Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Toronto
$422,578.00
The role of redox biogeochemistry in oxic zone development in the oil sands first reclamation end pit lake, Syncrude Canada's Base Mine Lake.
FY 2018-19
Summary
Reclamation of oil sands tailings in the Alberta Oil Sands Region is a key industry and Canadian priority. The industry partner in the proposed research, Syncrude Canada Ltd., ranked as the world's largest producer of synthetic crude from oil sands and the biggest single source in Canada, is actively developing innovative strategies to reclaim their tailings. In 2012, Syncrude commissioned Base Mine Lake (BML) to assess water capped tailings technology (WCTT) as a means of tailings disposal. It is expected that in the long term, the lake will develop an oxygenated surface zone with the potential to support higher trophic levels. Based on evidence from existing tailings ponds, there is evidence that microbial biogeochemical cycling of oxygen consuming compounds (OCC) contributed from the tailings layer may reduce BML water cap oxic zone development. However, as this is the first commercial-scale end pit lake (EPL) in the oil sands, the developmental trajectory and outcome in BML are uncertain. The proposed three-year, field-based research will directly address this important knowledge gap. It will characterize (1) BML water cap depth dependent oxygen concentrations, (2) in situ oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and (3) the OCC and biogeochemical processes involved in OCR over spatial, seasonal and annual time scales. The results will identify important microbial and chemical constituents affecting oxic zone early development in BML and determine their impact. Results will thus inform Syncrude's BML research goal to sufficiently understand processes affecting BML's development and ultimate incorporation in the closure landscape such that future EPL applications are well informed. It will benefit Canada through improved environmental management and increased sustainability of oil sands activities and the training of 13 HQP in leading edge, applied environmental sciences. These HQP will develop the critical skills and experience in tailings reclamation that will needed for the future of the oil sands in Canada*
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
488301-2015
Name nom
Warren, Lesley
Department département
Civil Engineering
Organization id
31
Institution établissement
University of Toronto
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2018
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
422578
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
141
Committee name en
University/Industry
Committee name fr
Universités/industrie
Area of application code
702
Area of application group en
Transportation systems and services
Area of application group fr
Services et systèmes de transport
Area of application en
Water
Area of application fr
Maritime
Research subject code
4206
Research subject group en
Geochemistry and geochronology
Research subject group fr
Géochimie et géochronologie
Research subject en
Aqueous (low temperature) geochemistry
Research subject fr
Géochimie des milieux aqueux (basse température)
Partie
3
Nb partie
3
Application title
The role of redox biogeochemistry in oxic zone development in the oil sands first reclamation end pit lake, Syncrude Canada's Base Mine Lake.
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Reclamation of oil sands tailings in the Alberta Oil Sands Region is a key industry and Canadian priority. The industry partner in the proposed research, Syncrude Canada Ltd., ranked as the world's largest producer of synthetic crude from oil sands and the biggest single source in Canada, is actively developing innovative strategies to reclaim their tailings. In 2012, Syncrude commissioned Base Mine Lake (BML) to assess water capped tailings technology (WCTT) as a means of tailings disposal. It is expected that in the long term, the lake will develop an oxygenated surface zone with the potential to support higher trophic levels. Based on evidence from existing tailings ponds, there is evidence that microbial biogeochemical cycling of oxygen consuming compounds (OCC) contributed from the tailings layer may reduce BML water cap oxic zone development. However, as this is the first commercial-scale end pit lake (EPL) in the oil sands, the developmental trajectory and outcome in BML are uncertain. The proposed three-year, field-based research will directly address this important knowledge gap. It will characterize (1) BML water cap depth dependent oxygen concentrations, (2) in situ oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and (3) the OCC and biogeochemical processes involved in OCR over spatial, seasonal and annual time scales. The results will identify important microbial and chemical constituents affecting oxic zone early development in BML and determine their impact. Results will thus inform Syncrude's BML research goal to sufficiently understand processes affecting BML's development and ultimate incorporation in the closure landscape such that future EPL applications are well informed. It will benefit Canada through improved environmental management and increased sustainability of oil sands activities and the training of 13 HQP in leading edge, applied environmental sciences. These HQP will develop the critical skills and experience in tailings reclamation that will needed for the future of the oil sands in Canada*
