beaching area.
  • each section of the sloped beaching area comprises multiple panels and wherein the method further comprises sequentially flowing the extraction tailings into respective panels to form multiple panel lifts; and after ceasing the flow of the extraction tailings into each panel, providing a panel drainage time sufficient to produce a drained compacted panel zone in the corresponding panel prior to repeating the flow of extraction tailings therein.
  • each section comprises first, second and third panels
  • the method further includes: flowing the extraction tailings into the first panel for a panel filling time of at least 20 days; ceasing the flow of the extraction tailings into the first panel, and flowing the extraction tailings into the second panel for the panel filling time; ceasing the flow of the extraction tailings into the second panel, and flowing the extraction tailings into the third panel for the panel filling time; and repeating the above steps, wherein the panel drainage time for each panel is approximately twice the panel filling time.
  • each panel comprises multiple cells and wherein the extraction tailings are expelled concurrently or alternatingly into the cells.
  • the method further includes separating the cells with berms during the flowing of extraction tailings therein.
  • each cell has a width between about 20 meters and about 70 meters; each panel has a width between about 40 meters and about 420 meters; and each section has a width between about 120 meters and about 1000 meters.
  • the method further includes advancing a deposition outlet of the extraction tailings progressively downstream in each cell to provide the flow of the extraction tailings.
  • the advancing is done for a distance of about 80 meters to about 300 meters from an initial deposition location.
  • the method further includes providing a spill box system at an infeed region of each of the cells in order to decelerate the flow of the tailings sufficiently to allow at least about 50 wt% or 60 wt% of the sand in the extraction tailings; and/or at least about 40 wt% or about 50 wt% of the fines in the extraction tailings; to settle out of the decelerated flow of the tailings prior to flowing to the downstream end of the beaching area.
  • the sloped beaching area comprises an infeed region having a high slope and a main section having a low slope.
  • the method may further include decelerating the flow of the tailings at the infeed region of the sloped beaching area sufficiently to allow at least about 50 wt% or 60 wt% of the sand in the extraction tailings; and/or at least about 40 wt% or about 50 wt% of the fines in the extraction tailings; to settle out of the decelerated flow of the tailings prior to flowing to the downstream end of the beaching area.
  • the step of decelerating the flow of the tailings comprises providing a spill box system at the infeed region of the sloped beaching area to produce a decelerated tailings overflow.
  • the spill box system comprises a barrier wall extending upward from the beaching area, the barrier wall having an upper edge over which the decelerated tailings overflow spills and then advances down the main section of the beaching area.
  • the method further includes: collecting the thin fine tailings in a collection basin; retrieving a stream of thin fine tailings from the collection basin; and supplying the stream of thin fine tailings to a maturation pond in order to generate mature fine tailings.
  • the step of retrieving the stream of thin fine tailings comprises: providing a barge in the collection basin; pumping the stream of the thin fine tailings from the collection basin via the barge.
  • the beaching area is flanked by side buttresses and the collection pond is bounded by an end dyke.
  • the side buttresses and/or the end dyke are at least partially provided by mine pit walls.
  • the method includes controlling a fluid level in the collection basin.
  • the step of controlling the fluid level comprises limiting elevation fluctuations and/or maintaining sufficient hydrostatic pressure on beach below water to reduce or prevent sloughing of beach below water into the collection basin.
  • elevation fluctuations of the fluid level are maintained to a maximum of 2 meters increase per week and 1 meter decrease per week.
  • the collection basin is maintained below a volume of 3,000,000 m 3 .
  • the step of providing the flow of tailings further comprises controlling back pressure of the extraction tailings.
  • the step of controlling the back pressure comprises increasing back pressure by passing the extraction tailings through resistance piping for deposition of the extraction tailings at a proximate location of the beaching area; and/or decreasing back pressure by passing the extraction tailings through bypass piping in order to bypass at least part of the resistance piping, for deposition of the extraction tailings at a remote location of the beaching area.
  • the resistance piping has an internal diameter sufficiently small to avoid slug flow and/or pressure transients.
  • the beaching area is between about 500 meters and about 1500 meters in length.
  • the step of compacting and draining is performed such that each compacted zone is between about 100 meters and about 300 meters in length from deposition of the extraction tailings.
  • the compacting comprises track-packing with bulldozers.
  • the compacted zone for each lift is between about 2m and about 8m in height.
  • the sand dump is provided in an in-pit mining location.
  • the method includes for each lift providing a non-compacted zone downstream of the corresponding compacted zone, so as to form a non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone;enclosing and containing the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone, comprising: buttressing sides of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone, and providing the series of the compacted zones in a stepped-in configuration such that the compacted zones form a compacted non-liquifiable region overlaying and buttressing a side of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone.
  • the extraction tailings are derived from an oil sands extraction operation.
  • a system for building an elevated sand dump from extraction tailings comprising sand, fines and water derived from a mined ore extraction operation comprising: a starter dyke; a sloped beaching area extending from the starter dyke and having at least one section; a tailings supply system for providing a flow of the extraction tailings down the at least one section of a sloped beaching area such that a substantial portion of the sand settles out of the tailings, thereby producing: a series of overlying lifts comprising settled sand, some captured fines and water; and thin fine tailings at a downstream end of the beaching area, the thin fine tailings comprising fines and water; a collection area at a downstream end of the sloped beaching area for receiving the thin fine tailings; a drainage system located below the beaching area for collecting and removing drainage water from below the lifts; and compactors for compacting at least a portion of each lift to
  • the tailings supply system is configured to periodically cease expelling the extraction tailings into the section of the sloped beaching area for completing the compacting and draining of the compacted zone sufficiently so as to be non-liquifiable prior to providing a subsequent flow of the extraction tailings thereon to produce a subsequent lift.
  • the drainage system comprises: a main collection zone; and drains located below the beaching area for receiving drainage water and conveying the drainage water to a main collection zone.
  • the system comprising well arrangement comprising at least one well extending into the main collection zone and at least one pump coupled to the at least one well for retrieving water from the main collection zone.
  • the drainage system comprises: basal drains near a bottom of the sloped beaching area and configured so as to be spaced-apart and distributed across a width of the sloped beaching area in a generally lengthwise orientation with respect to the flow of the extraction tailings, the basal drains being in fluid communication with the main collection zone; and collector drains in fluid communication with a plurality of the basal drains and configured so as to be spaced-apart and distributed along a length of the sloped beaching area in a generally transverse orientation with respect to the flow of the extraction tailings.
  • the main collection zone comprises a gravel pad located in a lower region of the starter dyke.
  • the at least one gravel pads comprises multiple gravel pads each located below a corresponding tailings deposition location.
  • the basal drains comprise gravel channels and/or perforated pipes. In some implementations, the collector drains comprise gravel channels.
  • the drainage system has a slope that is in a generally opposite orientation as a slope of the beaching area.
  • the slope of the drainage system is at least about 1 % toward the starter dyke.
  • the slope of the beaching area is at least about 1 % toward the collection area.
  • each section of the sloped beaching area comprises multiple panels and wherein the tailings supply system is configured to sequentially flow the extraction tailings into respective panels to form multiple panel lifts.
  • the tailings supply system is further configured to cease the flow of the extraction tailings into each panel, providing a panel drainage time sufficient to produce the compacted zone lift in the corresponding panel prior to repeating the flow of extraction tailings therein.
  • each section comprises first, second and third panels
  • the tailings supply system is further configured to: flow the extraction tailings into the first panel for a panel filling time of at least 20 days; cease the flow of the extraction tailings into the first panel, and flow the extraction tailings into the second panel for the panel filling time; cease the flow of the extraction tailings into the second panel, and flowing the extraction tailings into the third panel for the panel filling time; and repeat the above steps, wherein the panel drainage time for each panel is approximately twice the panel filling time.
  • each panel comprises multiple cells and wherein the tailings supply system is further configured to expel the extraction tailings concurrently or alternatingly into the cells.
  • the tailings supply system further comprises a plurality of pipe discharge extensions progressively provided to extend tailings discharge into the beaching area for each cell.
  • each cell has a width between about 20 meters and about 70 meters; each panel has a width between about 40 meters and about 420 meters; and each section has a width between about 120 meters and about 1000 meters.
  • the system includes a tailings flow decelerator at an infeed region of each of the cells in order to decelerate the flow of the tailings sufficiently to allow at least about 50 wt% or 60 wt% of the sand in the extraction tailings; and/or at least about 40 wt% or about 50 wt% of the fines in the extraction tailings, to settle out of the decelerated flow of the tailings prior to flowing to the downstream end of the beaching area.
  • the tailings flow decelerator comprises a spill box system to produce a decelerated tailings overflow.
  • the spill box system comprises a barrier wall extending upward from the beaching area, the barrier wall having an upper edge over which the decelerated tailings overflow spills and then advances down the main section of the beaching area.
  • the system includes at least one retrieval apparatus for removing thin fine tailings from the collection area.
  • the retrieval apparatus comprises at least one barge in the collection area, the barge comprising a suction pipe extending into the collection area and a pump coupled to the suction pipe for pumping a stream of the thin fine tailings out of the collection area.
  • the system includes side buttresses flanking the beaching area and an end dyke defining a far end of the collection area.
  • the side buttresses and the end dyke are at least partially provided by mine pit walls.
  • the tailings supply system is configured for backpressure control.
  • the tailings supply system comprises: resistance piping for increasing backpressure for deposition of the extraction tailings at a proximate location of the beaching area; bypass piping to bypass at least part of the resistance piping for decreasing backpressure by passing the extraction tailings, for deposition of the extraction tailings at a remote location of the beaching area; and valves for switching the flow of the extraction tailings from the resistance piping to the bypass piping.
  • the tailings supply system comprises: a main tailings line supplying the extraction tailings from the extraction operation; a backpressure line section coupled to the main tailings line and configured to receive the extraction tailings therefrom and provide increased backpressure on the extraction tailings; at least one bypass line coupled to the main tailings line and configured to receive the extraction tailings therefrom and provide a lower level of backpressure compared to the backpressure line section; a first feed line coupled to the backpressure line section to receive the extraction tailings therefrom and to expel the extraction tailings at a proximate location of the beaching area; a second feed line coupled to the bypass line to receive the tailings therefrom and to expel the tailings at a remote location of the beaching area the bypass; valves coupled to the backpressure line section and the at least one bypass line; a backpressure controller for controlling the valves depending on proximate or remote expelling of the tailings.
  • the resistance piping has an internal diameter sufficiently small to avoid
  • the collection area comprises a collection basin.
  • the system includes a level controller for controlling a fluid level in the collection basin.
  • the level controller is configured to limit elevation fluctuations and/or maintain sufficient hydrostatic pressure on beach below water to reduce or prevent sloughing of beach below water into the collection basin.
  • the level controller is configured to maintain elevation fluctuations of the fluid level to a maximum of 2 meters increase per week and 1 meter decrease per week.
  • the level controller is configured to maintain the collection basin below a volume of about 3,000,000 m 3 .
  • the beaching area is between about 500 meters and about 1500 meters in length.
  • the tailings supply system, the compactors and the drainage system are configured and controlled so as to produce compacted zones that are at least 100 meters in length from discharge of the extraction tailings.
  • the compactors comprise bulldozers.
  • the tailings supply system, the compactors and the drainage system are configured and controlled such that the compacted zones each have a lift height between about 2 meters and about 8 meters.
  • the sand dump is provided in an in-pit mining location.
  • the tailings supply system, the compactors and the drainage system are configured and controlled so as to: provide for each lift a non-compacted zone downstream of the corresponding compacted zone, so as to form a non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone and enclose and contain the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone by buttressing sides of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone and providing the series of the compacted zones in a stepped-in configuration such that the compacted zones form a compacted non-liquif iable region overlaying and buttressing a side of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone.
  • the extraction tailings are derived from an oil sands extraction operation.
  • a method for treating tailings comprising: discharging a tailings stream comprising coarse sand, fines and water and about 35 wt% to about 60 wt% solids into sloped beaching area to remove substantially all of the coarse sand and at least 40% of the fines in a sand dump structure, and to produce thin fine tailings comprising between about 5 wt% and about 10 wt% solids and at least 80 wt% fines on a per solids basis; providing a stream of the thin fine tailings to a maturation pond to produce a supernatant substantially solids free water layer and a lower mature fine tailings layer, the mature fine tailings comprising between about 25 wt% and about 35 wt% solids and at least 80 wt% fines content on a per solids basis; retrieving a stream of the mature fine tailings from the maturation pond; supplying the stream of the mature fine tailings to a dewatering operation
  • the tailings stream has a specific gravity between about 1 .39 and about 1 .55.
  • the tailings stream comprises between about 50 wt% to about 60 wt% solids.
  • the thin fine tailings has a specific gravity below about 1 .1 .
  • the thin fine tailings has a fines content of at least about 95 wt% on a per solids basis.
  • the thin fine tailings has a fines content of at least about 98 wt% on a per solids basis.
  • capturing at least 50% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure In some implementations, capturing at least 50% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure.
  • the method includes capturing at least 60% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure.
  • the mature fine tailings retrieved from the maturation pond comprise between about 28 wt% and about 32 wt% solids and at least 90 wt% fines content on a per solids basis.
  • the mature fine tailings retrieved from the maturation pond comprise at least 95 wt% fines content on a per solids basis.
  • the method includes removing a stream of the substantially solids free water from the maturation tailings pond.
  • the method includes recycling the stream of the substantially solids free water to a mined ore extraction operation.
  • the method includes recycling a stream of the released water to the mined ore extraction operation.
  • the method includes: mining a formation to produce mined ore for the extraction operation, a mine pit, and overburden material; providing the mine pit for building the sand dump structure therein; and providing at least a portion of the overburden material for buttressing the sand dump structure.
  • the method includes building the sand dump structure according to the method as defined above or herein.
  • the method includes building the sand dump structure using the system as defined in above or herein.
  • a method for treating tailings comprising: providing a stream of the thin fine tailings comprising between about 5 wt% and about 10 wt% solids and at least 80 wt% fines on a per solids basis, to a maturation pond to produce a supernatant substantially solids free water layer and a lower mature fine tailings layer, the mature fine tailings comprising between about 25 wt% and about 35 wt% solids and at least 80 wt% fines content on a per solids basis, wherein the thin fine tailings are derived from a sand removal operation; retrieving a stream of the mature fine tailings from the maturation pond; supplying the stream of the mature fine tailings to a dewatering operation comprising: contacting the mature fine tailings with a flocculating reagent to produce a flocculation material; and depositing the flocculation material in a sub-aerial deposition area to produce released water and dewater
  • the extraction tailings stream has a specific gravity between about 1 .39 and about 1 .55.
  • the extraction tailings stream comprises between about 35 wt% to about 60 wt% solids.
  • the thin fine tailings has a specific gravity below about 1 .1 .
  • the thin fine tailings has a fines content of at least about 95 wt% on a per solids basis.
  • the thin fine tailings has a fines content of at least about 98 wt% on a per solids basis.
  • the method includes capturing at least 50% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure.
  • the method includes capturing at least 60% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure.
  • the mature fine tailings retrieved from the maturation pond comprise between about 28 wt% and about 32 wt% solids and at least 90 wt% fines content on a per solids basis.
  • the mature fine tailings retrieved from the maturation pond comprise at least 95 wt% fines content on a per solids basis.
  • the method includes removing a stream of the substantially solids free water from the maturation tailings pond.
  • the method includes recycling the stream of the substantially solids free water to a mined ore extraction operation.
  • the method includes recycling a stream of the released water to the mined ore extraction operation.
  • the method includes: mining a formation to produce mined ore for the extraction operation, a mine pit, and overburden material; providing the mine pit for building the sand dump structure therein; and providing at least a portion of the overburden material for buttressing the sand dump structure.
  • the method includes building the sand dump structure according to the method as defined herein.
  • the method includes building the sand dump structure using the system as defined herein.
  • a method of producing bitumen from an oil sands formation comprising: mining the oil sand formation to produce mined ore and a mine pit; supplying the mined ore to an extraction operation to produce extracted bitumen and tailings comprising coarse sand, fines and water and about 35 wt% to about 60 wt% solids; removing at least a portion of the coarse sand from the tailings in the mine pit, to produce thin fine tailings comprising between about 5 wt% and about 10 wt% solids and at least 80 wt% fines on a per solids basis; supplying a stream of the thin fine tailings from the mine pit to a maturation pond to produce an upper layer of substantially solids free water and a lower layer comprising mature fine tailings comprising between about 25 wt% and about 35 wt% solids and at least 80 wt% fines content on a per solids basis; and supplying a stream of the mature fine tail
  • the extraction tailings stream has a specific gravity between about 1 .39 and about 1 .55.
  • the extraction tailings comprises between about 50 wt% to about 60 wt% solids.
  • the thin fine tailings has a specific gravity below about 1 .1 .
  • the thin fine tailings has a fines content of at least about 95 wt% on a per solids basis.
  • the thin fine tailings has a fines content of at least about 98 wt% on a per solids basis.
  • the method includes capturing at least 50 wt% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure.
  • the method includes capturing at least 60 wt% of the fines of the tailing stream in the sand dump structure.
  • the mature fine tailings retrieved from the maturation pond comprise between about 28 wt% and about 32 wt% solids and at least 90 wt% fines content on a per solids basis.
  • the mature fine tailings retrieved from the maturation pond comprise at least 95 wt% fines content on a per solids basis.
  • the removing at least a portion of the coarse sand from the tailings is done by building a sand dump structure.
  • the method includes building the sand dump structure according to the method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 50.
  • the method includes building the sand dump structure using the system as defined in any one of claims 51 to 92.
  • a sand dump structure built according to the method defined herein.
  • a sand dump structure comprising a lower non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone and an enclosure comprising side buttresses buttressing sides of non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone and a compacted region comprising compacted non-liquifiable tailings zone overlaying and buttressing a side of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone.
  • a method of treating tailings comprising enclosing and containing a non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone with side buttresses buttressing sides of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone and a compacted non- liquifiable tailings region comprising compacted and drained tailings, the compacted non- liquifiable tailings region overlaying and buttressing a side of the non-compacted liquifiable tailings zone, thereby providing a stable elevated tailings containment structure.
  • the stable elevated tailings containment structure is built according to the method as defined in any one of the methods and/or the systems as defined herein.
  • Fig 1 is a process block diagram.
  • Fig 2 is a top plan partial transparent view schematic of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 3 is a side cross-sectional partial transparent view schematic of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 4 is a top plan view schematic of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 5 is a top plan view schematic of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 6 is a perspective view schematic of a location for a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 7 is a side cross-sectional partial transparent view schematic of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 8 is a perspective view schematic of part of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 9 is a top plan view schematic of part of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 10 is a top plan view schematic of part of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 1 1 is a top plan view schematic of part of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 12 is a top plan view schematic of part of a sand dump operation.
  • Fig 13 is a process block diagram.
  • Fig 14 is another process block diagram.
  • Figs 15a to 15c are side cross-sectional view schematics and Fig 15d is a top perspective view schematic of a TFT collection basin.
  • Fig 16 is a perspective partially transparent view schematic showing a geothermal exchange system.
  • Extraction tailings include sand, water and fines. Extraction tailings may also include other components such as residual compounds from the mined ore and/or the extraction process. Extraction tailings are a by-product of a mined ore extraction operation and may include a variety of different by-product and/or underflow streams. For example, the extraction tailings may include cyclopack underflow, various flotation tailings such as tertiary floatation tailings, and other underflow streams that may be produced in separators such as cyclones, centrifuges and/or thickeners that may be involved in the given extraction process. The extraction tailings may be provided continuously and directly from an extraction facility or from a temporary storage area.
  • mineral fractions with a particle diameter greater than 44 microns are referred to as "sand”.
  • Mineral fractions with a particle diameter less than 44 microns are referred to as “fines”.
  • Mineral fractions with a particle diameter less than 2 microns are generally referred to as “clay”, although in some instances “clay” may refer to the actual particle mineralogy.
  • the relationship between sand and fines in tailings reflects the variation in the mined ore make-up, the chemistry of the process water and the extraction processes.
  • extraction tailings are processed in a sand dump operation, which will be described further below. It should be noted that the techniques will be largely described for oil sands applications, but the techniques can also be used for extraction tailings derived from other types of mined ore extraction.
  • the hydrocarbon containing formation 10 is mined in a mining operation 12 and the resulting ore 14 is supplied to an extraction operation 16.
  • Water 18 and other chemical agents are used to separate hydrocarbons 20, such as bitumen.
  • the extraction operation produces extraction tailings 22, which include water, sand, fines and unrecovered hydrocarbons.
  • the extraction tailings 22 may then be supplied to a sand removal operation 24, which may also be referred to herein as a sand dump operation.
  • TFT thin fine tailings
  • the recovered water may be combined with the TFT to produce a single TFT outlet stream 30, as will be discussed further below.
  • the TFT 30 may be supplied to a maturation operation 32 in order to allow the fines to consolidate and generate, over time, mature fine tailings (MFT) 34.
  • the maturation operation 32 may include one or more ponds that are relatively small in size compared to conventional tailings ponds.
  • the maturation operation 32 may be part of an overall water and fines management system that receives TFT and other used water streams, enables settling of the fines over time, and can be used to withdraw water for recycling and MFT 34 for dewatering.
  • the conventional method supplied tailings streams containing coarse sand that accumulated in the bottom of the tailings ponds, increasing the elevation of the pond bottom, and leading to reduced pond capacity and thus the construction of additional ponds.
  • the coarse sand in the extraction tailings is captured in the sand dump operation 24.
  • the TFT stream 30 can be supplied to the water and fines management system that can be operated such that capacity and/or containment issues are reduced.
  • the maturation operation 32 there may be a single pond that receives TFT and allows settling of the fines so as to form a top stratum of free water that can be recycled back into upstream processes, followed by lower layers of increasing solids content.
  • the layer near the bottom of the pond may be about 30 wt% solids and may be referred to as MFT.
  • the MFT 34 may then be supplied to an MFT dewatering operation 36, which may include the addition of a dewatering chemical 38, such as a polymer flocculant, to the MFT in order to produce flocculated MFT that can be deposited in lifts into deposition cells.
  • a dewatering chemical 38 such as a polymer flocculant
  • the extraction tailings 22 are supplied via pipeline and are expelled down a starter dyke 44 and flow down a section of a sloped beaching area 46.
  • the sloped beaching area is subdivided into various areas that will be described further below.
  • As the extraction tailings 22 flow down the section of the beaching area 46 a portion of the sand settles out of the extraction tailings and produces a wet sandy lift 48 on the beaching area 46.
  • the wet sandy lift 48 includes settled sand, some captured fines and water.
  • a thin fine tailings (TFT) stream 50 is also produced at a downstream end of the beaching area 46.
  • TFT thin fine tailings
  • the TFT stream 50 includes mainly fines and water and typically has a solids content of about 5 wt% to 10 wt%.
  • the TFT stream 50 is collected in a collection basin 52 located next to the downstream end of the beaching area 46.
  • a retrieval apparatus 54 which may include at least one barge and pumping arrangement, may be used to retrieve TFT from the collection basin 52 for supplying to the maturation operation 32 to produce MFT.
  • the retrieval apparatus 54 may also be operated in order to maintain an appropriate level in the TFT pond 52 with respect to the sand lifts in the beaching area.
  • FIG 3 once a wet sandy lift 48 has been deposited on a section of the beaching area, the flow of the extraction tailings 22 into that section of the beaching area 46 is stopped.
  • Compactors 56 which may be dozers or the like, are provided for compacting a part of the wet sandy lift 48 to produce a compacted lift 58 for a compacted zone 59 of the beaching area 46.
  • the compacted zone 59 is followed by a downstream non-compacted zone that leads into the TFT collection basin 52.
  • Fig 3 illustrates a dry, compacted lift 58 below a subsequently deposited wet sandy lift 48 and a compactor 56 that is in the process of compacting the upstream zone of the newly deposited wet sandy lift 48 in order to create another compacted lift.
  • the compacted zone may be obtained by using bulldozers that spread and compact the deposited material, while the remaining fluid may travel in meandering streams down the non- compacted zone allowing additional sand and some fines to remain on the non- compacted part of the beaching area.
  • a drainage system 60 is provided below the beaching area 46 for facilitating drainage and collection of water from the extraction tailings 22. Collected drainage water is removed from below the beaching area, for example by channeling the water in the opposite direction as the flow of the extraction tailings over the beaching area 46. The collected drainage water may then be retrieved from the drainage system 60 via a well arrangement 62 to obtain a tailings water stream 64. Drainage occurs under the influence of gravity and is also expedited by the compacting of the wet sandy lift.
  • the lift is allowed to undergo further draining and drying over a certain period of time to produce a compacted lift.
  • the dry compacted lift may still have some water content, but has sufficient geotechnical properties according to the design characteristics of the lifts and the overall sand dump structure.
  • the compacted lifts may reach a dilated or non- liquifiable state prior to any subsequent lifts of extraction tailings.
  • the geotechnical targets of obtaining non-liquifiable compacted zones may be obtained through sufficient compaction and sufficient compaction, draining and drying time. After an appropriate draining and drying time, a subsequent deposition of extraction tailings 22 may occur on top of the previous lift. Over time, multiple sand lifts are provided in order to form an elevated geotechnically stable sand landform.
  • the compacted zones may be tested to determine whether they have reached a non- liquifiable state by performing cone penetration tests.
  • a test cone probe may be pushed tip side down into the compacted zone in order to obtain various data such as friction, water table, soil classification and so on.
  • the cone data may be subjected to a liquefaction assessment utilizing various geotechnical equations in order to determine whether the compacted zone is non-liquifiable.
  • the entire compacted zone may be compacted and drain sufficiently to reach the non-liquifiable state prior to discharging a subsequent lift.
  • the cone testing may be correlated with other parameters of the sand dump construction, including as compaction and draining time for example, in order to prepare a performance based specification.
  • the performance based specification may include minimum bulldozing and/or drainage time to achieve non- liquifiable compacted zones.
  • the performance based specification may be used instead of the cone test for various lifts, although a cone test may be used on a less frequent basis.
  • the water table may be determined for each compacted zone lift. In some scenarios, sufficient compaction, draining and drying are performed such that the water table level is at least 2 meters below the top surface of the compacted zone.
  • the drainage system aids in drawing down the water table. Additional measurement devices may be included in the sand dump operation, such as movement detectors and/or water pressure detectors to detect changes in pore water pressure.
  • Figs 2 and 6 there are side buttresses 66 on either side of the beaching area 46 and a downstream dyke 68 enclosing the TFT collection basin 52.
  • the beaching area 46 is provided in an in-pit mining location and the downstream dyke 68 and/or side buttresses 66 may be at least partly made of existing pit walls. As the sand landform elevates and fills the pit, the TFT pond and the starter dyke are also raised in elevation.
  • the sand landform can be built up vertically to a high elevation, backfilling the mine pit with sand and some fines from extraction tailings.
  • the sand dumps are properly drained, compacted and buttressed.
  • the drainage system 60 includes a set of basal drains 70 that may be provided running in a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to the length of the beaching area.
  • the basal drains 70 may be configured to have a slope that is generally opposite to the slope of the beaching area.
  • the set of basal drains 70 may be installed sloping at about 0.5% grade or about1 % grade toward the starter dyke 44 to collect seepage water and channel the water for collection.
  • the existing mine pit bottom may be modified to build an engineered pond bottom 72 sloping at about 1 % grade from starter dyke 44 to the TFT collection basin 52
  • the engineered pond bottom may be a graded area having a 1 % slope and made of material that will not be carried or washed away due to the flow of the water toward the TFT collection basin.
  • the sloped engineered pond bottom 72 facilitates positive drainage at the initial discharge to avoid water pooling against the starter dyke 44 to help avoid building beach below water next to the dyke.
  • the engineered pond bottom 72 may be provided above the drainage system 60 and they may be spaced apart by an interval.
  • the interval may be provided to allow hydraulic communication between the engineered pond bottom 72 and drainage system 60 and may be composed of materials to provide transition toward the basal drains 70.
  • the interval may include an upper layer including tailings sand for filtering out fines, an intermediate layer including porous material that may be called transition sand, a gravel or rocks layer and finally perforated piping as basal drains 70 for collecting the drainage water and channeling it toward the starter dyke 44.
  • the drainage system 60 may also include collector drains 74 that may be configured in generally transverse relation to the basal drains 70 and communicate with the basal drains 70.
  • the collector drains 74 enable the basal drains 70 to be interconnected such that if one of the basal drains 70 becomes clogged the water can flow through one of the collector drains to join another basal drain 70. This facilitates robust drainage of the water and removal from below the beaching area 46.
  • the basal drains and the collector drains facilitate compaction and geotechnical stability in the beach area.
  • the drainage system 60 may also include a main collection zone 76 communicating with at least some of the basal drains 70 and including gravel pads 78 into which the basal drains 70 discharge the drainage water.
  • the gravel pads 78 are interconnected to allow water to fluidly communicate between them.
  • the basal drains, collector drains and/or main collection zone may be constructed using a variety of materials, for example gravel or wash rock, and may also include transition materials for hydraulic connection with overlying zones.
  • the beaching area may be sub-divided into multiple sections, each of which is divided into multiple panels, which in turn are divided into multiple cells.
  • Fig 2 shows two sections, each having three panels, and each panel having four cells, while the other Figs show four sections with a similar panel and cell configuration to Fig 2. It should be understood that various other arrangements and number of panels per section and cell per panel may be used. More regarding the subdivision of the beaching area and its operation will be discussed further below.
  • a plurality of interconnected gravel pads 78 may be arranged one per beaching panel.
  • the gravel pads may fluidly communicate by means of interconnecting conduits and/or gravel trenches.
  • Fig 2 illustrates one basal drain 70 per cell, but the basal drains may be arranged in various other configurations. For example, there may be a basal drain 70 every 100m, while the cells are about 65m wide, thereby providing an uneven distribution of basal drains 70 compared to the cell arrangement.
  • the basal drains 70 may also extend down the beaching area to various lengths.
  • the basal drains 70 may extend below the compacted zone 59 that extends from the starter dyke a certain distance toward the TFT collection basin.
  • the drainage system 60 may end at or just past the compacted zone 59. The drainage water that drains in the non-compacted zone can flow toward and be collected in the TFT collection basin 52 to form part of the TFT.
  • the well arrangement 62 may be provided to retrieve drainage water from the gravel pads 78 of the drainage system 60.
  • the well arrangement 62 may include various vertical wells 80 that are drilled into respective gravel pads 78. These wells 80 may be associated with pumps and connected to each other through a set of common collectors for pumping the water back over the starter dyke 44 and back into a water collection area.
  • a secondary drainage system may be installed and may substantially resemble the bottom drainage system that is illustrated in the Figures, although a secondary drainage system would be stepped further into the beach and closer to the TFT collection basin and would thus be shorter.
  • the secondary drains may be built every 20 meters in elevation and may include laying perforation piping transversely across the beaching area and including headers to collect the water from such perforated piping.
  • the secondary drains may be provided so as to remove water from the upper face of the compacted zones to facilitate construction, and need not be designed for providing increased strength for the overall structure.
  • the sand dump operation provides a sand structure derived from extraction tailings that may be built at a high rate of rise, particularly in the event of high and continuous flow rates of extraction tailings. In some instances, providing a beaching area that is sub-divided into multiple areas can facilitate high throughput of extraction tailings.
  • the beaching area 46 includes multiple sections 82 each of which includes multiple panels 84 that, in turn, each include multiple cells 86. In Fig 4, there are four sections, each including three panels, and each panel includes four cells. It should be mentioned that the beaching area 46 may include different numbers of sections, panels and cells.
  • Figs 4, 5 and 9 to 1 1 also indicate some optional widths of the sections.
  • the sections 82, panels 84 and cells 86 may be configured to have a variety of different widths.
  • each cell 86 may have a width between about 20m to 70m and each panel 84 may have a width between about 40m to about 420m depending the number of cells 86 per panel and the width of each cell 86.
  • the width of a given panel 84 may be considered as the sum of the widths of the cells 86 in that panel.
  • the sections 82 may each have a width of about 120m to about 1000m, again depending on the number and width of the panels 84 and cells 86 within the sections 82.
  • the dimensions of the sections 82, panels 84 and cells 86 may be adapted to the constraints of a given in-pit location that is suitable for building an elevated sand structure.
  • the width and number of the sections, panels and cells is determined based on the dimensions of an existing dyke and/or mine pit that will be used for the sand dump location. Mine pits may have a variety of forms suitable for such sand dump operations.
  • the width of the cells may be sufficiently small to facilitate deposition of the tailings, as larger cell widths can lead to challenges in flowing tailings in a controlled manner.
  • the beaching area and its associated sub-divisions may have a variety of different lengths.
  • the length of the beaching area may be between about 500m and about 1500m, or from about 750m to about 1250 km, for example.
  • the compacted zone may have a length sufficient to provide required geotechnical stability to the upstream dyke.
  • the compacted zone may have a length of at least 10%, 20%, 25% or 30% of the total initial length of the beaching area.
  • the compacted zone may be at least 100m, although it may be 250m or 300m to ensure greater geotechnical strength.
  • the length may depend on the slope of the beaching area, the composition and flow rate of the deposited extraction tailings, the compaction properties of the compacted lifts, the size of the compacted zone, the geotechnical properties of the upstream dyke, among other factors.
  • the compacted zones are dimensioned in accordance with the qualities of available material for use as buttressing. For example, shorter compacted zones leads to more buttress materials required for construction of the buttress (see character 66 of Fig 7). In one example, compacted zones of about 100m lead to a buttress 66 reaching about 385 meters in elevation, whereas compacted zones of about 250 meters lead to a buttress 66 reaching about 365 meters. The 20 meters difference in elevation corresponds to a massive quantity of material that would be required for the higher buttress, such that the mining activities may not be able to easily furnish the required buttress material (e.g. made from overburden). Thus, the dimensions of the compacted zones may be tailored or adjusted in accordance with the availability of overburden material and the mining plan.
  • the dimensions of the compacted zones may change at different elevations.
  • the compacted zone may initially be about 250 meters to about 300 meters long, and at later stages of the sand dump construction the compacted zones may be extended to about 500 meters.
  • the lengthening of the compacted zones may be done in order to increase the strength of the structure and may be adjusted depending on availability of buttress material.
  • the use of sand for providing strength and stability to the structure may also be preferred at certain stages of construction due to its relatively lower cost compared to other types of material such as dirt.
  • the length of the beaching area also has an influence on the fines capture in the sand dump. Longer beaching will tend to lead to greater fines capture in the sand structure.
  • the extraction tailings may include about 35 wt% to about 60 wt% solids, of which about 10 wt% to about 20 wt% is fines and about 80 wt% to about 90 wt% is coarse sand on a per solids basis.
  • the rest of the extraction tailings include mainly water with some residual bitumen.
  • the compacted zone receives at least 40 wt%, 50 wt% or 60 wt% of the sand contained in the extraction tailings. The remaining sand may be captured in the rest of the sand dump operation, in the non-compacted zone and the TFT collection basin.
  • the compacted zone may also receive at least 40 wt%, 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 65 wt% of the fines contained in the extraction tailings. The remaining fines may report to the non-compacted zone and the TFT collection basin.
  • Shorter beaches may also result in more of the coarse sand material to be carried to the TFT collection basin, and thus the tailings supply and deposition characteristics may be coordinated with the length and management of the beaching area.
  • the quantity of fines, coarse sand and water that report to the different parts of the sand dump may also be modified using overboards, which can be operated periodically to discharge the extraction tailings directly into the non-compacted zone.
  • the sand dumping process may include multiple phases.
  • the phases will be described below in relation to an example sand dump implementation having the following example features with reference to Figs 4 and 5:
  • the deposition procedure into the various parts of the beaching area 46 may be divided into different phases, each phase including the deposition of extraction tailings 22 into some of the panels 84 while other panels 84 do not receive extraction tailings.
  • the extraction tailings 22 may be supplied from one or more tailings sources.
  • Fig 4 illustrates the scenario where there are two tailings sources I and II which may be two different extraction facilities.
  • phase 1 in phase 1 four lines 88a, 88b, 88c, 88d deposit extraction tailings 22 into the sand dump, with one section 82 devoted to each line.
  • the dark lines indicate lines that are depositing extraction tailings 22.
  • the extraction tailings supply lines 88 may run down a drop in elevation (e.g. of about 45m) over a few hundred meters distance, which can be seen as occurring down a descending ramp 89 in Fig 6. Starting from the original ground elevation (e.g. of about 350m), the extraction tailings 22 run down the ramp 89 eventually reaching the starter dyke 44 elevation (e.g. of about 285m), and may start discharging at an elevation of about 280m.
  • the starter dyke 44 elevation e.g. of about 285m
  • Each tailings line 88 may be configured to discharge at varying lengths within its planned construction section on the starter dyke 44.
  • the length of discharge may vary, for example, from a few meters to several hundred meters (e.g. 900m from the landing point on the starter dyke, which includes 650m panel width in addition to 250m of compacted beach for the longest line section in one example).
  • one of three lines from source I is discharging at lengths varying from 750m to 1650m from the landing point on the starter dyke 44.
  • phase 1 it may take approximately 30 days to build one 5m high, 250m long and 217m wide panel 84 with approximately 60% fines capture, which is the amount of sand retained in the cell divided by the total sand supplied from the tailings line. It should be understood that the time to build a lift in a panel 84 may vary depending on a number of factors, such as lift height, panel and cell width and length, tailings flow rates and composition, and so on. In one example, 30 days is taken as an approximate time for building a lift in a panel and has been coordinated with the number of panels and the compaction and draining time that is provided to obtain the dewatered lift.
  • the lines 88 switch to the next panel allowing drainage to the first panel. Since the extraction facility will typically operate in continuous production, line configurations and maintenance may be provided to minimize the amount of discharge out of the cells needed during the installation of switches in the subsequent panels.
  • Phase 2 may be referred to as a steady state operation where two beach sections 82 are built in a generally simultaneous fashion, one from the source I tailings lines 88a, 88b, 88c and the other from source II tailings lines 88d, 88e, 88f.
  • it may take approximately 6 weeks to build sections 1 and 4, and then another 6 weeks to build sections 2 and 3.
  • preparation work for the next 5m lift can be undertaken on those sections.
  • This preparation work includes items such as installation of lines and switches, and possibly the installation of secondary drains. Secondary drains may be laid down, if required, every four lifts (e.g. 20m in elevation). Corresponding pumping wells may be provided for the secondary drainage system.
  • every fourth lift may have a 30m wide tailings corridor, such that the tailings supply piping can be moved up to the new tailings pipe corridor every fourth lift.
  • Fig 7 illustrates that every fourth lift has a longer step-in for the compacted beach region.
  • Fig 7 illustrates the general configuration of the sand structure where the compacted beach region has various notches, resulting from the stepping in of the tailings deposition and the compaction. Each notch represents a lift. The notches occur in a series of three notches with a small plateau followed by one notch with a longer plateau.
  • the first three lifts each involve a short step-in, while the fourth lift involves a longer step-in to provide the tailings pipe corridor.
  • Each lift provides a slope of about 2H:1 V, while the overall slope of the four lifts is about 41-1:1 V.
  • the descending ramp 89 illustrated in Fig 6
  • the descending ramp and the corresponding tailings piping can be reconfigured for the new elevation at which the extraction tailings will be deposited.
  • backfilling behind the dyke can occur to provide stability.
  • the initial backfill may be the waste spec buttress 87, and the subsequent backfill may be G-Spec.
  • the sand dump structure may include a liquifiable tailings material (e.g. illustrated as the non-compacted region) that is enclosed by mine pit walls (not illustrated here) and an overlying non-liquif iable tailings material (e.g. illustrated as the compacted region).
  • a liquifiable tailings material e.g. illustrated as the non-compacted region
  • mine pit walls not illustrated here
  • an overlying non-liquif iable tailings material e.g. illustrated as the compacted region
  • Phase 3 may be implemented once the starter dyke 44 is built to a similar elevation as the surrounding buttresses and dykes 66, 68, which may include surrounding pit walls. At this point, the extraction tailings deposition can encircle the in-pit sand dump structure, thus releasing some of the pressure of working in such a confined and congested area as an in-pit location.
  • all of the cells 86 in the panel 84 may be built in parallel, either using a single tailings line 88 per panel as in Fig 5 or using a tailings line 88 for every two panels as in Fig 4.
  • the deposition of extraction tailings 22 from a given tailings line 88 may be switched from one cell 86 to another frequently in order to build up the lift in the panel 84.
  • the process may be conducted such that construction of the first lift in all four beach sections across the dyke may take approximately 90 days for a lift of about 5m. Deposition in the first panel of each section may begin on day 1 and complete on day 30. By the time the third panel of each section completes (on day 90), the first panel would have been draining for 60 days and is ready to receive a subsequent lift.
  • the initial stages of the tailings deposition may occur in low elevation in-pit location and the pipeline that supplies the extraction tailings drops significantly in elevation over a short distance to reach the starter dyke.
  • the drop may be about 45m or more depending on the depth of the in-pit location.
  • Such a rapid drop in elevation with little resistance can cause the fluid velocity of the tailings to increase such that high energy discharge from the lines could result in operational challenges, such as beach erosion and difficulty in beach construction, among others.
  • a combination of varying lengths of resistance piping and by-passes may be provided, as will be discussed further below.
  • Deposition from a given line may occur in a single cell at a time.
  • bulldozers may be provided to maintain the construction of side dykes between adjacent cells and accelerate compaction through track-packing.
  • the cells may be divided into compacted and non-compacted zones during construction.
  • the compacted zones may be sloped beaches that may be about 250-300m long, where dozers push tailings material to construct dykes and track-pack the material to help release water.
  • the beach above water may be about 1 km long, of which about 250- 300m may be the compacted zone 59.
  • a panel may be deemed complete once a target lift height of the compacted zone has been reached for each of the cells in that panel.
  • the lift heights may be between about 2m and about 8m, between about 4m and about 6m, or, as in one example, about 5m.
  • the sand dump structure may be designed and operated to rise about 20m in height each year or complete a 5m lift across all four sections every three months.
  • the compacted zone length may be provided to co-ordinate with the lift height and buttress construction.
  • the non-compacted zones may be designed to have zero geotechnical stability, no dozer activity, and tailings may be deposited through overboards, which are lines that deposit the extraction tailings into the non-compacted zone of the beaching area.
  • An overboard line may be provided for each incoming tailings line 88.
  • the overboard lines may be used for various reasons, such as when no activity such as compaction is occurring in the beaching area.
  • the water within the compacted zone either travels to the TFT pond through dozer track-packing or is sent via the drainage system to the pumping wells.
  • the drainage water may then be pumped to a separate water storage area, into the non-compacted zone to flow down to the TFT collection basin or directly into the basin.
  • the sand dump operation may be provided to store a maximum amount of sand as beach above water while keeping the amount of fluids in the collection basin to a minimum for operation of the barges. TFT released from hydraulically placed sand beaches is collected in the relatively small TFT collection basin at the toe of the sand lifts.
  • the TFT collection basin may be restricted in terms of volume and elevation fluctuations.
  • the TFT collection basin may also be operated at a density of about 1 .1 SG or below, which may typically be around 1 .04 SG.
  • the volume of the TFT collection basin may be limited to a maximum of about 3Mm 3 , while its elevation may be restricted to about +2m to -1 m per week by geotechnical design. These elevation fluctuation limits provide geotechnical stability that the hydrostatic pressure of the water provides to the non-compacted zone that is proximate the TFT collection basin. Should the collection basin level decrease too rapidly, the unstable material, or beach below water (BBW) could slough into the collection basin, decreasing basin capacity. This sloughing can also flatten the BBW slopes, which were designed at about 6%.
  • BBW beach below water
  • both the level and depth of the TFT collection basin 52 can be controlled by controlling the flow rate at which the TFT is retrieved from the basin 52, for example by adjusting pump speed.
  • the TFT may be pumped to a larger water pond (e.g. used for MFT maturation) using a retrieval apparatus 54 that may include a set of three independent trains of barges.
  • Two of the barge systems are configured to be capable of handling average flow rates required to maintain the designed fluid volumes in the TFT collection basin 52, while the third may be provided to support maintenance outages and unusual rainfall events.
  • Each barge 54 may be equipped with a GPS level transmitter that can allow the collection basin elevation to be monitored.
  • the depth may be monitored by a plunge level transmitter and may be monitored to prevent the suction pipes 91 extending from the barges from plugging with coarse material.
  • the suction pipes 91 may be attached to an adjustable ladder, and controlled through a winch, should the level of coarse solids within the basin 52 approach the suction intake.
  • the retrieval apparatus may be configured to have a capacity to quickly draw down the TFT collection basin 52. Nevertheless, the rate of draw down may be controlled and held in check, as overly rapid draw down could cause sloughing of the beach and potentially creating large disruptive waves and/or sanding in the barge lines.
  • the barges may each have one or more pumps.
  • Gland seal water for the TFT barge pumps may be supplied from three separate lines, mounted on a floating walkway and/or floating in the TFT collection basin.
  • the slurry from the TFT collection basin may be treated to obtain acceptable gland seal water, although water may be provided from another source.
  • the water temperature of the discharge streams coming from the tailings lines may be close to the freezing point upon reaching the TFT collection basin 52.
  • the TFT lines that supply the TFT to the larger water pond may be heated, e.g. by providing heat tracing and/or insulation, to keep them from freezing. Maintaining access to the barges through the winter for consistent barge operation may be facilitated by various methods.
  • a channel may be kept open to access the barges year round.
  • a bubbler system may also be used to avoid freezing in certain locations of the TFT collection basin, e.g. proximate to catwalks and the barges. It has nevertheless been found that even at relatively cold temperatures the TFT collection basin may operate at about 9C near the top, and thus heating may not be required for various situations.
  • the elevation of the TFT collection basin 52 may rise about 20m per year.
  • the initial in-pit TFT pipe corridor may be provided a rising grade from the TFT collection basin out of the mine pit and toward a larger pond. This initial TFT pipe corridor may last until the TFT collection basin elevation reaches about 10m below the elevation of surrounding dykes and buttresses, e.g. 320m in an example case.
