The Alberta Oil Sands Tailings Roadmap Project

Authors: Sobkowicz, JC; Boswell, JES; Kofoed, MD; Gidley, IDC Download Paper

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1363_24_Sobkowicz

Cite As:
Sobkowicz, JC, Boswell, JES, Kofoed, MD & Gidley, IDC 2013, 'The Alberta Oil Sands Tailings Roadmap Project', in R Jewell, AB Fourie, J Caldwell & J Pimenta (eds), Paste 2013: Proceedings of the 16th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 313-325, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1363_24_Sobkowicz



Abstract:
In 2011, Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES), Canada awarded a contract to the Consortium of Tailings Management Consultants (CTMC) to prepare an Oil Sands Tailings Technology Deployment Roadmap. In this paper the work done in terms of the contract is referred to as the project. The project objective was to create a roadmap outlining further research and development needs for promising tailings treatment / dewatering technologies. This paper describes the objectives and main components of the project, the technical process whereby these goals were met, and the key recommendations arising from the project work. Recognising that the development of tailings roadmaps may hold potential for mining sectors other than the Canadian oil sands, the authors reflect on some of the key observations and conclusions from the study, and offer some insights and recommendations about the technology assessment and roadmap development process that was employed.

References: