68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

EFFECT OF FLOCCULENT TREATMENTS ON CONSOLIDATION OF OIL SANDS FLUID FINE TAILINGS

Session: Mining Geotechnique I / Géotechnique minière I

Louis K. Kabwe, University of Alberta (Canada)
G. Ward Wilson, University of Alberta (Canada)
J. Don Scott, University of Alberta (Canada)
Amarebh Sorta, University of Alberta (Canada)
Nicholas Beier, University of Alberta (Canada)

Regulatory policy and regulations in Alberta require oil sands companies to reduce their production and storage of fluid fine tailings by creating deposits that can be reclaimed in a more timely manner. To meet the regulatory requirements, some companies are adding flocculants to the fluid fine tailings, using thickeners or centrifuges to increase the solids content and then using freeze/thaw processes to further thicken the tailings. The effects of flocculating, thickening and freeze/thaw treatments on fluid fine tailings were investigated by performing large strain consolidation tests and shear strength tests. The consolidation and shear strength results were then compared to those of untreated fluid fine tailings. All of the treatments increased the hydraulic conductivity of the fine tailings to some degree, but had no effect on the compressibility and shear strength. The effects and evaluations of the treatments are discussed.