  • the TFT corridor may be raised as well.
  • the initial tailings corridor 85 that is adequate as the TFT collection basin 52 is at lower elevations may eventually become too low for containment of the TFT as the elevation increases and thus a new TFT pipe corridor 83 may be built at a higher elevation (Fig 15d).
  • the new TFT corridor 83 may be built about 5m higher than the existing one.
  • a set of new pipelines can be laid out in the new TFT corridor 83 and connected to the barges. Pipelines from the previous corridor 85 may be removed, the corridor 85 may be raised 10m high (which makes it 5m higher than other corridor 83) and the pipelines may be reinstalled.
  • Such a sequenced elevating of two TFT corridors 83, 85 and their alternate use may be implemented throughout operational life of the sand dump operation.
  • Two sets of corridors may be built side by side so that at any given time one is in operation and the other is under construction.
  • the starter dyke 44 may be constructed starting from the mine pit bottom and using overburden spec material.
  • the starter dyke 44 may have an approximate 2H:1 V initial slope.
  • the starter dyke 44 may be constructed with sand through upstream cell construction to eventually reach the same elevation as the surrounding buttresses and/or dykes, which may include mine pit walls, at which point upstream cell construction may continue all around the initial in-pit sand structure. It should be understood that the starter dyke 44 may have various other constructions and configurations.
  • the starter dyke 44 may be about 2.6km long and may be the sole recipient of sand deposition for the first years of the sand dump operation.
  • the starter dyke 44 may be designed to rise at an overall slope of about 41-1:1 V, as shown in Fig 7, to enhance sand storage in the structure.
  • the dyke may be constructed in repeated 5m lifts with a step-over cell construction. The first three 5m lifts may be set at 10m step over and the fourth lift at 30m step over to accommodate a tailings line corridor.
  • the surrounding dykes and buttresses may be constructed with B-Spec material, which is a blend of low to medium plastic clay tills, lean oil sands, gravel and high fines sandy tills; K-Spec, which is high plastic Clearwater or Clearwater derived till material, blended with low plasticity materials (tills and lean oil sands); and overburden material, to a 330m elevation at a slope of 71-1:1 V.
  • B-Spec material which is a blend of low to medium plastic clay tills, lean oil sands, gravel and high fines sandy tills
  • K-Spec which is high plastic Clearwater or Clearwater derived till material, blended with low plasticity materials (tills and lean oil sands)
  • overburden material to a 330m elevation at a slope of 71-1:1 V.
  • sand at full production between about 85Mm 3 and about 88Mm 3 of sand may be hydraulically deposited into the sand dump.
  • the sand deposition may begin at 275m elevation off the starter dyke 44 and the dump may rise at the rate of about 20m per year.
  • the sand dump operation may include a waste dump buttress 87 downstream of the dyke crest at an overall slope of 71-1:1 V for support of the starter dyke 44.
  • the waste dump buttress 87 may be built with waste called G-Spec, which is low shear strength, high moisture content Pleistocene silts, sands and clayey tills, and may be referred to as the G-Spec buttress 87. It may also be built with other materials. Rate of rise and sequence of construction of the waste dump buttress 87 may be done to match the starter dyke 44.
  • the waste dump buttress 87 may stay within a 50m maximum height differential of the starter dyke crest.
  • the pumping wells 80 may be removed in an area where the G- Spec buttress 87 is sequenced for construction and re-drilled upon completion. As the gravel pads 78 of the drainage system 60 are inter-connected, impact on dyke drainage during buttress construction can be reduced or avoided. Fig 8 illustrates the sequence of buttress construction and drilling of pumping wells 80.
  • the compacted sand beach region is provided downstream from the starter dyke crest to provide added strength to the dyke structure. If the strength and length of compacted beach region is sufficient, the elevation difference between the starter dyke crest and the G-Spec buttress may be increased.
  • the rate of rise of the beaching area 46 is balanced against allowing sufficient time for drainage from the lifts while maintaining stability during the placement of saturated sand.
  • a minimum drainage time of 30 days for a lift before placement of the next lift may be implemented to ensure that the lifts are allowed sufficient time for drainage before the subsequent lift is placed.
  • Figs 10 and 12 illustrate example deposition and draining schedules for multi- panel arrangements.
  • the sand dump operation may also include a tailings supply system 90 that is configured and operated to handle high throughput of the extraction tailings, which may also undergo a notable drop in elevation upstream of the deposition location.
  • a tailings supply system 90 that is configured and operated to handle high throughput of the extraction tailings, which may also undergo a notable drop in elevation upstream of the deposition location.
  • the tailings supply system 90 may include a dyke pipe 92 that may be a straight pipe extending along the starter dyke 44, laterals branching off of the dyke pipe 92, switching valves installed on pedestal points for switching the deposition to the desired outlet, and nipple pipes that discharge onto the beach.
  • Various other tailings supply system 90 arrangements may also be provided for transporting the extraction tailings to various deposition locations of the beaching area.
  • the deposition locations may include a series of locations along the starter dyke for deposition in a generally co-directional manner from each location, and may also include one or more other locations around the sides of the sections.
  • the various lines of the tailings supply system 90 may be polymer lined carbon steel pipes (lined with a urethane-based compound such as IracoreTM lined carbon steel pipes), carbon steel pipes and polymer lined resistance piping. Lining such as IracoreTM lining may be used to extend the life of the piping compared to that of carbon steel. The carbon steel lining may be used around deposition areas where wear is less of a concern.
  • a back pressure control system 94 may be provided to limit or prevent open-channel and/or unsteady flow in the lines of the tailings supply system 90, particularly on the descending ramp 89 into the sand dump area. Open-channel or slug flow in the lines could result in a column rejoinder effect that poses a risk to equipment integrity through pipe movement.
  • the back pressure control system 94 may be provided to limit or prevent open-channel and/or slug flow by maintaining positive pressure and full-pipe flow throughout the lines for normal operating conditions, which may include turndown and peak flow/desanding.
  • the back pressure control system 94 may include smaller inner diameter resistance pipe 96 and larger diameter bypass piping 98, with pressure indication provided to allow controlled dilution water addition, if desired. Dilution water may be added to the extraction tailings to further reduce open-channel flow and may be done near the extraction operation.
  • the bypass piping 98 station may include one or multiple bypass lines 100, 102 and double block-and-bleed switching valves, which allows flow to be diverted from the resistance pipe 96 to a parallel bypass line via switching valves. Some of the valves are illustrated in Figs 4 and 5.
  • bypass line 100, 102 may be used depending on the distance for the extraction tailings 22 to travel to the given panel 84.
  • the bypass piping 98 may be avoided to allow the tailings to flow through the entire length of resistance piping 96 to provide sufficient back pressure.
  • the longest bypass line 100 may be used to minimize the passage of the tailings through the resistance piping 96.
  • an intermediate bypass line 102 may be used so that the tailings can pass through a portion of the resistance piping 96.
  • the panel When sufficient sand has been deposited in a panel for a given lift height (e.g. 5m lift), the panel may be allowed to dry for a 30 day period and active deposition switches to a different location. When it is time to move back into a dried beach section, the laterals and switching valves may be relocated to new pedestals on the next 5m lift and deposition can resume.
  • the beaching area elevation may rise at a rate of 20 m/year and a portion of the resistance piping can be removed for each new lift to control pressure transients and alleviate losses in horsepower from tailings supply pumps.
  • Pressure vacuum relief valves may be provided for pipelines transporting extraction tailings from the tailings sources and those lines transferring TFT from the TFT collection basin 52.
  • the PVRVs may be located at high points, where a low pressure point may exist in the line.
  • Each PVRV is a combined vacuum breaker and air release valve.
  • the PVRV allows for air intake during line drainage and facilitates that the given pipeline maintains a positive pressure during operation.
  • the PVRV also allows for the discharge of entrained air that may collect at the pipeline high points during line filling and when recovering to normal flow from below minimum flow, in order to prevent transients.
  • the initial flow of the extraction tailings 22 deposited down the starter dyke 44 may be decelerated to reduce or prevent beach erosion and/or the tendency for the tailings to flow down into the TFT collection basin 52 with insufficient settling of the sand. Decelerating the flow of the tailings at the initial region of the sloped beaching area can promote sand to settle out of the decelerated flow of the tailings that flow down the main section of the beaching area prior to flowing into the collection basin 52.
  • the deceleration may be provided by spill box systems 104 at an upstream region of the sloped beaching area 46.
  • There may be a spill box system 104 for each panel.
  • Each spill box system 104 may include a barrier wall extending upward from the surface of the beaching area 46. The flow of extraction tailings down the relatively steep starter dyke encounters the barrier and accumulates until the tailings spill over an upper edge of the barrier wall, thereby producing a decelerated tailings overflow that advances down the main section of the beaching area 46 at a rate that allows sufficient settling of the sand.
  • spill box system may include a weir that is wedged into the beach at the far end of the compacted zone.
  • the weir may be held in place by piles of sand of other material that are provided at either side of the weir.
  • the weir may be about 3m wide and may act as a small dam.
  • the weirs may be installed on a cell by cell basis, as needed. Once the deposition is complete in a given cell, the weir may be substantial covered with the lift, and a loader may be used to pull the weir upward and then reinstall it by placing piles of material at either side. The weirs can thus be reused for subsequent lifts.
  • a geothermal exchange system 1 10 may be provided within the sand structure in order to overcome some challenges in heat recovery.
  • low-grade process waste heat and excess fuel gas are frequently available in certain areas of the operation (e.g. upgrading), though timing of these surpluses frequently does not align with hot water and steam demands in other areas of the operation (e.g. extraction).
  • Upgrading and other processes typically produce excess heat and fuel gas during summer when demands for hot water, especially in extraction, are at a minimum; though in winter when extraction's hot water demands and other uses of heat are at a maximum, there may be a shortage of hot water and less waste heat to recover.
  • Bitumen production may be hot water limited in winter, so an increase in winter hot water availability may increase bitumen production. Also, the ability to store excess heat during a surplus (typically in summer) and use it later during hot water shortages in winter, would decrease overall energy intensity and emissions intensity.
  • the sand dump structure described above may be leveraged in order to provide geothermal heat exchange opportunities, for example between extraction and upgrading operations or between various different units within a given mining and extraction operation.
  • the large volume of sand deposited to form sand dump structure provides a geothermal heat storage potential of the sand structure and underlying ground. These sand dumps, once completed, may for example be in excess of 100 m high.
  • Geothermal heat exchange would enable storing surplus heat for later use, using the heat storage capacity of the sand dump structure.
  • surplus heat When surplus heat is available in the form of hot water, it may be circulated through an underground closed loop (e.g. constructed using pipes), heating the sand dump material.
  • cold fluid e.g. glycol or water
  • This pre-heating can reduce heating loads and allowing a greater volume of hot water to be produced.
  • hot water for example, from the process effluent water system, or from boilers fuelled by excess refinery fuel gas
  • hot water can be circulated through these pipes, heating the surrounding sand material, which acts as a storage medium.
  • the system can be reversed, and used to pre-heat water being sent to extraction, the process effluent water system or other processes.
  • the sand dump operation enables extraction tailings to be deposited into in-pit beaching areas initially enclosed by overburden starter berms. As the extraction tailings are continuously discharged, the coarse sand settles out to form beaches which are sequentially raised over time and continuously removing fluids to form a solid sand structure.
  • the water and fines released from segregating tailings is collected in a small collection basin as TFT (typically about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% solids) within the sand dump area and is then transferred to a larger settling pond for maturation to form MFT (about 30% solids by weight).
  • TFT typically about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% solids
  • MFT about 30% solids by weight
  • MFT drying processes which may be operated independently of ongoing sand dump beaching operations.
  • water may be retrieved and transferred to other ponds involved in a tailings water management system, and the water may eventually be recycled back to the extraction operation as process effluent water, for example.
  • tailings management techniques include the pre-conditioning of extraction tailings 22 to substantially reduce or remove the coarse sand in a sand structure and produce a TFT stream 30 that is supplied to a water and fines management system 1 14 to treat the remaining fines in the tailings from which sand has been removed.
  • the tailings management system may be integrated with various aspects of the mining operation.
  • the mining operation 12 includes removal of overburden 1 18 and other material from the formation that may not meet specifications for processing as ore in the extraction operation 16.
  • the mining operation 12 creates mine pits 120 where material has been removed.
  • An example mine pit is illustrated in Fig 6.
  • the mine pit 120 may be used as a location for the sand dump operation 24, which may also be referred to as a sand removal or separation operation.
  • Each sand dump operation 24 includes a main beaching area 46 where the coarse sand is captured along with a portion of the fines in the extraction tailings 22, and a downstream TFT collection area, which may take the form of a small pond or basin. The TFT can then be retrieved from the TFT basin 52 and supplied to the next stage of the tailings management system.
  • the TFT stream 30 includes mostly water and typically between about 5 wt% and about 10wt% solids, substantially all of which are fine solids below 44 microns.
  • the TFT stream is supplied to the water and fines management system 1 14.
  • the water and tailings management system may include at least one pond 1 16 that receives the TFT stream 30 and allows settling of the fines.
  • This pond may be referred to as a maturation pond 1 16, because the fines settle to form layers of material having different fines content.
  • the maturation pond 1 16 includes a top free water layer 122 as well as subsequent layers 124, 126, 128 that have increasing fines content.
  • the lower layer 128 of the maturation pond may have a fines content of about 25 wt% to about 35 wt%, and may generally be referred to as MFT.
  • the other intermediate layers 124, 126 may have other solids content ranges, such as between about 1 wt% and about 10 wt% for layer 124 and between about 10 wt% and about 25 wt% for layer 126.
  • the free water of the maturation pond 1 16 may be retrieved as recycled free water 130 back into the extraction operation.
  • the maturation pond is thus also used as a water storage pond from which recycle water can be obtained for various uses.
  • the free water layer 122 of the maturation pond 1 16 may be retrieved and supplied to a second pond 132, which may be referred to as a water storage pond.
  • the amount of transferred water 134 that is fed to the water storage pond 132 may be controlled based on the capacity in the maturation pond 1 16 and the requirements of recycle water in the extraction operation.
  • the water storage pond 132 may also be provided with pumps and piping in order to retrieve and provide recycle water 136 to the extraction operation.
  • the water and fines management system may include one or more maturation ponds 1 16, and optionally one or more additional holding ponds where water may be held prior to recycling.
  • an MFT stream 34 may be retrieved from the lower MFT layer 128 of the maturation pond 1 16 and supplied to the MFT dewatering and drying operation 36.
  • the MFT stream may be retrieved so as to have desired solids content, e.g. around 30 wt%, which may be the highest solids content of the fines containing layers in the maturation pond 1 16.
  • the MFT stream 34 may be pre-treated in one or more pre-treatment units 136 for chemistry adjustment and/or screening out or any debris that may be contained in the stream.
  • the pre-treated MFT stream 138 is then contacted with a dewatering chemical such as a flocculating reagent 38 in a mixing unit 140.
  • the resulting flocculating material 142 may then be shear conditioned in a conditioning stage 142, which may include a pipeline of a certain length for pipeline shearing or another type of device.
  • the shear conditioning may be conducted such that the flocculated material has a structure which enables relatively high amounts of released water to separate from the floes.
  • the conditioned flocculated material 146 may be deposited onto sub-aerial deposition cells 148 in thin lifts, allowing the released water 40 to flow away and be collected. The deposited lift may then be allowed to further dewater and dry to form the relatively dry material with high fines content.
  • the dried material 42 may be used as part of the backfilling and/or construction material for the sand dump operation 24.
  • the released water 40, as well as the other water streams 136, 130 may be recycled to various processing units in the extraction operation 16 or other facilities.
  • the constructed sand dump may have a compacted region formed of the overlaying and stepped-in compacted zones.
  • the compacted region may enclose a non-compacted region below.
  • the compacted region may have a certain size and configuration, that may be achieved by providing certain thicknesses of the compacted zones and/or the degree of compacting and/or drying for the compacted zones.
  • the techniques described herein provide separation step for removing substantially all of the coarse sand from the extraction tailing prior to subsequent water and fines management.
  • Some implementations provide various advantages, such as facilitating smaller and fewer ponds for efficient use of land, earlier reclamation activities in the sand dump area that is trafficable, enhanced fines capture in the sand dump and thus reducing the amount of thin fine tailings that are discharged into the water and fines management system, greater amounts of free water in the ponds available for recycle, generally steady-state operations for treating MFT, as well as a variety of integrated use of material including water and solids.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des techniques de gestion des résidus, qui comprennent le traitement des résidus, afin de retirer le sable et une partie des fines dans une opération de terril de sable. Les résidus sont amenés à s'écouler vers une zone d'échouage, afin de former une série de tranches de minerai. Le compactage et le drainage facilitent la formation de zones compactées pour chaque tranche de minerai. Des résidus de fines minces sont produits et collectés, puis envoyés pour maturation. L'eau de drainage est collectée et éliminée du dessous des tranches de minerai. Les techniques peuvent être utilisées pour construire un terril de sable dans un puits de mine, en utilisant au moins partiellement la paroi du puits et d'autres matériaux miniers. Après maturation des résidus de fines minces, des résidus de fines mûrs peuvent être récupérés d'un bac de maturation et déshydratés par ajout d'un floculant afin de former un matériau de floculation qui est déposé sur des zones de dépôt subaériennes. Différents composants de résidus, tels que du sable grossier, des fines et de l'eau, peuvent être ainsi manipulés et gérés de manière efficace.
PCT/CA2012/050783 2012-11-05 2012-11-05 Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus Ceased WO2014066974A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CA2012/050783 WO2014066974A1 (fr) 2012-11-05 2012-11-05 Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CA2012/050783 WO2014066974A1 (fr) 2012-11-05 2012-11-05 Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014066974A1 true WO2014066974A1 (fr) 2014-05-08

Family

ID=50626241

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2012/050783 Ceased WO2014066974A1 (fr) 2012-11-05 2012-11-05 Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2014066974A1 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140246385A1 (en) * 2013-03-01 2014-09-04 Residue Solutions Pty Ltd. Enhanced dewatering of slurries
CN109826180A (zh) * 2019-03-21 2019-05-31 北京矿冶科技集团有限公司 尾矿坝排渗加固系统
CN110512572A (zh) * 2019-09-03 2019-11-29 中国恩菲工程技术有限公司 用于中线式尾矿筑坝法的坝顶加高方法及坝顶加高设备
CN110563248A (zh) * 2019-08-06 2019-12-13 东华理工大学 基于植物吸附提铀工艺的铀矿尾矿库综合治理方法
CN113477664A (zh) * 2021-06-30 2021-10-08 山东扶尧生态科技有限公司 一种浓密尾矿泥浆远距离泵送自流平造田方法
CN113953077A (zh) * 2021-11-04 2022-01-21 周建斌 一种选矿用便于处理尾矿的高效摇床
CN114855761A (zh) * 2022-06-09 2022-08-05 中钢集团马鞍山矿山研究总院股份有限公司 一种湿式尾矿库闭库复垦结构及其施工方法
CN114855762A (zh) * 2022-06-09 2022-08-05 中钢集团马鞍山矿山研究总院股份有限公司 一种用于尾矿库闭库封场的装置与方法
CN115244267A (zh) * 2020-03-11 2022-10-25 诺尔斯海德公司 用于铝土矿开采尾矿的长期管理的方法和系统
RU2808151C1 (ru) * 2023-05-04 2023-11-24 федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Иркутский национальный исследовательский технический университет" (ФГБОУ ВО "ИРНИТУ") Способ укладки хвостов обогащения

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4008146A (en) * 1975-05-27 1977-02-15 Great Canadian Oil Sands Limited Method of sludge disposal related to the hot water extraction of tar sands
CA2173533A1 (fr) * 1996-04-04 1996-10-25 N. Holl Preparation de rebuts industriels en vue du stockage et installations de gestion de tels rebuts
GB2316343A (en) * 1996-08-20 1998-02-25 Iscor Ltd Fines disposal
GB2316333A (en) * 1996-08-14 1998-02-25 Ecc Int Ltd Process for treating a waste material
WO2003004831A1 (fr) * 2001-07-02 2003-01-16 Ciba Speciality Chemicals Water Treatments Limited Procede de separation de sables bitumineux
CA2707197A1 (fr) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-11 Amar Jit Sethi Systeme et procede de traitement de produits de queue
CA2689684A1 (fr) * 2009-02-02 2010-08-02 Little Moon Ventures Ltd. Methodes de traitement des residus de sables bitumineux
CA2684232A1 (fr) * 2009-10-30 2011-04-30 Suncor Energy Inc. Methodes de depot et de recolte destinees au sechage de residus fins
CN202117155U (zh) * 2011-06-11 2012-01-18 昆明有色冶金设计研究院股份公司 尾矿库初期坝内坡高效排渗装置
US20120160781A1 (en) * 2010-12-27 2012-06-28 Parsons Corporation System for Treating Fine Tailings
US20120248042A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-04 Total E&P Canada Ltd. Oil sands tailings management
CA2742041A1 (fr) * 2011-06-02 2012-12-02 Residue Solutions Pty Ltd Deshydratation amelioree des boues

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4008146A (en) * 1975-05-27 1977-02-15 Great Canadian Oil Sands Limited Method of sludge disposal related to the hot water extraction of tar sands
CA2173533A1 (fr) * 1996-04-04 1996-10-25 N. Holl Preparation de rebuts industriels en vue du stockage et installations de gestion de tels rebuts
GB2316333A (en) * 1996-08-14 1998-02-25 Ecc Int Ltd Process for treating a waste material
GB2316343A (en) * 1996-08-20 1998-02-25 Iscor Ltd Fines disposal
WO2003004831A1 (fr) * 2001-07-02 2003-01-16 Ciba Speciality Chemicals Water Treatments Limited Procede de separation de sables bitumineux
CA2606312A1 (fr) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-11 Amar Jit Sethi Systeme et procede de traitement de produits de queue
CA2707197A1 (fr) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-11 Amar Jit Sethi Systeme et procede de traitement de produits de queue
CA2689684A1 (fr) * 2009-02-02 2010-08-02 Little Moon Ventures Ltd. Methodes de traitement des residus de sables bitumineux
CA2684232A1 (fr) * 2009-10-30 2011-04-30 Suncor Energy Inc. Methodes de depot et de recolte destinees au sechage de residus fins
US20120160781A1 (en) * 2010-12-27 2012-06-28 Parsons Corporation System for Treating Fine Tailings
US20120248042A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-04 Total E&P Canada Ltd. Oil sands tailings management
CA2742041A1 (fr) * 2011-06-02 2012-12-02 Residue Solutions Pty Ltd Deshydratation amelioree des boues
CN202117155U (zh) * 2011-06-11 2012-01-18 昆明有色冶金设计研究院股份公司 尾矿库初期坝内坡高效排渗装置

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140246385A1 (en) * 2013-03-01 2014-09-04 Residue Solutions Pty Ltd. Enhanced dewatering of slurries
CN109826180A (zh) * 2019-03-21 2019-05-31 北京矿冶科技集团有限公司 尾矿坝排渗加固系统
CN109826180B (zh) * 2019-03-21 2023-12-08 北京矿冶科技集团有限公司 尾矿坝排渗加固系统
CN110563248A (zh) * 2019-08-06 2019-12-13 东华理工大学 基于植物吸附提铀工艺的铀矿尾矿库综合治理方法
CN110512572A (zh) * 2019-09-03 2019-11-29 中国恩菲工程技术有限公司 用于中线式尾矿筑坝法的坝顶加高方法及坝顶加高设备
CN110512572B (zh) * 2019-09-03 2024-05-07 中国恩菲工程技术有限公司 用于中线式尾矿筑坝法的坝顶加高方法及坝顶加高设备
CN115244267A (zh) * 2020-03-11 2022-10-25 诺尔斯海德公司 用于铝土矿开采尾矿的长期管理的方法和系统
CN113477664B (zh) * 2021-06-30 2023-02-07 山东扶尧生态科技有限公司 一种浓密尾矿泥浆远距离泵送自流平造田方法
CN113477664A (zh) * 2021-06-30 2021-10-08 山东扶尧生态科技有限公司 一种浓密尾矿泥浆远距离泵送自流平造田方法
CN113953077B (zh) * 2021-11-04 2023-11-14 浙江遂昌圣豪矿业有限公司 一种选矿用便于处理尾矿的高效摇床
CN113953077A (zh) * 2021-11-04 2022-01-21 周建斌 一种选矿用便于处理尾矿的高效摇床
CN114855762A (zh) * 2022-06-09 2022-08-05 中钢集团马鞍山矿山研究总院股份有限公司 一种用于尾矿库闭库封场的装置与方法
CN114855761A (zh) * 2022-06-09 2022-08-05 中钢集团马鞍山矿山研究总院股份有限公司 一种湿式尾矿库闭库复垦结构及其施工方法
CN114855761B (zh) * 2022-06-09 2024-05-17 中钢集团马鞍山矿山研究总院股份有限公司 一种湿式尾矿库闭库复垦结构及其施工方法
CN114855762B (zh) * 2022-06-09 2024-05-17 中钢集团马鞍山矿山研究总院股份有限公司 一种用于尾矿库闭库封场的装置与方法
RU2808151C1 (ru) * 2023-05-04 2023-11-24 федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Иркутский национальный исследовательский технический университет" (ФГБОУ ВО "ИРНИТУ") Способ укладки хвостов обогащения
RU2826742C1 (ru) * 2024-03-27 2024-09-16 Иван Алексеевич Пыталев Хвостохранилище
RU2828857C1 (ru) * 2024-03-27 2024-10-21 Иван Алексеевич Пыталев Хвостохранилище

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2014066974A1 (fr) Techniques de gestion des résidus et opérations de terril de sable pour l'extraction de résidus
CN103397645B (zh) 一种干堆与湿排相结合的尾矿堆排方法
US20120160781A1 (en) System for Treating Fine Tailings
CN113874531A (zh) 尾矿沉积
CA2800773C (fr) Restauration de bassins a schlamms
US9598299B2 (en) Floating wicks for slurry consolidation
CN113856319B (zh) 一种钻孔灌注桩泥浆砂石综合回收处理方法
Hyndman et al. Fluid fine tailings processes: disposal, capping, and closure alternatives
CN113908620A (zh) 一种钻孔灌注桩泥浆砂石综合回收处理系统
CN109736411A (zh) 一种露天采坑清淤及淤泥处置的方法
Beier Development of a tailings management simulation and technology evaluation tool
RU2627504C1 (ru) Шахтный водоотлив при разработке пологих и крутых пластов угольных месторождений комбинированным способом
RU2513816C1 (ru) Способ образования техногенного месторождения
Sobkowicz et al. A geotechnical perspective on oil sands tailings
CA2796025C (fr) Techniques de gestion de residus et operations de terril pour residus d'extraction
Oxenford et al. Canadian experience in the application of paste and thickened tailings for surface disposal
Beier et al. Natural dewatering strategies for oil sands fine tailings
US9188389B2 (en) Systems and methods for dewatering mine tailings
List et al. Tailings management practices at Syncrude–From research to practice
McGregor et al. Hydraulic dewatered stacking—developing strategies for Brownfield applications at Mogalakwena, South Africa
CN110905511A (zh) 一种山谷型尾矿库基于地下水排水的尾矿干式回采方法
RU2622971C1 (ru) Шахтный водоотлив при разработке антиклинальных угольных месторождений комбинированным способом
CA3065467C (fr) Distributeur de residus a vitesse reduite
RU2385987C1 (ru) Секция гидроотвала отходов промышленных предприятий, способ ее создания и способ ее консервации
JP6740772B2 (ja) 脱水用床

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 12887641

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 12887641

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1